Jason Ackley has an extensive work experience spanning several decades. Jason began their career as a Freelance Designer at Arthur Anderson & Co, SC/Communication Design Center in 1995 and later continued as a Freelance Designer at Anderson Consulting. In 1996, they joined the American College of Healthcare Executives as a Senior Designer, where they led the design and production of marketing and communication materials. Jason also played a crucial role in the company's visual identity redesign and served as the art director and designer for the organization's magazine.
In 1999, Jason joined Morningstar as a Senior Designer in the Individual Investor Business Unit. Here, they oversaw the design and production of flagship print publications and web-based products for individual investors. Jason also led the design of print and digital marketing campaigns for these products. Over the years, they grew within the company and held roles such as Senior Design Manager in the Corporate Marketing Group and Design Director in the Brand department. In these positions, they led teams and was responsible for developing visual and verbal brand/design systems for marketing, sales, and branded communications. As the Head of Creative Design (Creative Director), Global Marketing at Morningstar, they led a creative team responsible for the end-to-end global brand experience, including brand systems, awareness campaigns, events, and demand generation programs. Jason also managed vendor/agency relationships.
In 2021, Jason joined Morningstar Sustainalytics as the Head of Institutional Marketing & Design before transitioning to become the Head of Design in 2022. Currently, they are also serving as an Adjunct Instructor at the School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago, starting in 2023.
Throughout their career, Jason has demonstrated expertise in various design disciplines, including UX, visual design, content strategy, and video/media production. Jason has been involved in a wide range of projects, from print collateral and brand/identity development to digital media and event planning.
Jason Ackley completed their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1990 to 1995. In 2002, they attended a non-degree program in the Summer Program at Schule für Gestaltung Basel. In 2014, they earned an Executive Education Certificate in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from the Yale School of Management. Additionally, Jason obtained a PMC Level I certification from the Pragmatic Institute. The date of obtaining the certification is unknown.
September, 2022 - present
December, 2021