James Acklin

Profile

Currently leads product for Tlon Messenger, a peer-to-peer messenger its users meaningfully own. Specializes in data visualization and research tooling.

Previously a director of design and an engineering IC with experience managing people and process.

Experience

2021–Present

Tlon Messenger · Product Lead

A private, user-owned, and incentive-free communications suite.

Directs product vision and design on a small team, shipping a mobile-first client that holds up against centralized competitors.
Guides execution across the kernel, client, and infrastructure teams.
Leads release planning, user research, and roadmap prioritization.

Case study: five years leading Tlon Messenger »

2021–2024

Tlon Landscape · Design & Product

Launchpad and framework for building and distributing software without app stores or centralized servers.

2021–2022

Tlon Bridge · Product Direction

User-facing management interface for on-chain public-key infrastructure; coordinated rollout of the first Ethereum L2.

2019–2021

Nielsen · Design Systems Director

Built a WCAG-AAA design system and pattern library used by 20+ designers across 18 verticals.

2019–2021

PointLogic · Product Design

Decision-support software for planning $100M+ marketing campaigns.

2013–2019

Rhiza · Design & Engineering

Geospatial data visualization for media and academic researchers; organization acquired by Nielsen in 2017.

2011–2013

Smith Brothers Agency · Engineering

Developed web properties for multinational CPG brands.

2009–2011

Elisco Advertising · Graphic Design

Produced print campaigns for regional clients.

Projects

2026: Duplis · Side Project
A still-camera app for frame matching. Overlay an existing photo on the live viewfinder, adjust its opacity, and shoot a new one that lines up with the old.
2026: Allegheny Sport & Outdoor · Oscar Swan and “The Book”
A profile of Oscar Swan, a Pittsburgh cycling legend who raced in the 1963 World Championships and self-published “The Book,” a 400-page guide to the region's road routes. Written for Issue 03.
2026: Low-Stimulation Typing Tutor · Side Project
A low-stimulation typing tutor for children. No characters, variable reward systems, timers, or flashing lights — just matching letters to keys.
2026: Songdrop · Side Project
A companion app for self-hosted music libraries. Search for a track, tap request, and your server finds it, tags it with artwork, and files it into Plex.
2026: Alex ebook reader · Side Project
Self-hosted PDF and EPUB library. Drop files in a folder, then browse, read, and track progress from any browser. A reverse relay serves the library to the wider internet from the user's own machine.
2026: ship-launcher · Side Project
Runs a self-custodied Tlon node from a standalone macOS or Linux executable. Handles runtime updates and launches the web interface. Takes user data exported from Tlon hosting.
2026: %cron · Side Project
Schedules and runs recurring tasks on arvo, for use with Tlon Messenger.
2020–2021: Bloomfield Robotics · Data Visualization
Dashboards for growers to check crop health and estimate yield from plant-level imaging and ML processing; ran early market validation with trial clients.
2019–2024: Steady State Cycles · Visual Design
Branding and marketing support for a road cycling boutique.
2019–2020: Send · Editorial
Progressive web app for browsing and reading Dirt Rag Magazine; Vue.js and Nuxt frontend over a headless WordPress API.
2010–2019: Various · Design & Web Development
Too many websites to count.
2001–2006: Phirebrush · Co-founder
Open-submission online magazine for digital art, illustration, photography, music, and writing; grew to over 1 million unique visitors across 38 issues.