Product & Experience Design Leader

Product & Experience Design Leader

I believe that experience integrity is a functional requirement, not a luxury. As a design leader for over 30 years – from the foundational days of the Xbox and the streaming wars at HBO to high-stakes R&D at Apple and Axon – I have dedicated my career to building the teams and systems that solve complex human-factors problems for a higher social good.

I believe that experience integrity is a functional requirement, not a luxury. As a design leader for over 30 years – from the foundational days of the Xbox and the streaming wars at HBO to high-stakes R&D at Apple and Axon – I have dedicated my career to building the teams and systems that solve complex human-factors problems for a higher social good.

[01] About Me

I love building things that people love, and I love building the teams that make them possible.

I love building things that people love, and I love building the teams that make them possible.

My career has been defined by product evolution: taking complex, fragmented, or nascent systems and modernizing them into intuitive experiences that serve millions. Whether transforming HBO’s streaming platform reach to 31 platforms in 14 months or “vibe-coding” bespoke hardware prototypes for first responders at Axon, I thrive where high-fidelity craft meets global scale.


As a “Player/Coach,” I lead with a style that is principled yet pragmatic. I maintain uncompromising standards for the user experience, but I understand the realities of shipping at the speed of tech. One of my “superpowers” is knowing exactly which corners can be cut – and which must be protected at all costs – to ensure the final product never loses its integrity.


Beyond the pixels, I am a builder of organizations, specializing in team architecture designing and hiring multi-disciplinary teams that are as resilient as the products they create. I view design as a vocation of service, and I’m proud of a track record characterized by high-impact output and low-attrition cultures.


A native of the Pacific Northwest, I remain a student of the “Human Moat” – the intersection of elite craft and intentional design that defines our most meaningful interactions with technology, and that AI cannot replicate.

My career has been defined by product evolution: taking complex, fragmented, or nascent systems and modernizing them into intuitive experiences that serve millions. Whether transforming HBO’s streaming platform reach to 31 platforms in 14 months or “vibe-coding” bespoke hardware prototypes for first responders at Axon, I thrive where high-fidelity craft meets global scale.


As a “Player/Coach,” I lead with a style that is principled yet pragmatic. I maintain uncompromising standards for the user experience, but I understand the realities of shipping at the speed of tech. One of my “superpowers” is knowing exactly which corners can be cut – and which must be protected at all costs – to ensure the final product never loses its integrity.


Beyond the pixels, I am a builder of organizations, specializing in team architecture designing and hiring multi-disciplinary teams that are as resilient as the products they create. I view design as a vocation of service, and I’m proud of a track record characterized by high-impact output and low-attrition cultures.


A native of the Pacific Northwest, I remain a student of the “Human Moat” – the intersection of elite craft and intentional design that defines our most meaningful interactions with technology, and that AI cannot replicate.

[02] Missions & Milestones

Thirty years of product evolution. I’m proud to have had a front row seat to transformative shifts across three distinct eras: the birth of connected gaming, the rise of global streaming, and the modernization of public safety.

Thirty years of product evolution. I’m proud to have had a front row seat to transformative shifts across three distinct eras: the birth of connected gaming, the rise of global streaming, and the modernization of public safety.

Axon Enterprise

Director of Design

Engineering experience integrity and R&D for the next generation of public safety hardware and systems.

Axon Enterprise

Director of Design

Engineering experience integrity and R&D for the next generation of public safety hardware and systems.

Amazon

Sr. Design Manager

Directed UX for the global Consumer Electronics Technology group, responsible for $25BN± in annual revenue.

Amazon

Sr. Design Manager

Directed UX for the global Consumer Electronics Technology group, responsible for $25BN± in annual revenue.

Apple

Creative Design Director

Led Experience Design for immersive entertainment and media within the Vision Pro R&D group.

Apple

Creative Design Director

Led Experience Design for immersive entertainment and media within the Vision Pro R&D group.

HBO

VP, Experience Design

Transformed HBO’s on-demand service into a global streaming platform; scaled to 31 platforms in 14 months.

HBO

VP, Experience Design

Transformed HBO’s on-demand service into a global streaming platform; scaled to 31 platforms in 14 months.

Microsoft – Windows Phone

Director of Design

Led design strategy and outreach with OEM partners (LG, Samsung, Vertu) for Windows Phone versions 7-8.

Microsoft – Windows Phone

Director of Design

Led design strategy and outreach with OEM partners (LG, Samsung, Vertu) for Windows Phone versions 7-8.

Microsoft – Xbox Game Studios

Sr. Art Director

Defined the visual soul and UX of multiple launch titles, for the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Kinect, and Xbox One. Projects included Halo, Mass Effect, Fable, and Xbox Live Arcade.

Microsoft – Xbox Game Studios

Sr. Art Director

Defined the visual soul and UX of multiple launch titles, for the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Kinect, and Xbox One. Projects included Halo, Mass Effect, Fable, and Xbox Live Arcade.

[03] Awards & Recognition

When you solve complex problems with enough rigor, the industry takes notice. It’s been an honor to lead world-class teams and see our work recognized by our peers.

When you solve complex problems with enough rigor, the industry takes notice. It’s been an honor to lead world-class teams and see our work recognized by our peers.

Emmy®

Awarded 2x, for Excellence in both Creative and Technical achievement.

Emmy®

Awarded 2x, for Excellence in both Creative and Technical achievement.

BAFTA – Games

Recognition for innovation and impact in interactive media (multiple titles).

BAFTA – Games

Recognition for innovation and impact in interactive media (multiple titles).

Webby Awards

Best video streaming site, HBO NOW.

Webby Awards

Best video streaming site, HBO NOW.

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

Honored for contributions to art direction and narrative excellence.

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

Honored for contributions to art direction and narrative excellence.

Print Media

Work profiled in Fast Company, Communication Arts, ID Magazine, and Print.

Print Media

Work profiled in Fast Company, Communication Arts, ID Magazine, and Print.

Let’s solve something meaningful together.

Whether it’s a digital interface or a physical interaction, the goal remains the same: crafting solutions that feel intuitive & intentional, and maybe – just maybe – make people smile. If you value design that prioritizes the person on the other side of the tech, my inbox is open.

Based in Seattle and currently open to new leadership opportunities.

© 2026 Ryan Wilkerson | All rights are the property of their respective holders

Let’s solve something meaningful together.

Whether it’s a digital interface or a physical interaction, the goal remains the same: crafting solutions that feel intuitive & intentional, and maybe – just maybe – make people smile. If you value design that prioritizes the person on the other side of the tech, my inbox is open.

Based in Seattle and currently open to new leadership opportunities.

© 2026 Ryan Wilkerson | All rights are the property of their respective holders