lead & create
Looking to continue to help lead, inspire, mentor and manage a talented team of product designers.
Corey Robertson is an empathetic and positive UX Design Leader with 25 years of experience building great experiences and high-performing teams. Known for connecting people and ideas, Corey has a proven track record of driving design excellence, from concept to implementation, while fostering collaborative and inclusive environments. He is passionate about mentoring designers, advocating for design's value, and empowering others to find their professional voice.
Corey Robertson
Product Design Strategist
Corey Robertson is an empathetic and positive UX Design Leader with 25 years of experience building great experiences and high-performing teams. Known for connecting people and ideas, Corey has a proven track record of driving design excellence, from concept to implementation, while fostering collaborative and inclusive environments. He is passionate about mentoring designers, advocating for design's value, and empowering others to find their professional voice.
Corey Robertson
Product Design Strategist
lead & create
Looking to continue to help lead, inspire, mentor and manage a talented team of product designers.
Corey Robertson is an empathetic and positive UX Design Leader with 25 years of experience building great experiences and high-performing teams. Known for connecting people and ideas, Corey has a proven track record of driving design excellence, from concept to implementation, while fostering collaborative and inclusive environments. He is passionate about mentoring designers, advocating for design's value, and empowering others to find their professional voice.
Corey Robertson
Product Design Strategist
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
I’m a UX design leader, strategist & empathetic enthusiast that helps companies build great experiences.
Communication
I’ve successfully advocated for user-centered design principles, influencing product roadmaps and driving positive business outcomes.
Communication
I’ve successfully advocated for user-centered design principles, influencing product roadmaps and driving positive business outcomes.
Strategic Thinking
I’ve utilized a problem-solving framework to address complex design challenges, leading to the development of solutions that improved user satisfaction and reduced development costs.
Strategic Thinking
I’ve utilized a problem-solving framework to address complex design challenges, leading to the development of solutions that improved user satisfaction and reduced development costs.
Multi-disciplinary Expertise
I'm a highly versatile UX professional, adept at leading design vision, mentoring teams, and bridging cross-functional collaboration to create exceptional user experiences across web and mobile platforms.
Multi-disciplinary Expertise
I'm a highly versatile UX professional, adept at leading design vision, mentoring teams, and bridging cross-functional collaboration to create exceptional user experiences across web and mobile platforms.
Results Driven
I’m passionate about delivering exceptional outcomes. Persistent and goal-oriented, consistently exceeding expectations and taking ownership of projects.
Results Driven
I’m passionate about delivering exceptional outcomes. Persistent and goal-oriented, consistently exceeding expectations and taking ownership of projects.
Building UX Community
As the UX team’s Culture and Community lead, I fostered team cohesion and shared purpose for over 65 designers across 11 locations through strategic "we-time" initiatives.
Building UX Community
As the UX team’s Culture and Community lead, I fostered team cohesion and shared purpose for over 65 designers across 11 locations through strategic "we-time" initiatives.
Relationship Building
I cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, translating complex technical concepts into actionable insights and recommendations.
Relationship Building
I cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, translating complex technical concepts into actionable insights and recommendations.
Continuous Learning
I actively seek out new design trends and emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve. I'm passionate about exploring innovative approaches to user experience design.
Continuous Learning
I actively seek out new design trends and emerging technologies to stay ahead of the curve. I'm passionate about exploring innovative approaches to user experience design.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is primarily a blend of coaching, visionary, and servant leadership, which allows me to adapt to the needs of the team and organization while focusing on individual growth, fostering a strong team culture, and ensuring everyone feels personally and professionally fulfilled.
As a UX Design Leader, my commitment to user-centricity extends beyond simply conducting research. I proactively identify opportunities for user investigation, employing a diverse range of methodologies (e.g., ethnographic studies, usability testing, surveys, data analytics) to gain a holistic understanding of user needs, motivations, and pain points. I champion the integration of user insights throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from strategic planning and ideation to prototyping, testing, and iteration. This involves collaborating closely with cross-functional teams – including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders – to advocate for the user perspective and ensure design decisions are grounded in evidence.
How do you define and champion a design vision?
I define and champion a design vision by leading and directing a comprehensive UX design strategy that aligns with business goals and drives innovative, user-centered solutions across multiple projects.
I define and champion a design vision by first immersing myself in the business's challenges and goals, while also understanding the motivations of both primary and secondary user personas. My approach involves utilizing design best practices to take a balanced approach that solves problems for both the business and its users. My "superpower" is simplifying complex processes and delivering a superior user experience. I lead and direct comprehensive UX design and execution across various client engagements, ensuring the design vision aligns with business goals. This strategy results in innovative, user-centered solutions.
What is your experience in building and mentoring design teams?
I've mentored and grown UX design teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment while providing direct mentorship to junior designers.
I have more than five years of experience in leadership roles, where I have actively built, mentored, and grown design teams. A significant part of this experience includes establishing a college talent pipeline from the ground up, where I reviewed over 100 candidates per cycle, crafted targeted job descriptions, and made hiring decisions for college-hire candidates. I have also conducted interviews and portfolio reviews to build highly talented UX design teams. My approach involves fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment, where I mentor and guide team members while upholding design quality standards and promoting best practices. At Diligent Board Member Services, I provided leadership and mentorship to junior UI Designers, helping them enhance their abilities to use various tools and software to achieve successful outcomes. This comprehensive experience has given me a strong passion for coaching and developing design talent.
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is primarily a blend of coaching, visionary, and servant leadership, which allows me to adapt to the needs of the team and organization while focusing on individual growth, fostering a strong team culture, and ensuring everyone feels personally and professionally fulfilled.
As a UX Design Leader, my commitment to user-centricity extends beyond simply conducting research. I proactively identify opportunities for user investigation, employing a diverse range of methodologies (e.g., ethnographic studies, usability testing, surveys, data analytics) to gain a holistic understanding of user needs, motivations, and pain points. I champion the integration of user insights throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from strategic planning and ideation to prototyping, testing, and iteration. This involves collaborating closely with cross-functional teams – including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders – to advocate for the user perspective and ensure design decisions are grounded in evidence.
How do you define and champion a design vision?
I define and champion a design vision by leading and directing a comprehensive UX design strategy that aligns with business goals and drives innovative, user-centered solutions across multiple projects.
I define and champion a design vision by first immersing myself in the business's challenges and goals, while also understanding the motivations of both primary and secondary user personas. My approach involves utilizing design best practices to take a balanced approach that solves problems for both the business and its users. My "superpower" is simplifying complex processes and delivering a superior user experience. I lead and direct comprehensive UX design and execution across various client engagements, ensuring the design vision aligns with business goals. This strategy results in innovative, user-centered solutions.
What is your experience in building and mentoring design teams?
I've mentored and grown UX design teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment while providing direct mentorship to junior designers.
I have more than five years of experience in leadership roles, where I have actively built, mentored, and grown design teams. A significant part of this experience includes establishing a college talent pipeline from the ground up, where I reviewed over 100 candidates per cycle, crafted targeted job descriptions, and made hiring decisions for college-hire candidates. I have also conducted interviews and portfolio reviews to build highly talented UX design teams. My approach involves fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment, where I mentor and guide team members while upholding design quality standards and promoting best practices. At Diligent Board Member Services, I provided leadership and mentorship to junior UI Designers, helping them enhance their abilities to use various tools and software to achieve successful outcomes. This comprehensive experience has given me a strong passion for coaching and developing design talent.
Case Studies
Case Studies
Transforming Complex Challenges into Intuitive Solutions
This portfolio demonstrates my expertise in driving impactful UX solutions across diverse industries through user-centered design and strategic vision.
Case Studies
Transforming Complex Challenges into Intuitive Solutions
This portfolio demonstrates my expertise in driving impactful UX solutions across diverse industries through user-centered design and strategic vision.
UX/UI Design
Data-Driven Design
[Top Logistics Company], a major player in the transportation services sector, was grappling with the limitations of managing critical operations through static spreadsheets. Recognizing the need for a more efficient and dynamic solution, they partnered with our team to envision and develop a modern web application. This initiative aimed to transform their core workflows for tracking shipments and strategically matching available drivers with new load opportunities.
UX/UI Design
Data-Driven Design
[Top Logistics Company], a major player in the transportation services sector, was grappling with the limitations of managing critical operations through static spreadsheets. Recognizing the need for a more efficient and dynamic solution, they partnered with our team to envision and develop a modern web application. This initiative aimed to transform their core workflows for tracking shipments and strategically matching available drivers with new load opportunities.
UX/UI Design
Data-Driven Design
[Top Logistics Company], a major player in the transportation services sector, was grappling with the limitations of managing critical operations through static spreadsheets. Recognizing the need for a more efficient and dynamic solution, they partnered with our team to envision and develop a modern web application. This initiative aimed to transform their core workflows for tracking shipments and strategically matching available drivers with new load opportunities.
IA/UX Strategy
Tracking Undergrounding
A leading statewide energy provider embarked on a significant initiative to enhance service reliability and energy grid resilience by strategically undergrounding neighborhood power lines. Recognizing the limitations of their existing manual, spreadsheet-based system for tracking the progress of this large-scale undertaking, they sought a dynamic digital solution. As the Lead Information Architect and Interaction Designer within a design team of 6-8 individuals, I played a pivotal role in envisioning and developing a comprehensive web and iPad application. This critical project aimed to replace their cumbersome manual processes with an intuitive platform for real-time tracking of project statuses and updates across the entire undergrounding effort.
IA/UX Strategy
Tracking Undergrounding
A leading statewide energy provider embarked on a significant initiative to enhance service reliability and energy grid resilience by strategically undergrounding neighborhood power lines. Recognizing the limitations of their existing manual, spreadsheet-based system for tracking the progress of this large-scale undertaking, they sought a dynamic digital solution. As the Lead Information Architect and Interaction Designer within a design team of 6-8 individuals, I played a pivotal role in envisioning and developing a comprehensive web and iPad application. This critical project aimed to replace their cumbersome manual processes with an intuitive platform for real-time tracking of project statuses and updates across the entire undergrounding effort.
IA/UX Strategy
Tracking Undergrounding
A leading statewide energy provider embarked on a significant initiative to enhance service reliability and energy grid resilience by strategically undergrounding neighborhood power lines. Recognizing the limitations of their existing manual, spreadsheet-based system for tracking the progress of this large-scale undertaking, they sought a dynamic digital solution. As the Lead Information Architect and Interaction Designer within a design team of 6-8 individuals, I played a pivotal role in envisioning and developing a comprehensive web and iPad application. This critical project aimed to replace their cumbersome manual processes with an intuitive platform for real-time tracking of project statuses and updates across the entire undergrounding effort.
UX/UI Design
From Silos to Synergy
A top financial institution sought to modernize its workforce management processes for its phone and chat-based support staff. Recognizing the inefficiencies and redundancies inherent in their suite of disparate legacy in-house tools for scheduling, staffing, and time tracking, they embarked on a project to create a unified and dynamic platform. As the Lead UX and Interaction Designer, I spearheaded the initial discovery and strategy phases of this critical workforce management platform project. This involved conducting in-depth interviews and collaborative workshops with support staff and management to understand their current pain points, workflows, and needs. The insights gathered from these sessions informed the creation of detailed process flows and information architecture maps, which served as the foundation for strategic recommendations for the platform's future design and functionality. This foundational work directly shaped the subsequent design and delivery of key screens and workflows tailored to the specific needs of the platform's primary user groups – both support staff and their managers.
UX/UI Design
From Silos to Synergy
A top financial institution sought to modernize its workforce management processes for its phone and chat-based support staff. Recognizing the inefficiencies and redundancies inherent in their suite of disparate legacy in-house tools for scheduling, staffing, and time tracking, they embarked on a project to create a unified and dynamic platform. As the Lead UX and Interaction Designer, I spearheaded the initial discovery and strategy phases of this critical workforce management platform project. This involved conducting in-depth interviews and collaborative workshops with support staff and management to understand their current pain points, workflows, and needs. The insights gathered from these sessions informed the creation of detailed process flows and information architecture maps, which served as the foundation for strategic recommendations for the platform's future design and functionality. This foundational work directly shaped the subsequent design and delivery of key screens and workflows tailored to the specific needs of the platform's primary user groups – both support staff and their managers.
UX/UI Design
From Silos to Synergy
A top financial institution sought to modernize its workforce management processes for its phone and chat-based support staff. Recognizing the inefficiencies and redundancies inherent in their suite of disparate legacy in-house tools for scheduling, staffing, and time tracking, they embarked on a project to create a unified and dynamic platform. As the Lead UX and Interaction Designer, I spearheaded the initial discovery and strategy phases of this critical workforce management platform project. This involved conducting in-depth interviews and collaborative workshops with support staff and management to understand their current pain points, workflows, and needs. The insights gathered from these sessions informed the creation of detailed process flows and information architecture maps, which served as the foundation for strategic recommendations for the platform's future design and functionality. This foundational work directly shaped the subsequent design and delivery of key screens and workflows tailored to the specific needs of the platform's primary user groups – both support staff and their managers.
MY PROCESS
Approach to Success
My design process mirrors design thinking, emphasizing early user understanding through empathy, feedback, analytics, surveys, support tickets, and the product roadmap to define problems effectively.
MY PROCESS
Approach to Success
My design process mirrors design thinking, emphasizing early user understanding through empathy, feedback, analytics, surveys, support tickets, and the product roadmap to define problems effectively.
MY PROCESS
Approach to Success
My design process mirrors design thinking, emphasizing early user understanding through empathy, feedback, analytics, surveys, support tickets, and the product roadmap to define problems effectively.
Define
I collaborate with stakeholders early to define project purpose and scope, ensuring we solve the right problem. Project summaries, problem statements, and personas clarify constraints and user empathy. We align on User/Business Objectives with the team.
Define
I collaborate with stakeholders early to define project purpose and scope, ensuring we solve the right problem. Project summaries, problem statements, and personas clarify constraints and user empathy. We align on User/Business Objectives with the team.
Define
I collaborate with stakeholders early to define project purpose and scope, ensuring we solve the right problem. Project summaries, problem statements, and personas clarify constraints and user empathy. We align on User/Business Objectives with the team.
Research
For redesigns, I document the existing solution with flowcharts to identify pain points. Competitive analysis reveals patterns within and beyond our industry, informing our understanding of similar problems.
Research
For redesigns, I document the existing solution with flowcharts to identify pain points. Competitive analysis reveals patterns within and beyond our industry, informing our understanding of similar problems.
Research
For redesigns, I document the existing solution with flowcharts to identify pain points. Competitive analysis reveals patterns within and beyond our industry, informing our understanding of similar problems.
Design (& Iterate)
I visualize solutions with user flows and low-fidelity wireframes, iterating on strong concepts. Information architecture ensures sound structure. Visual design brings wireframes to life using the design system, considering edge and empty states before prototyping.
Design (& Iterate)
I visualize solutions with user flows and low-fidelity wireframes, iterating on strong concepts. Information architecture ensures sound structure. Visual design brings wireframes to life using the design system, considering edge and empty states before prototyping.
Design (& Iterate)
I visualize solutions with user flows and low-fidelity wireframes, iterating on strong concepts. Information architecture ensures sound structure. Visual design brings wireframes to life using the design system, considering edge and empty states before prototyping.
Feedback
Collaboration and feedback are crucial throughout, from defining the problem to visual design. User testing provides invaluable insights that drive informed design iterations.
Feedback
Collaboration and feedback are crucial throughout, from defining the problem to visual design. User testing provides invaluable insights that drive informed design iterations.
Feedback
Collaboration and feedback are crucial throughout, from defining the problem to visual design. User testing provides invaluable insights that drive informed design iterations.
Feedback
Collaboration and feedback are crucial throughout, from defining the problem to visual design. User testing provides invaluable insights that drive informed design iterations.
Build
Seamless designer-developer handoff relies on early collaboration and consistent communication. We prioritize design system adherence, platform guidelines, and clear asset organization.
Build
Seamless designer-developer handoff relies on early collaboration and consistent communication. We prioritize design system adherence, platform guidelines, and clear asset organization.
Build
Seamless designer-developer handoff relies on early collaboration and consistent communication. We prioritize design system adherence, platform guidelines, and clear asset organization.
Analyze
Getting the solution into the real world and in front of users is the ultimate validation of the decisions that were made. Designing ways to receive in-app feedback is a great way to hear the voice of the user.
Analyze
Getting the solution into the real world and in front of users is the ultimate validation of the decisions that were made. Designing ways to receive in-app feedback is a great way to hear the voice of the user.
Analyze
Getting the solution into the real world and in front of users is the ultimate validation of the decisions that were made. Designing ways to receive in-app feedback is a great way to hear the voice of the user.
Conclusion
There isn’t a one size fits all process that can work for every project. External factors that can influence the process include: timeframe, team composition and budget. I’ve documented the steps and phases of my ideal design process knowing that there’s no set structure for how projects are started or completed. The design process is iterative and almost never linear. The review of feedback and analysis often leads us to revisiting an earlier phase of the process. However, the concepts and focuses of each phase can be used to help build long lasting projects for the world to enjoy.
corey robertson
Bringing 20+ years of expertise to crafting impactful user experiences and cultivating thriving design teams.
wow, this is truly incredible! All I can say is, if this were made available to a larger audience, it would benefit so many more people. I can't thank you enough.
@breveCEO
corey robertson
Bringing 20+ years of expertise to crafting impactful user experiences and cultivating thriving design teams.
wow, this is truly incredible! All I can say is, if this were made available to a larger audience, it would benefit so many more people. I can't thank you enough.
@breveCEO
corey robertson
Bringing 20+ years of expertise to crafting impactful user experiences and cultivating thriving design teams.
wow, this is truly incredible! All I can say is, if this were made available to a larger audience, it would benefit so many more people. I can't thank you enough.
@breveCEO