I've been obsessing over design details for as long as I can remember. I've been doing it as a job for about 15 years.
My career as a designer has grown by being frustrated by the boundaries of what I could make real, and having the curiosity to figure things out. And boy have the past few years changed boundaries and required curiosity!
I got my first real job in college designing WordPress themes and plugin UI. I learned CSS and HTML because my Photoshop handoffs never turned out quite right without some CSS TLC. I learned to speak the language of devs and work in the materials that end up in users' hands. I've prototyped in code ever since, specializing in CSS details and interactions, and encouraging the designers I've managed and mentored to do the same. Now AI coding tools let me explore more complex ideas and interactions faster.
Through time spent in both design and product management at Sonic Drive-In, I learned to look deeper than visual details, honing a sense for business impact, efficiency, and analytics. I am a designer at heart, but I can plan and prioritize like a PM. That combination of perspectives gives me a useful set of instincts (and its fair share of inner turmoil). Instincts and experience help point me in the right direction, but nothing is more energizing (and humbling) than watching real people use the thing.
I've been managing design teams for the past 6 years, but have always stayed close to the work, as a player-coach. For the past few years, I've led a team of designers at Jack in the Box designing digital ordering and loyalty experiences for mobile, web, and kiosks.
When I'm not thinking about design, I'm hanging out with my wife and 2 kids in Oklahoma City. I love running, traveling, reading, and a rotating cast of other hobbies below that help keep me off of my phone.
Running
Sandlot Baseball
The Voyager Golden Record
The Dolomites
Where to eat in OKC
Formula 1
Thunder Basketball
Archery
Config
My wife's music
My personality type & strengths
Hit me up if you wanna chat. Email me, find me on Twitter, or add me on LinkedIn.