When an opportunity to sink my teeth into AI-focused experience design emerged with a familiar scrappy crew—I couldn’t pass it up. Character design, conversational UX, and engaging experiences were at the core of our ethos and offerings. We aimed to help clients get ahead of their inevitable digital ecosystem shifts as branded AI agents become prevalent.

The 'Digital Products & Services' practice at Digitas was gaining momentum when I joined. This opportunity included duties such as managing young designers, mentoring, teaching, designing for big brands, prototyping, and helping implement a modified version of the design sprint process for the big agency model. I was able to make a huge impact.

I had wanted to try putting my skills to use in a truly agile and dynamic startup environment. CustomMade was a great opportunity, and they were funded in part by Google Ventures at the time. I learned a ton, got ultra scrappy, managed a few people, and got to live through the Google Design Sprint process first hand (directly with Jake Knapp, no less).

Clients: Wrigley, Netgear, Jordan’s Furniture, Eloqua, First Act Guitars, NYU Medical Center, Brooklyn Law School, RSA Security, Genzyme, National Cancer Institute, Kirkwood Printing, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals

- Promoted to senior-level staffer in 2007 based on leadership skills, quality of work, and positive client relationships
- Work as a team leader to achieve first-rate design and technical solutions for clients in the Consumer Goods, Technology, Biotechnology, Education, and Medical industries
- Design, produce and manage for accounts / projects ranging in worth from $30k up to $600k
- Enhance client relationships through frequent communications, including advice, design presentations, and technical support
- Lead successful international-friendly website implementations for big name clients like Wrigley and Netgear
- Author content and visuals discussing web-strategy for WD’s blog
- Mentor other staffers to promote learning, experimentation, and elegance for our team solutions
- Contribute towards award wins and nominations for the company
- Collaborate directly with developers and improve knowledge of web technologies, including multiple Content Management Systems and back-end structure and design
- Additional roles and responsibilities include: information architecture, S.E.O. research and advice, web production, front-end development, prototyping and proof-of-concept tasks, and photography