Alex is one of those rare designers who combines technical/artistic excellence with a seasoned business mindset, and doesn't hesitate to embrace high-profile assignments. He led Global Design for my category and built a tremendous reputation for creating mini-miracles (huge scope, tough deadlines, discerning stakeholders). He fully owned brand-wide design for a major global brand and drove significant net sales & distribution impact via inspiring design and solving significant commercial complexity/challenges. ...and he did it with graceful collaboration across functions and a fun energy that caused people to seek him out as a partner and advisor. I'd build brands with Alex any time, any place!

Gabe Cleek - Vice President, Corporate New Ventures, S.C. Johnson

 

I am a Designer with a passion for people.

I have spent my life “walking a mile in other people’s shoes” and my career using that deep empathy to better understand what people aspire to, how they think, and how to make their lives better through design.

I have experience in Design Leadership, Product Development, Design Strategy, Brand Equity, and a passion for Consumer-Led Innovation. I have proven success in translating global insights into meaningful design solutions by balancing user empathy, business viability, and technical feasibility.

My Maxim is “Innovation Through Empathy.”

 

Alex is one of the most talented, driven & warm-hearted designers I have the good fortune to work with for the past 5 years now at SC Johnson. First and foremost as a person, his integrity, dedication, and reliability stand out to me. 

As a designer, Alex has the rare ability to move from the big-picture vision to the smallest of details within projects making him a holistic designer. What I admire most about Alex is his highly collaborative nature, the ease with which he communicates constructively across his team and the way in which he engages his stakeholders making him one of the most sought out designers. He is an expert at leading conversations and tries to get to resolutions through clarity of thought and discussions. He is one of the few designers who have mastered the art of making everybody around him feel creative and engaged. For this reason, people management and leadership comes easily to him. 

I see a lot of success in his future and wish him the best.

Aparna Unnikrishnan - Design Manager Alexa Devices, Amazon Lab126

 

MY MAXIM

INNOVATION THROUGH EMPATHY: People are my passion, and through my career I have been able to build deep connections with some amazing people. I approach each challenge with deep curiosity to unveil the heart of the problem from new angles: seeking new viewpoints to unlock unimaginable opportunities. I can’t wait to get to know you, hear your story, learn about your passions, and what keeps you up at night.

 

Alex was an absolute pleasure to work with during my tenure at SC Johnson, no matter what type of project or where in the development process we were. He was a true partner to my research team, stepping up to the plate to help define the key questions to answer, getting out into the field to conduct research, and analyzing the data back home. Alex truly understands and lives design thinking and user-centered design, and brings both to his daily work. I've seen him make valuable contributions to teams tackling big thorny questions one day, and put his head down the next to pump out concepts and scenarios to bring those ideas to life. Alex is an incredibly hard worker, yet manages to instill a sense of fun on his teams and in all his relationships with his colleagues. I would work with him again in a heartbeat!

Liesbeth Wenzel - Director Design Research, Milwaukee Tool

 

Awards & Recognition

Honors

  • 2022 RedDot - Smokefire Stealth

  • S.C. Johnson Officer’s Award 2017

  • Marketing Trailblazer Award Finalist 2017

  • S.C. Johnson Officer’s Award 2017

25+ Patents with global reach

  • USD914,430 S, USD931504S1, USD878538S1, USD931503S1, USD853548S1, USD852938S1, USD872847S1, USD872245S1, USD846725S1, USD881365S1, USD852348S1, USD821,224, USD814,314, US9,833,530B2, USD 748,238, US9,226,987, USD746,427, USD729,628, USD724,192, USD687,940 S, USD686,718 S, US20130165301A1, WO2014071030A1, EP2931321B1, BR302014001176S1, BR302014001430S1, AU2014326943B2, USD764298S1, EP3122389A1, EP3407710A2, MX2018010555A, USD871226S1, USD846724S1, USD859163S1

 

Alex is a talented product designer who has stellar brand equity strategy skills. I had the pleasure of working with Alex on a challenging, high priority global innovation project that was moving at lightening speed. What I appreciated most was his collaborative style and commitment to resolving issues to ensure that the designs would still deliver on strategic objectives. Alex has great design intuition, strong drive for results and is able to very effectively manage multiple projects. He is beloved by all his business partners for his positive 'we can do it' attitude and received a prestigious SC Johnson award for his outstanding work. I would welcome the opportunity to work with Alex again.

Jeannette Outler - Creative Marketing Leader/ Consumer-Centric Innovator/ Brand Growth Strategist