Professional Background

I'm a designer with over 12 years of experience creating genuine user experiences that blend innovation with human needs.

Starting in graphic design and print media gave me solid design foundations. As technology advanced, I naturally shifted to digital product design—a perfect intersection of my passion for technology and human-centered design principles.

I am a maker at heart, and find deep satisfaction in bringing my ideas to life. This drives me to products that are approachable, intuitive and genuinely valuable.

Our tools change, now more than ever. I am very optimistic about the future of design and how AI as a tool will shape our workflows. Regardless of latest incantation of LLMs, the fundamentals of great experiences will always be human-centered, and require an even greater focus on human connection, craft, and taste.

Several of my core design philosophies:

• Human-centered design is deeply rooted in understanding the target audience; combining qual/quant data-informed research, real empathy through live prototyping and good old-fashioned gut intuition.

• Rapid prototyping & iteration quickly transforms ideas into testable experiences. These live experiences accelerate iteration cycles, dramatically reduce testing costs, and provide fertile ground for collaboration with engineering teams.

• Simplifying complexity into clear, intuitive solutions requires deliberate effort. Confusion stems more from poor design than from inherent complexity. First principles thinking and diverse experiences are essential tools for reframing and solving complex problems.

Beyond work

I enjoy spending quality family time, exploring the beautiful state of Utah, and pursuing many creative hobbies. I try to diversify life's experiences and keep my mind open. Mixing artistic expression with technical skill is my happy place.

1. 

   Landscape film photography

   Film requires discipline and technique, both of which are constantly eluding me Working with light, chemistry and math provides both satisfaction and frustration. It's a great escape hobby.

2. 

   Hobby robotics & 3D printing

   I'm building a life-size R2-D2. Many years in the making, and nearing completion. This complex yet rewarding project opened my eyes to CAD, PCBs, DC, RC and microcontroller programming.

3. 

   Vintage computers

   A chance high school internship led to working in 3D graphics industry on SGI workstations. I have a small collection of vintage computers I like to fire up every once in a while.

4. 

   Motorcycling & Off-roading

   Childhood days spent riding motorcycles through cherry orchards and family camping and off-roading trips instilled in me a deep love for the outdoors and profound appreciation for the great State of Utah.

5. 

   Vinyl records

   The tactile experience of selecting and playing records is therapeutic, and something digital can't match. In my experience a record player and a few thrift store classics will greatly enhance any office team environment.