James Blake is a UI/UX Designer with a background in Industrial Design, holding a degree from the Academy of Art University.
He currently serves as a full-time Associate Professor at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he teaches advanced courses in UX, industrial design, and professional practice.
Most recently, he contributed to DemocracyLab, a nonprofit organization leveraging technology to drive positive social impact.
James combines hands-on product experience with a passion for education, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to building thoughtful, user-centered experiences.
.png)
My design approach is grounded in user-centered and inclusive design principles, ensuring that the needs, goals, and preferences of diverse users remain central throughout the process. I aim to create digital experiences that are functional, intuitive, and accessible to all—delivering products that are both enjoyable to use and equitable in reach.
I specialize in rapidly transforming ideas into low- and high-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes. These artifacts allow for early validation of design concepts, enabling user testing and stakeholder feedback prior to full development—saving time, reducing risk, and aligning solutions with user needs.
I bring a strong aesthetic sensibility and deep understanding of visual design principles to every project. With expertise in typography, color theory, and layout, I ensure that each interface is not only highly functional but also visually cohesive, engaging, and aligned with brand identity.
I apply design thinking methodologies to tackle complex challenges through a structured, user-centered approach. By empathizing with users, clearly defining problem statements, generating and prototyping ideas, and testing iteratively, I develop innovative solutions that align with real user needs and business goals.
I thrive in cross-functional team environments, effectively bridging the gap between design, development, and key stakeholders. My ability to clearly communicate design rationale and user insights ensures alignment across disciplines and contributes to the delivery of cohesive, high-quality products.
I’m proficient in 3D modeling using Rhino, SolidWorks, Blender, and Alias to create detailed and accurate digital representations of products. These tools enable early visualization, iterative refinement, and clear communication of design intent—accelerating the development process and reducing the need for costly physical prototypes.
I am skilled in visual effects (VFX), specializing in the integration of computer-generated imagery to create visuals that would be difficult or impossible to capture through traditional means. This capability enhances storytelling, product visualization, and interactive experiences across digital and physical platforms.
I’m dedicated to continuous growth across both UX and industrial design disciplines, staying current with evolving trends, tools, and best practices in digital and physical product development. My adaptability and commitment to learning enable me to navigate the fast-paced nature of the design industry and consistently deliver innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions.
The discovery phase focuses on deeply understanding the target users—their needs, behaviors, and pain points. Through user interviews, data collection, and feedback analysis, we generate actionable insights that form the foundation for user-centered design decisions and set the direction for iterative development.
In this phase, we engage in rapid ideation through techniques like brainstorming, sketching, card sorting, and UI layout exploration. Rooted in Agile principles, this stage emphasizes continuous collaboration and fast iteration, ensuring that emerging design solutions are closely aligned with user needs and product goals.
Once initial concepts are validated, we begin translating ideas into structured UX deliverables—ranging from wireframes and mockups to interactive prototypes. This stage focuses on refining the interface to ensure clarity, usability, and visual consistency across the user journey.
User feedback is a critical component of our design process. We conduct user testing with real users and key stakeholders, closely observing their interactions and capturing actionable insights. These findings inform our iterative approach, allowing us to refine and optimize the design to deliver a seamless and impactful user experience.
had the opportunity to work with James during a UX/UI consultancy with ExamPrep.ai. He was extremely flexible across time zones and thrived in our agile environment, consistently responding to feedback quickly and delivering beautiful, user-focused designs. His background in art gives him a sharp eye for creating high-quality, visually compelling UI. James brings both creativity and collaboration to the table — he’d be a valuable asset to any team.
James is an exceptional UX designer with both a strong theoretical foundation and remarkable creative insight. His leadership on the complex redesign of ExamPrep.ai’s practice and review experiences was outstanding. He successfully consolidated multiple redundant pages into a streamlined, elegant interface that directly addressed user pain points. James consistently demonstrated his ability to generate innovative solutions to challenging design problems and effectively translate user feedback into intuitive, impactful experiences.
I had the pleasure of working with James on a project for ExamPrep.ai, where he designed outstanding AI icons that perfectly captured the essence of our vision. He has a sharp eye for design and demonstrated exceptional UX skills throughout the project. James is also a collaborative team player — passionate about his work and always receptive to feedback. I would gladly welcome the opportunity to work with him again.
James is a thoughtful and goal-oriented designer who listens closely to feedback and genuinely cares about applying it. He brings kindness and cultural respect to every interaction, especially when working with ancestral communities. It’s been a pleasure mentoring him — and honestly, I feel like I’m learning just as much from the experience.”
James consistently creates thoughtful, intentional designs that prioritize user needs. He is not only a skilled designer but also a fantastic collaborator — always receptive to feedback and quick to incorporate it into his work. His positive attitude and preparedness make him a pleasure to work with, and he regularly contributes valuable insights that strengthen the overall design process.
