Design leadership that achieves measurable business results, with craft and care.
15+ years in product design, management and leadership. A lifetime of curiosity…
Recent Work
Marketplace and product design at Weedmaps, Carro and beyond, with the business results behind each project.
And a solo-built iOS app, launching soon.
Resumé
Weedmaps
Associate Director, Product Design & Research
Crexi
Head of Design
Carro
AFRM
Managing Director
Zappos
Lead Mobile Designer
What I do
I lead design where craft, systems thinking, business strategy and customer empathy meet.
At Weedmaps I led design and research, rebuilt the design system for AI, drove org-wide AI adoption, and redesigned search around a map so shoppers see what is in stock nearby. Earlier I was founding designer and design leader at Carro, and sole design leader at Crexi and AFRM.
I coach through questions, lead through collaboration, and cultivate the environment that enables talented people do their best work.
I am sincerely honored by the kind words that former colleagues have offered in reference to me, and hope they give you additional confidence to work with me.
In their own words...
"When I brought him half-formed ideas, he asked the questions that made them whole rather than simply handing me answers. That approach made me a noticeably stronger designer."
David Gilman
Senior Product Designer
"Michael is one of those rare design leaders who can pair big, visionary thinking with a deep understanding of the user and the realities of the business. He consistently pushed us to think beyond the obvious and arrive at novel solutions, while being incredibly thoughtful about how to innovate within real-world constraints. Just as importantly, Michael is a fantastic partner and leader. He brings positivity and energy to the work, builds strong relationships across functions, and creates an environment where his team can do their best work. I’d jump at the chance to work with Michael again!"
Lisa Huber Ganderson
VP of Product
"Michael hired me to advance and lead the UX research function at Weedmaps, and working for (and later with) him fundamentally changed how I think about research and its role in a business. What stood out most was his bias toward action — he wanted to understand a problem deeply, but he was just as focused on getting to something testable, something we could put in front of real users and learn from quickly. That pushed our research to be sharper and more applied. He also never let me think small: Michael consistently connected research and design back to the broader business, championing things like growth levers and early, thoughtful adoption of AI, always asking how our work could move the whole company forward, not just his own team's remit. He's also one of the most empathetic leaders I've worked with. Michael leads like he's in service of his team, not the other way around — he made research and design feel like they belonged at the table, and he was a genuine advocate for both the discipline and the users we represented. His enthusiasm for the work is contagious; he has a way of getting people excited and aligned around a vision that made even ambiguous, cross-functional problems feel energizing rather than daunting. Michael gave me real ownership from day one, paired with the kind of thoughtful, direct feedback that made me better at my job. I'd work for him again in a heartbeat, and any team would be lucky to have him in their corner."
Kellyn Dunn
Lead UX Researcher
"Michael is an outstanding colleague, mentor, and leader, as well as a genuinely wonderful person. During our time together at Crexi, he excelled in multiple roles, particularly as both a Design and Product leader. He is always positive, upbeat, and sees the good in any situation. His ability to communicate clearly, empathize with others, and influence decisions has made him an invaluable asset to Crexi. Michael has consistently demonstrated exceptional design skills and leadership capabilities. I’ve had the pleasure of watching him nurture our Design team and serve as a trusted advisor to Product Managers and senior leadership, offering mentorship and strategic insights. Any organization would be lucky to have him on their team!"
Max Li
Senior Product Manger
"Michael is the full package when it comes to design and leadership. I directly reported to him as a principal product designer and benefited extensively from his mentorship. His honest and insightful communication style is only part of why he’s one of the best design leaders I’ve ever worked with and is as much of an asset to your company’s goals as he is to its people."
Joel Tinley
Principal Product Designer