s t e p h e n w a h l
Human centered design leader and systems thinker with extensive experience in early stage concept exploration through detailed development, overseas manufacturing and mass production.
My passion for design excellence is based on the belief that good design requires iteration and acquired insights from users and every function of the team along the entire journey from idea to realization by balancing creative, cost and execution. Being a part of a team that is working together and committed to make something meaningful and important is what drives me.
Director of Design
Community driven design and development manufacturer focused on enthusiast products and collaborations.
Developed a consistent design language across all products, packaging and marketing for both audiophile and mechanical keyboard product categories.
Awarded CES Product of the Year for our first proprietary audiophile quality wireless headphones.
Established Taiwan based Drop manufacturing and engineering development team.
Maintained global supplier relations throughout every phase of design development
through mass production
R+D Manager - Retail Real Estate Design and Development
Design and development of interior and exterior visual branding components and the integration in all types of building materials and settings.
Global supplier coordination and development of new applications and integration into both existing and new store designs prioritized based on sales volume, visibility, cost and timing.
Established architectural Logo style guide and a 5 year installation strategy for ~90 stores worldwide in development, identifying risks based on layout and onsite construction realities.
Co-Founder & Chief Creative / Operations Officer
Design and implementation of our brand across all digital and physical applications, including marketing materials, website design, event and trade show spaces, delivery vehicles and driver uniforms.
Established and developed the UX & customer journey at all touch points, both on-line and in person.
Developed and managed the operations and logistics of all warehouse staff and delivery driver’s day to day responsibilities.
Planned and implemented delivery routes and growth strategies to provide service to the greater SF bay area from Santa Cruz to Marin including east bay and peninsula communities
Acquired by ReDYPER
Senior Design & Content Lead
Integral in leading multi-disciplinary development teams integrating empathy and user-research as best practices for the creation of what would become Design Thinking.
Creative leadership, design, UX and user research for clients and industries worldwide.
Design and strategic lead for our guest curatorship of an exhibit at The Smithsonian
Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum celebrating and educating visitors about the
concept of Design Thinking through a selection of the extensive museum archives.
Led weekly internal design discussions and challenges to mentor and inspire colleagues.
Focused on longer client relationships to have more meaningful and lasting impact.
Senior Industrial Designer
Integral in creating and establishing a streamlined internal design and development process.
Design and development of products to address new technology in the workspace
Details became the most profitable division within Steelcase in less than 5 years.
Industrial Designer
Designer on the OXO Good Grips team, which at the time was fledgling partnership between Smart Design and Sam Farber, an inclusive design pioneer in the kitchen utensil space.
Designer on the J&J/REACH children's toothbrush team. Using user observations and customer feedback to achieve insights that influenced our design. 20+ years later and its still in production and hugely successful for J&J.
— clients include —