Design is the space between what people say they want and what they actually do.
Design is the space between what
people say they want and what
they actually do.
I’m a design leader with 20 years of hands-on craft that grew into systems, teams, and enterprise transformation. Trained at Pratt, built at Sony and AT&T, most recently Senior Director of Experience Design at Sallie Mae. I’ve never stopped making things. I’ve just learned how far the work can reach.
Twenty years. Pixels to systems. Systems to teams. Teams to transformation. At every stage the question was the same: how do we make the work better? The answer was always design — applied closer, scaled wider, connected more directly to what users actually need and what businesses actually measure.
Robbie Tseng — Vice President, Head of Growth Mktg Design @ HBO Max
In the time I had the pleasure of working with Levi, he managed to crank out critical project after critical project and was always willing to go that…
Zavida Magaru — Vice President, Enterprise Digital Platforms @ Sallie Mae
I had the unique opportunity to manage Levi at two separate firms, giving me a front-row seat to his consistent growth. Levi is a stand out talent capable…
Shanon Fraser — Senior Manager, Digital Product Development @ Sallie Mae
I had the pleasure of working closely with Levi at Sallie Mae, and what consistently stood out was his rare ability to scale leadership without losing proximity to…
Reduce
Start with the minimum and build with value
Guide
Experiences must hand hold the user based on their intent
Context — UTE framework
The entire situation or environment in which a user interacts with a product or service
Intrinsic value
People should be reminded of the value you are providing them
Knowledge
Feed your brain information on a daily basis that will make you a more well-rounded designer and human being.
I see the 2 main objectives when it comes to leadership. The first is to obtain results that exceed individual expectations. And second is to obtain respect from those you lead. These 2 things are not handed to you. It takes dedication (making it a priority) and flexibility (everyone is different) in order to achieve. I strive to be the leader I look up to, and that is one that guides me and provides me the room to explore and figure it out myself. I like to promote a healthy work/life balance by understanding scope and deadlines. I prefer to under promise and over-deliver. Nobody remembers how it started, the biggest impression you can leave is the output you provide. And last but not least, health and family come first. Life happens and if you feel as though your co-workers and leadership has your back when times get tough, they will follow your lead when work inevitably presents it’s challenges.
Twenty years of making things that reached people — at Sony, AT&T, Sallie Mae, and everywhere in between. If you’re building something that needs both craft and consequence, I’d like to hear about it.