15+ years experience leading design for global brands and startups
My 15+ year journey as a designer has taken me across the globe, where I’ve honed expertise in art direction, visual identity, digital product design, marketing design, and leading multidisciplinary teams. This breadth of experience enables me to excel as both a hands-on designer and a leader for early-stage and developing companies.
I began my career in advertising agencies in New York City, working on world-renowned brands alongside top creative directors and strategists. At AKQA, I led international design teams in San Francisco, New York, and Berlin, driving major initiatives like the global Volkswagen digital platform and an award-winning rebrand for Audi USA.
Seeking to explore the intersection of technology and design, I joined Deutsche Telekom’s innovation lab in Germany as a creative director. There, I collaborated with business leaders and engineers to develop interactive prototypes, from connected kitchens to immersive smart cities. This role sharpened my ability to rapidly prototype, facilitate cross-functional collaboration, and align design with business goals.
Returning to California, I assembled and led design teams at technology companies, aligning design with business objectives to drive measurable results. At Lumosity, a brain-training app with over 150 million users, I partnered with executive leadership to define a global creative strategy, launch new products, and execute marketing campaigns that broadened the brand’s reach and adaptability.
My combined experience in marketing agencies and tech companies has given me unique insights into how design, branding, business strategy, and data intersect. These insights have been instrumental in helping startups and growing companies reduce costs, drive customer acquisition, and secure funding. Whether working independently or assembling nimble teams from my network, I deliver comprehensive design solutions tailored to each company’s needs.
I’m inspired by opportunities to collaborate with visionary leaders and innovative teams, aligning my skills with their goals to create transformative brands, products, and experiences.
When I’m not working, I’m exploring record shops, hiking forest trails with my German Shepherd, Zaika, or spending time with my two girls in California or Washington, D.C.
Experience
Design Lead for early stage start ups
2021–Present.
Since 2021, I’ve led design initiatives for early-stage startups across industries like Web 3.0, healthcare, food tech, and social engagement. As Head of Design for Eldera, I oversee branding, product, and user experience for an intergenerational platform addressing loneliness among older adults. Previously, I co-founded Leesy, an Australian proptech company revolutionizing the home rental experience.
Lumosity - Director of Brand & Design
2018–2021. San Francisco, California.
Hired and managed a dynamic multi-disciplinary design team, collaborated with marketing, product, and executive stakeholder teams to shape the strategy and guide the development of creative concepts. Coordinated efforts between the design team and key stakeholders, actively contributed to the company's strategic direction and lead the execution of various new product initiatives, marketing campaigns, and broader business objectives. Additionally, I drove the evolution of the company's overall brand and visual identity while overseeing these initiatives and campaigns.
Originate - VP of Design
2015–2018. San Francisco, California.
Hired, managed, and mentored a distributed team of researchers, product designers, art directors, content strategists, and creative technologists. In collaboration with executive management, crafted a strategic narrative to support design strategy and agency branding. Additionally, I developed branding and design direction for a wide range of B2B and B2C products for global enterprises and high-growth startups.
Deutsche Telekom - Creative Director
2013–2015. Berlin, Germany.
Partnered with cross-functional leadership to translate business strategy into a range of prototypes and interactive concepts for the T-gallery, an innovation showroom located at Telekom HQ in Bonn, Germany. Based on a person’s daily routine, the T-Gallery represents a virtual home, community, transportation hub, and workspace, creating a cross-section between technology and society. I collaborated with various in-house and external design and engineering teams to design and implement interactive experiences for a connected kitchen, connected workplace, interactive billboards, and a fully immersive smart city experience.
AKQA - Art Director
2010–2013. San Francisco, New York, Berlin.
Directed the award-winning digital rebrand for audiusa.com, overseeing and inspiring a cohesive effort from both in-house and freelance design contributors. Operated seamlessly in both freelance and full-time capacities across diverse offices in San Francisco, New York, and Berlin, showcasing a proven track record of achievement and client satisfaction with notable clients including Deutsche Telekom, Volkswagen, Nokia, Google, Celebrity Cruises, Visa, and Target.
Sapient Nitro - Art Director
2007-2010. New York.
Collaborated closely with creative directors, brand strategists, and art directors to conceptualize, design, and execute both physical and digital campaigns for renowned global brands, delivering design and art direction concepts for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Played a key role in developing concepts and campaigns for brands like Foot Locker, House of Hoops, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Converse, Dove, and American Express. Contributed to the end-to-end process of campaign production, ensuring alignment with brand objectives and delivering compelling content across diverse marketing channels.
