About Me #
I’m a human-centered designer, leader, and builder who’s spent the last 20 years building award-winning products, systems, and teams from the ground up. I got my start making websites for bands, then moved to iPhone apps when the App Store was launched. Later, I built and managed teams while remaining a player-coach.
I work with early to mid-stage founders and companies who need to find product/market fit, build new capabilities, or level up a design team. I move between craft and leadership as the work requires.
I wrote We Need to Talk: A Survival Guide for Tough Conversations (Rosenfeld, 2025) because too few product teams embrace the key to building really, really good products: having hard conversations. The book teaches ICs and leadership how they can all embrace the uncomfortable so they can get to the outstanding.
I’ve also stayed close to my craft all these years, which makes all the difference. I’ve built my own software, typefaces, and launched many a creative project. It keeps me invested in the art of creating and it’s how I stay sharp.
Principles #
- Move fast, but thoughtfully.
- Going fast means nothing if you don’t know where you’re going. Listen and ask questions, then make your move.
- Pivot.
- Things change, so should your strategies and tactics. Being beholden to single plan or way of working is a mistake.
- Love your craft.
- Creating is a joy, and you should always be honing your skills.
- Have the conversation.
- Being wrong and having misunderstandings is part of being a better creator, person, and team. You can’t improve if you don’t fail or miss something.
- Know that software changes but people don’t.
- Tools come and go. Knowing how people work, and how to work with them is what wins.
Who I’ve Helped #
A non-exhaustive list of folks I’ve been lucky enough to support. Over the years, I’ve helped them build apps, teams, design systems, and new capabilities.
Looking for my portfolio? It’s available by request.
See Also #
- Guides & Templates
- Templates, exercises, and checklists for designers, product managers, leaders, and workshop facilitators.
- We Need to Talk
- A survival guide for tough conversations. Out now from Rosenfeld Media.
- Workshops & Speaking
- I offer workshops that help your team communicate more effectively.