I bring ideas to life.

I lead designers and creative people to rally and deliver impactful customer experiences across platforms, channels, and products. Working in diverse environments taught me early on how to be a good design leader, where to leverage my creativity and “scrappiness” for 0-1 inspiration, to cultivate strong, empathetic relationships. And mostly, to balance business needs with customer needs.

Through the years I’ve learned that what drives me is a passion for craft, the ability to develop strong partnerships, and a desire to inspire.

I started my career as an Art Director in ad agencies, crafting stories for brands, developing concepts, campaigns, directing shoots. My passion for the craft still shows up when solving any customer problems, especially in what we say and how we show it.

I’ve spent the last few years helping data-driven companies improve their CTRs and conversion rates by methodically moving pixels. I’ve learned that leading a lean design practice in a data-driven company requires incredible flexibility, constant reprioritisation, and keeping people motivated.

Previously, at Capital One, I led Human-Centered Design teams to be empathetic to our customers, to prototype quickly, vet our ideas openly, and to build out concepts with a "test and learn" strategy thats helps us evolve them.

To date, the card pilot (see my projects) was the most fun I’ve ever had at work. Firing on all pistons, I got the chance to be Creative Director across a multi-discipline design team, proving out our assumptions and growing the brand story. I developed a vision and took it all the way to delivery. My proudest accomplishment. I’d do it again in a minute.

Before Capital One I worked in product design, UX, interactive advertising, design consulting, government, advertising agencies - all gave me thick skin, good design sense, creative management skills and constant collaboration.

To see more creative work, check out my Behance page.

If you want to connect with me you can find me on Linked-In or just email me.

Stephen holds a Master of Design degree in Human-Centered Design Planning from the Institute of Design, IIT in Chicago and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising from VCU.