Writing about creative outdoor people and taking on fractional work.
About
I am a designer with over a decade of experience in creating diverse digital experiences, from large content projects to branding campaigns and digital retail solutions. I’ve also worked on solutions for one of the world’s largest two-sided marketplaces.
At Airbnb.org, I helped launch a non-profit initiative to provide emergency housing during crises. At Clubhouse, I established a design system, supported team growth, mentored designers, and contributed to UX improvements for a unique and vibrant online community.
I aim to create thoughtful, user-friendly products through close collaboration with product, research, and engineering teams, always striving to support and elevate my colleagues' efforts.
Projects
Launched Sanpo Studios. An outdoor journal, shop, and archive. Sanpo Studios celebrates the individuals and brands taking inspiration from and into the outdoors.
Founder, designer, writer, and creative director.
Work Experience
Lead work across a number of initiatives including; Growth, App simplification, the roll out of user curated groups called "Houses", and Design Language System. Assisted Head of Design in growing the design team and fostering design culture through crits, 1:1s, and best practices.
Worked with an early stage startup to workshop design direction, possible product solutions, and refine their existing experience. Also designed a six month, to one year vision based on product roadmap and a leadership brainstorm.
Took some time off after 15 years of working to spend time with friends, family, and my pup. Additionally, I made some time to connect and share my experience with young designers and folks transitioning careers.
In late 2018, I joined a small team within Airbnb called Human, responsible for the OpenHomes program. Our mission: Provide free temporary housing for displaced people in times of crisis. I led the effort to define and design Airbnb’s first ever integrated donations platform, amplifying our efforts and scaling the program’s impact. In 2020 I led the design of Airbnb.org's website along with the Airbnb creative team when we officially launched the new brand as a 501c3 non-profit.
In 2015, I joined Airbnb with the goal of advancing my design expertise. During my tenure, I honed my skills in visual design, branding, and interactive design, while also gaining confidence in product thinking, systems design, and data-driven problem-solving.
Early in my Airbnb journey, I had the privilege of collaborating with Lenny Ratchisky and the "Booking team", where our primary focus was growing adoption of the emerging "Instant Book" model. Our objective was to enhance the booking process for guests and simultaneously improve the overall experience for hosts. Central to our efforts was the establishment of clear expectations and fostering trust between both parties. Notably, I spearheaded the design of Airbnb's inaugural House Rules feature and a more comprehensive guest picker, which included recommendations for our child/infant booking policy.
Lead design on award winning Google.com/think, as well as digital initiatives for Comcast. My responsibilities included mentoring young designers, helping them to realize and develop their abilities.
At Huge London, I was part of a small team tasked with building a foundation for Huge's European presence. I worked on brands ranging from Unilever, to British Airways. Often times wearing many hats, collaborating and supporting our UX team to shape and define user stories and objectives, as well as the production of assets for development teams.
Crafted comprehensive solutions aligning with brand identity, business objectives, market trends, and customer needs. Collaborated with sales, writing, and engineering teams to ensure a holistic approach to design and a refined user experience.
Created artist mini-sites, contributed to label site design, expanded our digital assets, and gave the monthly newsletter a fresh look. Consulted on various digital projects.
Collaborated closely with art directors and clients to craft captivating interactive websites and campaign-focused digital platforms. Notable clients encompassed industry leaders such as AMC Television, Fox, and Time Inc.