WORK
Lead Product Designer at Lowe's
in Charlotte, NC
8 years of experience in the design field,
5 focused on user experience
SKILLS
UX Design
UI Design
Information Architecture
Prototyping
Branding
Illustration
Animation
Web Design
Print Design
Photography
Project Management
People Management
EDUCATION
Bachelors in Graphic Design, NC State University
Leadership Essentials Certificate, Cornell University
TOOLS
Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
Figjam, Invision, Marvel, Whimsical, Balsamiq
Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, After Effects, Procreate
Webflow, Framer
INTERESTS
Trip Planning
Map-making (visit my Etsy shop)
Exploring National Parks
Hiking, Running, Biking, Paddle-boarding and Kayaking
Language-learning
Experience
Lead Product Designer – Lowe's Hardware
Sept 2022 – Present
Associate Product Designer, 2019 – 2020; Product Designer, 2020 – 2021; Senior Product Designer, 2021 – 2022
I work with a dedicated team of designers, engineers and researchers to bring top-notch user experience and visual interfaces to Lowe's costumer-facing digital platforms. Our united goal is to make it easier and more enjoyable for consumers to discover, browse, find, purchase and benefit from Lowe’s products through the website and mobile application. My work focuses on strategic initiatives, UX metrics, and working across teams to facilitate collaboration between different business stakeholders. I've worked to establish design direction, manage projects, and build teams that position customer experience at the core of Lowe's product strategy.
Cofounder – Neurun
Feb 2017 – Present
Neurun is a platform designed to mentally prepare runners and other distance athletes for race day challenges. I work to make any goal for an outdoor challenge achievable using fitness technologies that bridge the connection between mind and body. Since early 2017 I've supported the company by acting as its cofounder and director of digital experiences, shaping the way runners interact with Neurun's tools and technologies online.
Managing Partner and COO – Paradigm Innovation
July 2017 – Sept 2019
I helped lead this small but mighty design strategy firm based in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Working with an old schoolmate, I helped to build a team comprised of award-winning designers and strategists with work experience specializing in product design, visual design, and design strategy, serving clients ranging from entrepreneurs and startups to top Fortune 500 companies.
Designer – REVERED
June 2016 – July 2017
I worked as a designer, illustrator, and editor for print, digital, web, and brand strategy at REVERED, a brand marketing firm applying design thinking to influence the moments of engagement between people and brands. Creating influence online and offline through branding, positioning and tactical communications, my work at REVERED included designing materials for clients such as Duke University, the North Carolina School of Science and Math, Touchcare Health Systems, the City of Raleigh, and more.
Lead Designer – North Carolina Institute for Emerging Issues
June 2015 – June 2016
Working as the head graphic designer at this Raleigh-based think tank, I led the rebrand of the Institute in addition to designing and creating marketing materials, program booklets, wayfinding devices, invitations, infographics, and animations for the organization as a whole and for the annual state-wide Emerging Issues Forum. I also used these materials in organization-based social media accounts for campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google+ along with the creation HTML email templates and digital event registration pages.
Recommendations
"Ben is one of the most talented designers I've ever had the pleasure to manage and work with. There is not a task or challenge too big that he can’t handle. He always takes initiative and goes beyond the task at hand. He is truly the definition of a swiss army knife. He has a great way of inspiring others, communicates his vision effectively to achieve buy-in across all levels but above all is an amazing human being. He continues to raise the bar for always creating innovative experiences. He works closely with the team, product partners and tech lead to help them navigate challenging situations and in doing so he demonstrates his skills as a born leader. He is intrinsically motivated to ask questions and understand the "WHY" while being accountable and taking ownership. Ben exhibits mastery while requiring little or no support or direction from others, this allows him to be recognized as a top performer compared to his peers. Ben leads with empathy and reliably sets and meets expectations on all his projects. Working with Ben is an absolute pleasure and any team would be extremely lucky to have such a talented creative leader."
Katherine Arena
Product Design Leader at LinkedIn