Web Design by Leila Hornick

From 2002 to 2025, I led the design, development, and management of the institutional website, for the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI), ensuring accessibility, usability, and alignment with the institute’s scientific mission. This website serves 4,000 internal Berkeley Lab stakeholders, 17,000+ registered users and 150,000+ annual visitors. My responsibilities included designing and implementing custom WordPress themes, developing content strategy and governance plans, social media and marketing plans, producing web graphics, and creating scientific illustrations to communicate complex research. I worked closely with scientists and communications staff to ensure the site met WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards and maintained consistent branding across all digital content.

In 2014 I launched the first CMS version of the JGI institutional website — the central hub for their communications and marketing efforts — in a modern CMS-driven WordPress platform to improve content governance and editorial oversight for content owners. As project lead for this major redesign, I managed a multidisciplinary team of internal and external stakeholders, including web developers, graphic designers, a UX director, and content specialists. The images below depict the version that was retired in early 2025.

I’ve created original illustrations, drawings, and paintings for scientific publications and research projects. My work encompasses cover designs for scientific publications, artwork and illustrations featured in peer-reviewed scientific articles, graphics and illustrations for digital media. Each piece is crafted to be visually compelling while adhering to the rigorous standards of scientific accuracy and publication.

I led the design and development of Airwyn, a successful clean air mobile app that integrated real-time Air Quality Index data from over 30,000 sensors. As the Product Designer, I was responsible for crafting intuitive, user-centered experiences and defining the app’s overall interaction design strategy. My role encompassed:

• Conducting comprehensive user research to understand user needs and behaviors.
• Leading the UX and product design process, including prototyping, testing, and refining workflows to ensure an engaging and accessible interface.
• Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams—product management, engineering, and user research—to translate complex requirements into elegant, scalable solutions.
• Ensuring seamless integration of complex environmental data into a user-friendly interface.

This work contributed to delivering a highly rated app that effectively informed users about air quality in real time, earning 5-star ratings on both the iOS App Store and Google Play.

I designed the album cover for Erik Core’s 2024 LP, capturing the band’s raw punk energy and distinctive sound. As design lead, I created a visual theme that complemented the cover artwork, performance photos, songs, and lyrics, resulting in a cohesive design that reflects the band’s dynamic presence and attitude. In addition to the creative direction, I handled all pre-press and file preparations for printing, ensuring the final artwork met industry standards for color, resolution, and print specifications.

I designed the UX and visual workflows for the login systems used across all of the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI) web applications. As project lead, I conducted user research, developed and tested design prototypes, and collaborated with a diverse team to ensure secure and intuitive access for a broad scientific community. My process included creating graphics and interface elements with Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator, and producing HTML/CSS to implement the final designs. This work helped standardize the user experience and reinforced brand consistency throughout JGI’s suite of web tools.