Work with me
I lead teams bringing something new into the world, from a single product to programs spanning many disciplines and organizations.
Where I help
Good work gets held back by friction that builds up quietly. I set the direction, build the structure and hold the bar on quality, with equal care for the people using the work and the people making it.
No shared vision
Without a clear why, teams drift, buy-in breaks down, and users get lost in the tradeoffs.
Creative direction
A vision that ties user needs to business goals, and the principles that help teams carry it through, so what gets built holds up in the real world.
Opportunity mapping and positioning, user definitions and experience priorities, design principles and frameworks, vision and storytelling, design direction.
Decisions that churn
Priorities shift, decisions get reopened, and communication gaps lead to rework.
Design operations
The systems that keep multi-team programs aligned and moving, with decisions made at the right level.
Phase and fidelity plans, review cadences, decision frameworks, workshops, stakeholder and executive management, progress and risk reporting.
Talented teams that stall
Skills don’t match the work, and people burn out or plateau without support.
People leadership
Teams matched to each phase, coached to do their best work, and supported by systems that outlast my involvement.
Staffing and resource plans, hiring support, mentoring, feedback, team rituals and tools.
In practice
-
Commercial Space Stations
Holding a shared direction across interdependent teams, organizations and NASA reviews.
-
Fitbit Wearables
Leading a team from first concept to millions of units in a brand-new category.
Ways to work together
Need senior leadership now?
| Engagement type | Overview | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fractional leadership | Ongoing creative direction, design leadership or advisory, alongside your team and executives. Good fit when you’re building a design team, between design leaders, or want an experienced eye on the work. | 1 day a week, for 1 to 3+ months |
| Design projects | I lead a defined project from concept to handoff: setting the direction, running the work, and getting hands-on where it helps. Good fit when you have a clear project and need a senior lead to own it. | 2–6 months |
| Discovery sprints | Focused research, strategy and early concepts to set a new program’s direction. Good fit when you’re early and need clarity on who you’re designing for and what to build. | 2–6 weeks |
| Alignment workshops | Facilitated sessions that bring stakeholders together on users, priorities and direction. Good fit when teams disagree or you’re kicking off something new. | Half a day to 2 days |
Hiring a design leader?
I’m open to full-time Creative Director, Head of Design and VP Design roles at growing companies, where I can shape direction, build strong teams and help great work get made. I’m based near Houston, Texas, and open to relocation or remote.
Get in touch
Whether it’s a full-time role, a fractional engagement or a project, I’d love to hear what you’re building.