Product design leader for AI & complex enterprise platforms
20 Years of Experience, Player-Coach Leadership, Startups to Fortune 500
Product design leader for AI & complex enterprise platforms
20 Years of Experience, Player-Coach Leadership, Startups to Fortune 500
Experience
Teams I have worked with
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Leadership
How I lead teams
I’m a player-coach by nature. I’ve hired and led distributed teams, coached designers into larger leadership roles, and built the operating systems that help design scale—while staying close enough to the work to know when the system itself needs changing.
Kudos
Kind words from my teammates
The prototypes Chris created became the single most useful asset for aligning partner teams and driving progress. They consistently accelerated understanding and unblocked work. I can’t count how many times teams struggled to understand our product until I shared his flows—then everything clicked. These artifacts saved time, reduced confusion, and kept progress moving.
Emad Elwany
GVP of Engineering
Docusign
Chris has brought a lot to the Workflows team. It's obviously an extremely messy and ambiguous space on top of the pain inherent in evolving e-signature to an agreement platform. Chris jumped in with both feet and I love that he always brought a strong POV and stayed receptive to new info and feedback.
Derek Jones
Sr. Director, Product Design
Docusign
I loved partnering with Chris. He has a great grasp of evaluative research and knew when to step in and run it himself, which freed me up to focus on more strategic work. He regularly joined research sessions and did an excellent job carrying the voice of the customer and feedback forward into his design thinking. Chris is a strong partner who genuinely values research and knows how to turn insights into better product decisions.
Ashley Guiberson
Senior UX Researcher
Docusign
Chris has done a great job addressing design shortcomings in the NDR product when compared with industry best practices. He has established technical systems and design processes that improve communication and collaboration as well as accelerated implementation work both within the NDR team and more broadly at Arista.
Keith Amidon
Co-Founder & Destinguished Architect
Awake Security
What sets Chris apart is his down-to-earth nature, creating a stress-free atmosphere that encourages collaboration. He prioritizes the human side of the workplace, valuing the well-being of each team member. Chris is not just a supervisor but a mentor who cultivates an environment where creativity thrives, making him an invaluable asset to any team or organization seeking a design leader with technical expertise and genuine compassion for his colleagues.
Breanna (BG) Kingman
Senior Product Designer
Arista Networks
Chris did a great job balancing a demanding situation with a short ramp-up time while supporting multiple projects on multiple teams at once. He brought a fresh perspective right away, identified process inefficiencies, and helped codify decision-making processes to expedite the time from concept to dev-ready design.
Scott Tewel
Director of Product Management
Smartsheet
Chris is a strong advocate for quality design, holding himself and others to the highest of standards, both in design and in collaboration. He works to strategize and prioritize design needs, partnering strategically with cross-functional partners to craft user-informed designs that lead to effective and impactful products. He also mentors designers earlier in their careers, encouraging deep thought and helping them build a diverse toolkit.
Crystal Morey
Sr. Manager, UX Research
Smartsheet
Chris is a passionate and influential leader. With his mentorship, I’ve learned helpful frameworks to evaluate myself and my career goals, and how to navigate my career growth. Not only is he a great listener, but he asks questions that help me reflect, and the conversation always ends on a positive note. I’m grateful to learn from him, and he inspired me to give back to the community.
Janel Wong
Senior Product Designer
Smartsheet
Chris is an extremely talented creative and designer. He was a dedicated team player, and he took personal responsibility to embody team values such as putting the team first and advocating for the user. He tirelessly worked to understand business needs, educate others on product and user-centered design practices, and advocate for the user. I enthusiastically recommend Chris for any team lucky enough to have him.
Lauren Sinreich
Director of Enterprise Design
Bank of America
Chris stepped into the project as the Lead UX Designer, but due to staffing shortages had to take on a much larger role. At times Chris took on the Business Analyst role and really worked to drive the project when a Project Manager was not assigned. Due to his diligence, the project continued to move forward even without these key roles.
Wendy J. Betts
Information Security Executive
Bank of America
Minimal time is required with Chris to notice his passion for the arts. He majored in Building Architecture, performs as an elite illustrator, and became a master in user experience design. Chris is a true artist and someone I look forward to collaborating with on any project. His illustration skills make him perfect for whiteboarding and sketch exercises.
Jeff Bryant
Senior UX Designer
Bank of America
Chris is an incredibly talented leader. His design skills and technical acumen are both solid and enviable. As Chris’s teammate, I always loved watching him workshop a problem. He is amazing at breaking a problem down into bite-size portions and leading a group to collaborate on possible solutions.
Julia Baker Hansen
Product Designer
Bank of America
Chris joined smoothly to an established team and quickly became a vital part of it. He adapted quickly to the way we do things, learned new skills, and helped us improve our processes. He is a talented UX designer, with a great vision for the product as a whole and an inspiring emphasis on the end-user’s experience.
Mattan Margalith
Sr. Software Engineer
Synect Media
The prototypes Chris created became the single most useful asset for aligning partner teams and driving progress. They consistently accelerated understanding and unblocked work. I can’t count how many times teams struggled to understand our product until I shared his flows—then everything clicked. These artifacts saved time, reduced confusion, and kept progress moving.
Emad Elwany
GVP of Engineering
Docusign
Chris has brought a lot to the Workflows team. It's obviously an extremely messy and ambiguous space on top of the pain inherent in evolving e-signature to an agreement platform. Chris jumped in with both feet and I love that he always brought a strong POV and stayed receptive to new info and feedback.
Derek Jones
Sr. Director, Product Design
Docusign
I loved partnering with Chris. He has a great grasp of evaluative research and knew when to step in and run it himself, which freed me up to focus on more strategic work. He regularly joined research sessions and did an excellent job carrying the voice of the customer and feedback forward into his design thinking. Chris is a strong partner who genuinely values research and knows how to turn insights into better product decisions.
Ashley Guiberson
Senior UX Researcher
Docusign
Chris has done a great job addressing design shortcomings in the NDR product when compared with industry best practices. He has established technical systems and design processes that improve communication and collaboration as well as accelerated implementation work both within the NDR team and more broadly at Arista.
Keith Amidon
Co-Founder & Destinguished Architect
Awake Security
What sets Chris apart is his down-to-earth nature, creating a stress-free atmosphere that encourages collaboration. He prioritizes the human side of the workplace, valuing the well-being of each team member. Chris is not just a supervisor but a mentor who cultivates an environment where creativity thrives, making him an invaluable asset to any team or organization seeking a design leader with technical expertise and genuine compassion for his colleagues.
Breanna (BG) Kingman
Senior Product Designer
Arista Networks
Chris did a great job balancing a demanding situation with a short ramp-up time while supporting multiple projects on multiple teams at once. He brought a fresh perspective right away, identified process inefficiencies, and helped codify decision-making processes to expedite the time from concept to dev-ready design.
Scott Tewel
Director of Product Management
Smartsheet
Chris is a strong advocate for quality design, holding himself and others to the highest of standards, both in design and in collaboration. He works to strategize and prioritize design needs, partnering strategically with cross-functional partners to craft user-informed designs that lead to effective and impactful products. He also mentors designers earlier in their careers, encouraging deep thought and helping them build a diverse toolkit.
Crystal Morey
Sr. Manager, UX Research
Smartsheet
Chris is a passionate and influential leader. With his mentorship, I’ve learned helpful frameworks to evaluate myself and my career goals, and how to navigate my career growth. Not only is he a great listener, but he asks questions that help me reflect, and the conversation always ends on a positive note. I’m grateful to learn from him, and he inspired me to give back to the community.
Janel Wong
Senior Product Designer
Smartsheet
Chris is an extremely talented creative and designer. He was a dedicated team player, and he took personal responsibility to embody team values such as putting the team first and advocating for the user. He tirelessly worked to understand business needs, educate others on product and user-centered design practices, and advocate for the user. I enthusiastically recommend Chris for any team lucky enough to have him.
Lauren Sinreich
Director of Enterprise Design
Bank of America
Chris stepped into the project as the Lead UX Designer, but due to staffing shortages had to take on a much larger role. At times Chris took on the Business Analyst role and really worked to drive the project when a Project Manager was not assigned. Due to his diligence, the project continued to move forward even without these key roles.
Wendy J. Betts
Information Security Executive
Bank of America
Minimal time is required with Chris to notice his passion for the arts. He majored in Building Architecture, performs as an elite illustrator, and became a master in user experience design. Chris is a true artist and someone I look forward to collaborating with on any project. His illustration skills make him perfect for whiteboarding and sketch exercises.
Jeff Bryant
Senior UX Designer
Bank of America
Chris is an incredibly talented leader. His design skills and technical acumen are both solid and enviable. As Chris’s teammate, I always loved watching him workshop a problem. He is amazing at breaking a problem down into bite-size portions and leading a group to collaborate on possible solutions.
Julia Baker Hansen
Product Designer
Bank of America
Chris joined smoothly to an established team and quickly became a vital part of it. He adapted quickly to the way we do things, learned new skills, and helped us improve our processes. He is a talented UX designer, with a great vision for the product as a whole and an inspiring emphasis on the end-user’s experience.
Mattan Margalith
Sr. Software Engineer
Synect Media
The prototypes Chris created became the single most useful asset for aligning partner teams and driving progress. They consistently accelerated understanding and unblocked work. I can’t count how many times teams struggled to understand our product until I shared his flows—then everything clicked. These artifacts saved time, reduced confusion, and kept progress moving.
Emad Elwany
GVP of Engineering
Docusign
Chris has brought a lot to the Workflows team. It's obviously an extremely messy and ambiguous space on top of the pain inherent in evolving e-signature to an agreement platform. Chris jumped in with both feet and I love that he always brought a strong POV and stayed receptive to new info and feedback.
Derek Jones
Sr. Director, Product Design
Docusign
I loved partnering with Chris. He has a great grasp of evaluative research and knew when to step in and run it himself, which freed me up to focus on more strategic work. He regularly joined research sessions and did an excellent job carrying the voice of the customer and feedback forward into his design thinking. Chris is a strong partner who genuinely values research and knows how to turn insights into better product decisions.
Ashley Guiberson
Senior UX Researcher
Docusign
Chris has done a great job addressing design shortcomings in the NDR product when compared with industry best practices. He has established technical systems and design processes that improve communication and collaboration as well as accelerated implementation work both within the NDR team and more broadly at Arista.
Keith Amidon
Co-Founder & Destinguished Architect
Awake Security
What sets Chris apart is his down-to-earth nature, creating a stress-free atmosphere that encourages collaboration. He prioritizes the human side of the workplace, valuing the well-being of each team member. Chris is not just a supervisor but a mentor who cultivates an environment where creativity thrives, making him an invaluable asset to any team or organization seeking a design leader with technical expertise and genuine compassion for his colleagues.
Breanna (BG) Kingman
Senior Product Designer
Arista Networks
Chris did a great job balancing a demanding situation with a short ramp-up time while supporting multiple projects on multiple teams at once. He brought a fresh perspective right away, identified process inefficiencies, and helped codify decision-making processes to expedite the time from concept to dev-ready design.
Scott Tewel
Director of Product Management
Smartsheet
Chris is a strong advocate for quality design, holding himself and others to the highest of standards, both in design and in collaboration. He works to strategize and prioritize design needs, partnering strategically with cross-functional partners to craft user-informed designs that lead to effective and impactful products. He also mentors designers earlier in their careers, encouraging deep thought and helping them build a diverse toolkit.
Crystal Morey
Sr. Manager, UX Research
Smartsheet
Chris is a passionate and influential leader. With his mentorship, I’ve learned helpful frameworks to evaluate myself and my career goals, and how to navigate my career growth. Not only is he a great listener, but he asks questions that help me reflect, and the conversation always ends on a positive note. I’m grateful to learn from him, and he inspired me to give back to the community.
Janel Wong
Senior Product Designer
Smartsheet
Chris is an extremely talented creative and designer. He was a dedicated team player, and he took personal responsibility to embody team values such as putting the team first and advocating for the user. He tirelessly worked to understand business needs, educate others on product and user-centered design practices, and advocate for the user. I enthusiastically recommend Chris for any team lucky enough to have him.
Lauren Sinreich
Director of Enterprise Design
Bank of America
Chris stepped into the project as the Lead UX Designer, but due to staffing shortages had to take on a much larger role. At times Chris took on the Business Analyst role and really worked to drive the project when a Project Manager was not assigned. Due to his diligence, the project continued to move forward even without these key roles.
Wendy J. Betts
Information Security Executive
Bank of America
Minimal time is required with Chris to notice his passion for the arts. He majored in Building Architecture, performs as an elite illustrator, and became a master in user experience design. Chris is a true artist and someone I look forward to collaborating with on any project. His illustration skills make him perfect for whiteboarding and sketch exercises.
Jeff Bryant
Senior UX Designer
Bank of America
Chris is an incredibly talented leader. His design skills and technical acumen are both solid and enviable. As Chris’s teammate, I always loved watching him workshop a problem. He is amazing at breaking a problem down into bite-size portions and leading a group to collaborate on possible solutions.
Julia Baker Hansen
Product Designer
Bank of America
Chris joined smoothly to an established team and quickly became a vital part of it. He adapted quickly to the way we do things, learned new skills, and helped us improve our processes. He is a talented UX designer, with a great vision for the product as a whole and an inspiring emphasis on the end-user’s experience.
Mattan Margalith
Sr. Software Engineer
Synect Media
Honors & Media
Places you might have seen me
Talks
Inclusive Products and Teams — Blink UX Leadership Exchange — 2024 • Designing Like a Hacker: How Product Design Can Prevent Cyber Attacks — Product Day — 2023 — Watch on YouTube • Designing Like a Hacker: How Product Design Can Prevent Cyber Attacks — ConveyUX — 2023 — Watch on YouTube • Transitioning from a Distributed Team Model to a Consolidated One — Design Leadership Forum — 2022 • How to Show the Value of Design — ADPlist — 2022 — Watch on YouTube • How to Show the Value of Design — ADPlist — 2021
Press
Document Builder — Smartsheet — 2021 • Faceted and Furious — Graphic Display USA — 2018 • Kirkland Urban — 425 Business, Kirkland Reporter, Architect Magazine — 2017 • Clise Properties — DJC, Urban Condo Spaces — 2016 • Hawk Tower — Biz Journal, Geek Wire, Seattle Times — 2016 • Luma — BBC News, Curbed, King5, NBC News, UrbnLivn — 2016 • Roy Street — Seattle Times — 2016 • Telluride Medical Center — Telluride Properties — 2016 • Clise Data Center — DJC — 2015 • Hyatt Regency — Fox Q13 — 2015 • Tilt 49 — Biz Journal, Skyrise Cities — 2015
Awards
Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — May 2023 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Apr 2023 • 2nd Place Evaluation Speech Contest (Club) — Toast Masters — Aug 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jul 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jun 2022 • Top 1% Mentor Globally — ADPlist — Jan 2022 • Legal Eagle Award Winner — Smartsheet HacktheSheet — 2021 • Bronze Recognition Award — Bank of America — 2020
Exhibitions
GAUD Exhibit — Pratt Institute — 2014 • Bending the Rules — Pratt Institute — 2014 • GAUD Exhibit — Pratt Institute — 2013 • Edge Negotiations — Pratt Institute — 2011 • End of Year Show — UW — 2010
Publications
AV Technology Manager Buyer's Guide to Networked Digital Signage — 2018 • Airport Improvement Magazine — Sept 2017 • Graduate INPROCESS 19 — 2014 • Master Class — Architecture — 2013 • 3A Components — Graphic Display 2013 • Elle Decor — Living with Color — 2013 • Graduate INPROCESS 18 — 2012