Hello, I’m Ben. I lead design teams.
I’ve been working in design for over 17 years, leading teams for half of that. I’ve worked across product, marketing, and content design for companies and agencies of all shapes and sizes.
Today, I’m a design leader focused on empowering teams, navigating complexity, and building systems that make design work better at scale.
I live in Austin, TX. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me cooking, playing video games, or trying to decode why my cats are yelling at me.
My journey is non-linear.
Like a lot of folks, my path into design wasn’t exactly A-to-B. I graduated with a Journalism degree in 2008, right as the print industry was crashing headlong into an economic downturn. With slim pickings for aspiring reporters, I pivoted to what I always loved most: design-driven storytelling.
My early years were spent as a graphic designer for small businesses in the UK, where I designed everything from logos to websites—even the factory floor stationery for a carpentry shop.
There was no glamorous training montage. Just a lot of Googling things like “how to put text on a path in Photoshop” and learning on the job. Over time, I moved into agency roles, took on bigger projects, mentored junior designers, and leaned harder into product, content, and systems design. I learned that the work isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about making them work better.
Every chapter, from scrappy print design to enterprise design systems, has shaped the leader I am today.
What energizes me.
I’m at my best when I’m working at the intersection of design, systems, leadership, and community. I thrive on turning ambiguity into clarity, building bridges between disciplines, and helping teams connect the dots—whether that’s scaling a design system, leading a rebrand, or shaping new ways of working.
I get a lot of energy from coaching others and creating spaces where people can grow and learn from each other. I’m also passionate about surfacing the unseen work of design leadership, advocating for the role design plays in the bigger business picture.
No matter how serious the work gets, I always try to bring a bit of personality, humor, and storytelling to the mix.
How I lead.
My job is to help the team get clear on what matters, protect their focus, and create the space for them to do work they’re proud of. That means stepping in when needed, stepping back when not, and keeping the work (and the team) moving forward. I ask the awkward questions, name the elephants in the room, and make sure no one feels like they’re carrying it all alone.
What others are saying:
“Ben's commitment to learning and growth is inspiring. He always strives to expand his knowledge and skills in order to better support his team. I can honestly say that Ben is one of the best managers I have ever had over the course of career as a designer. He is incredibly dedicated to his team and always goes above and beyond to ensure their success. Every day was a delightful experience working with him, as he had a way of making everyone feel included and engaged with the team. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Ben and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a talented and passionate design leader.”
—Principal Designer, Mailchimp
“Ben's savvy alone puts him in a separate league, but it's Ben's approach to team-building and leadership that truly made an indelible impression on me. While so many workplaces and the leaders within them tout empathy, Ben represents some of the best compassion and grace I've encountered in the tech industry. I was able to learn so much about what human-centered design means by watching Ben intelligently and emphatically advocate for both the user and for his team. He has a genuinely empathetic approach in his design decisions, and it extends naturally to everyone working with him. On top of that, Ben is a hilarious, delightful person to work with.”
—Staff Content Designer, Mailchimp
“Ben is a leader who truly understands the importance of advocating for engineering decisions. [..] His empathy and dedication to customer experiences drove our decision-making processes. Ben guided our team through complex challenges with ease. It was amazing to work alongside someone with such passion and dedication to their craft.“
—Staff Engineer, Mailchimp