MY NAME IS JEN GIBBONS.
I like making places that make a difference.
I’ve spent my career designing and building physical environments where workflow, culture, and community come together—most notably through the development of hundreds of bike and outdoor retail spaces and the launch of branded experiences for Specialized. Helping evolve an innovative brand from small footprints within dealer environments to immersive, brand-forward destinations shaped my perspective on how powerfully space can influence identity, loyalty, and engagement.
More recently, I’ve applied this same experience-driven lens to outdoor and community-focused environments, gaining fresh perspective on placemaking and how people move through, use, and connect within shared spaces. Across retail, brand, and public-facing projects, I bring a point of view that well-designed physical environments are a strategic tool capable of differentiating brands, strengthening communities, and creating meaningful, lasting connections.
How I Work
COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP, DIVERSE TEAMS
With over 15 years leading design and delivery, I’ve seen the impact of bringing diverse perspectives together. Designers, business leaders, and end users each shape better outcomes when their viewpoints are respected and aligned around a shared vision. Strong collaboration builds ownership, sharpens priorities, and leads to work that performs and inspires
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THOUGHTFUL HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
I’m deeply interested in how physical environments shape how people move, feel, and interact. Small design decisions can have an outsized impact on flow, behavior, and atmosphere. At Specialized, I introduced a dedicated Retail Operations review into the design process to better understand how layouts affected technician efficiency and customer journeys. This shift led to smoother workflows, fewer pain points, and better overall design outcomes.
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LOOKING BEYOND THE TARGETS
KPIs matter—but an overly narrow focus can limit perspective. I encourage teams to frame goals within a larger mission, helping maintain long-term priorities while fostering creativity and momentum. This broader view empowers teams to think bigger, uncover unexpected solutions, and make faster, more meaningful progress.
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KEEPING IT FUN
I bring a lot of energy to my work and believe that enjoying the process leads to better outcomes. A sense of fun fuels creativity, strengthens collaboration, and elevates both the work and the impact. I’m at my best when working with people who share that mindset.
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WEARING THE HATS
My experience spans the full project lifecycle from strategic planning to final delivery. I've overseen early concepting and ideation, design development, permitting, construction, custom fixtures, signage, and final merchandising. I've forged strong working relationships with third-party providers and with internal partners in Marketing, Sales, Retail Ops, Event Management, and Executive Leadership. I've managed complex programs, lean budgets, aggressive expectations, and incredible teams. Bring it on!
How I play
(and why it matters)
Outside of work, I'm a recreational endurance athlete and outdoor enthusiast. Navigating backwoods trails, training for marathons, and venturing out on solo paddling excursions, I've learned to value discipline, patience, community, and the wisdom of experts.
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Through these pursuits I've also learned that while big goals can be well-served by practical metrics, focusing too narrowly on those metrics can cause us to lose sight of a more important mission. (It's hard to see the forest OR the trees when you're looking at the Garmin!) This perspective informs my approach to work, where I often bridge the divide between the data-minded and the blue-sky visionaries. I've seen teams abandon vision in order to meet short-term targets, and this almost always creates setbacks. Numbers matter, but only in support of a bigger vision or long-term goal. Balancing priorities fuels success.
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