A bit about me…

Background

My formal training consists of a degree in Interaction Design from the University of Washington, after finding Design through doing editorial photography for various publications in the Seattle area. My informal training comes from growing up in a DIY friendly family on an island in Puget Sound, where the weekend motto was “there’s no magic to it” and teaching ourselves how to do new things or fix old things was part of our DNA. I grew up in the northwest, spent some time on the East Coast, and I’ve called the Seattle area home since 2006.

Values

I’ve made a point throughout my career to seek out roles where I am helping people to do more, and achieve their goals, while making a positive impact on the world. Fostering deeper trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve through transparency at Axon, helping people find their next home at Zillow, and helping to build a better bank for everyone at Varo are a few notable examples. I’m a believer in zooming out to look at the big picture, ask why, and radically simplify wherever possible.

When it comes to leadership, I believe in empowered ownership with generous support, creating an environment of trust and psychological safety, and positioning people to have impact. I believe designers should embrace a “show vs tell” approach, I believe in the power of critique to unlock more in designs and people, and I believe that following a process, even if lightweight, can help designers structure and frame their thinking.

Interests & Passions

I live in Lake Forest Park, WA with my wife and our rescue bulldog where we try to spend as much time outside as possible. Other interests and passions include instant photography, craftsmanship, camping, cars (my first word as a child), fixing things, and the intersection of aesthetics and tools.

Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more!