Design Leadership that’s Different. By Design.
Two decades ago I entered UX. Back then, most of the world didn’t know what user experience was, and called us webmasters. Still, the potential to solve business and customer problems with design put me on a path to helping the world’s most admired brands. Along the way, I learned what I love, what I do best and don’t, what I’m meant to do, and why I do it. My portfolio showcases work I’m truly proud of; what follows speaks to my vision.
Work
Startups to global brands.
Lifelong Passion for Creative
I’ve always looked beyond pretty by integrating functionality, utility, and focus. Design is an organic adventure that I approach as a curious explorer with refined design skills and creative courage.
Entrepreneurial Barrier Busting
At my development agency, TopLingo, we rejected cookie-cutter websites for custom apps and eCommerce solutions. We grew, we scaled, I exited successfully and through it, never stopped learning. I even found time to pick up an MBA adding perspective and new skills.
The Corporate Path
My agency led me to work with clients and C-Level executives from Chase, HSBC, Air New Zealand, and 3M. Post-agency, I was recruited by Walmart, and promoted quickly to Head of Design for their streaming subsidiary Vudu. My journey working for large organizations does not end here.
Data-Informed Design
It begins by thinking beyond the design, to leveraging user research frameworks that test problems and harvest opportunities. Accomplished by leveraging a disciplined start-up mentality and rapid iterative approach that won’t waste time looking for the future in the rear-view mirror.
Team Building with Integrity
My vision is to lead by example, move fast, building progressive and successful design teams of the future. Teams comprised of talented people mentored, not marginalized, embracing evolving processes that build amazingly cool stuff, that inspire, build strong products and add value in the years ahead.
What Inspires Me and Always Will
Customer-focused design that exceeds expectations, breaks barriers, solves problems and raises the bar has never been easy but doing it has never failed to delight and motivate me. I never tire of solving user problems, or the quest to overcome it.
Recommendations
“Simply put, Mike is one of the best design leaders I’ve hired. I worked closely with Mike for more than 5 years and every day I was happy that he had joined the team. Through business ups and downs, through strategy evolutions, Mike always maintained a great attitude, a focus on building and improving products for our customers, and a great working environment for his team. Mike recruited, built, led, and developed a strong cross-functional design team, supporting research, branding, and product & interaction design. He brought his “get it done” startup mentality into a subsidiary of the world’s largest company and kept that approach while being comfortable and effective at working within big company processes and procedures. Five stars - would hire again!”
— Corporate Vice President, Product @ Walmart
“Mike solves business problems and transforms ambitious requirements into effective visual solutions.”
— Executive Director @ Chase
35 more recommendations on LinkedIn
Work hard. Play hard.
My passion for enjoying life inspirits those who surround me.
