Product & UX design leadership
Blending strategic leadership with hands-on design expertise, I work seamlessly between design, cross-functional and executive teams to shape, craft, and launch digital products that people love and rely upon.
Experience
Design Leader
At Google, I worked as both a UX Manager and Senior Product Designer, collaborating closely with product, engineering, senior leadership, and across product teams to ship experiences for Gboard and other Search initiatives. At Fandom, I led the Product Design team, working closely with partners across the entire organization to transform a collection of one-off wiki sites into the world’s largest fan site.
Manager & Mentor
Over the past 15 years, I’ve managed and mentored six teams across both agency and in-house settings. I work collaboratively with team members to set goals based on their strengths, opportunities, and career goals, and guide their growth through measurable objectives.
Evangelist & Educator
I have taught UX design courses, and created a web design curriculum for the Board of Directors at Creative Circus in Atlanta. I have addressed the student body as a guest speaker at Miami Ad School, and have been a guest speaker and Designer in Residence for General Assembly in San Francisco.
Capabilities
Craft
Creative Direction
Concept Design
User Experience Design
Visual Design
Identity Design
Prototyping
User Research
Design Systems
Illustration
Skills
Design Strategy
Design Storytelling
Design Management
Design Thinking
Workshop Facilitation
Design Sprints
Mentorship
Communication
Collaboration
Tools
Figma / FigJam
Adobe Creative Suite
Google Business Suite
Sketch
Miro
Keynote
Kind words
"James and I collaborated on several complex, cross-functional projects at Blueriver. He brought invaluable design leadership, smart UX solutions and a high standard for quality to every initiative, instilling confidence in our clients and fostering inspiration and motivation among our team."
Jim Wayne –– Senior Project Manager, Blueriver
"I had the pleasure of working under James’ leadership as a Chief Design Officer, and I can confidently say that he is a visionary in the field. He possesses a rare combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and empathy, which he consistently applies to drive exceptional user experiences. Working under his guidance, our team has not only improved our design processes but also our overall approach to product development. He is not just a leader; he's a mentor who is always available to listen and help. Whether it's brainstorming ideas, providing feedback, or offering support during challenging projects, James is there every step of the way. His approachability and genuine willingness to assist contributed to a culture of trust and collaboration within our team. I highly recommend James to any organization seeking a dedicated and talented UX leader."
Cheryl DeVore –– Lead Product Designer, Blueriver
James Witcher
Available for full-time and select fractional design leadership opportunities.
jameswitcherdesign@gmail.com
+1 404 630 1135
© 2024