About Chris
A creative maker who thrives
at the intersection of liberal arts and technology
Chris is an accomplished design lead with over 20 years of experience, specializing in simplifying complex workflows, inspiring and leading creative teams, and delivering engaging, innovative experiences in graphic, print, mobile, web, emergent and interactive media.
His talent for crafting insanely simple but elegant user experiences fuels his passion for leaving the world better than how he found it. He’s an entrepreneur, a trailblazer, a mentor, an intellectual, and most importantly, a problem solver.
An entrepreneur and designer, he’s helped found and consulted with multiple design agencies and app startups. His interests include interaction design, service design, spatial computing, mobile app development, and user interface/user experience.
Chris holds an M.A. and B.A. with Honors in Art, Technology, & Emerging Communications from the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in human-computer interaction. He also has a Master of Fine Arts in Design with a concentration in Design Research and a minor in Anthropology from the University of North Texas.
Experience
All the fun things
CAPITAL ONE
2014 – Present
Senior Manager, Product Design Lead
As Head of Design Systems for Financial Services, I spearhead a team of designers and developers building Capital One’s first framework-independent design system, based on creating reusable Figma assets with one-to-one coded Web Components. Leveraging everything I’ve learned from my previous roles, my team’s work accelerates and empowers over 700 designers and developers, building next-generation products targeting consumer and enterprise-facing customers across 20 distinct platforms and applications.
Previously, as Head of Design for Auto Servicing, I oversaw cross-functional teams in Capital One’s Auto Servicing division, where I championed agile methodologies to craft award-winning experiences that support Capital One’s flagship mobile iOS and Android app and responsive website.
Prior to this, as Head of Design for Home Loans, I demystified the complexities of home buying, where I directed teams of product and experience designers, content strategists and front-end developers to reimagine an entirely new, end-to-end home buying process for Capital One’s Mortgage, Home Equity and Servicing divisions.
Manager, Product Design Lead
As a Design Lead for Home Loans, I expanded the influence of design within Capital One, growing our design team by recruiting and training additional designers and front-end developers. Using design methodologies like Design Thinking and the Double Diamond, I evangelized strong attention to detail and care for user-centered design principles throughout our Mortgage division as we designed a suite of products that supported the entire home originations ecosystem.
Principal Product Designer
I designed an entirely new consumer-facing platform for prospective home buyers called LoanHub, an application for mortgage originations. I was involved in the entire end-to-end design process, including researching customers’ experiences and pain points, concepting solutions and prototyping ideas, designing workflows and documenting business requirements, leading user testing and validation, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders to deliver a platform that simplified a complex journey into an exciting, celebratory experience.
University of North Texas
2009 – 2014
Director of Design
I directed a team of designers, developers and content strategists, to conceive, develop and execute comprehensive website redesigns and social media strategies, as well as printed marketing collateral, and identity/branding materials for fundraising and development campaigns university-wide.
Kudit
2009 – 2014
Senior Product Designer
I championed the conceptualization and spearheaded the execution of brand development, user interface, and user experience strategies for an Atlanta-based startup across both web and mobile platforms. I created a diverse portfolio comprising over 15 native iOS applications, games, and utilities.
Flare & Focus
2001 – 2014
Design Strategist
I guided businesses in leveraging design-focused strategies to reach their objectives. My leadership spans design and development across diverse platforms, encompassing traditional media like graphic design, branding, web design, and video production, as well as newer forms such as blogging, podcasting, game development, spatial computing, and social media. Through these endeavors, I’ve cultivated a rich set of design principles and frameworks, empowering others to tackle complex challenges with creative solutions.
GigaOM
2009 – 2012
Blogger, Designer & Content Creator
I crafted insightful reviews and other relevant journalism for The Apple Blog, a subsidiary of GigaOM, on the latest developments in hardware, software, and consumer electronics for all things Apple. I also developed interactive training and materials to teach the masses how to get the most from their Apple gear through Tech University, a GigaOM startup.
Education
A path, not a destination
University of North Texas
2009 – 2012
Minor in Anthropology
University of Texas at Dallas
2007 – 2008
University of Texas at Dallas
2003 – 2007
Say Hello!
Let’s chat over breakfast tacos.
Are you interested in collaborating on a project?
Or want to talk nerdy about design? Let’s chat!
