thoughtbot

Product design, service design, strategy, user experience, research, leadership

Design director
Aug 2018 to Apr 2019

San Francisco, CA

This is a product design consultancy with a number of studios around the U.S. and one in London. I relocated to San Francisco to lead design and strategy while managing the design team, focused on mentoring direct reports through regular one-on-ones as well as group check-ins, design critiques, general upskilling, and support — including lightning talks, demos, and other outside activities.

Other responsibilities included:

Growing the studio — including hiring interviews with designers and developers alike, debriefs, followups
Advising client engagements to shared success — balancing the client’s business objectives whilst meeting the design and development needs of the project — including kickoffs, retros, check-ins, shop talk sessions, other kinds of group facilitation activities
Sales and prospecting efforts with local SF leadership (managing director and development director) and in step with global management team
Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the studio and within the company at-large

The SF location, unfortunately, shut down in May 2020 as a result of the effects of the global COVID-19 financial crisis. I will miss my thoughtbot compatriots dearly — some of the smartest and most sincere people I've ever had the pleasure with whom to work.