Hi, I’m Ben and I am
Designing at the Intersection of Human Empathy and AI Innovation
Exploring the frontier where artificial intelligence amplifies human empathy, creativity, and connection, seeking opportunities to push these boundaries further
Principal Product Designer | Design Systems Architect | Design Leader
Ben Hunt - Founder/ Designer
I've spent 25 years at the intersection of design leadership and product strategy—from founding UX departments to scaling design operations in hyper-growth startups.
I’m Ben Hunt — a strategic product design leader with 25+ years of experience transforming complex technical challenges into elegant, intuitive user experiences. I specialize in architecting design systems, integrating AI into product workflows, and building design organizations that drive measurable business growth.
My career has been defined by one core belief: Design is not just what it looks like; it’s how it works for people and businesses.
From scaling design teams at fintech startups to pioneering AI-informed workflows for enterprise platforms, I bridge the gap between human needs and technical possibility. I don’t just design interfaces; I design systems that enable organizations to scale, innovate, and win.
My Design Philosophy
Great design requires balancing three forces: user empathy, business strategy, and technical feasibility. My approach is built on:
1. Systems Thinking Over Isolated Features
I treat design as infrastructure. By architecting robust design systems and component libraries, I enable teams to move faster, reduce technical debt, and maintain consistency at scale. A great system empowers every designer and developer to do their best work.
2. AI as an Amplifier
In the age of artificial intelligence, design must build trust. I focus on "AI-Informed Design" — creating transparent, explainable interfaces that give users confidence in intelligent systems. Whether it’s workflow automation or predictive analytics, I design for human control and clarity.
3. Data-Informed, Human-Centered
Design decisions should be evidence-based. I champion research-driven iteration, combining quantitative analytics with qualitative user insights to validate assumptions and minimize risk. If we aren't measuring impact, we aren't designing — we're guessing.
Professional Journey
Over the last two decades, I’ve had the privilege of solving problems for some of the most dynamic industries in technology:
AI & Enterprise SaaS: At Elementum, I led the design strategy for an AI-driven workflow automation platform, reducing user adoption barriers by 30% and improving operational efficiency by 25%.
Fintech Innovation: As Director of Product Design at Nelnet Bank and Head of Product Design at Sweater, I designed secure, compliant, and accessible financial experiences that drove 15% revenue growth and 28% higher user satisfaction.
Scale & Operations: At Vivint Solar, I architected mobile-first field sales applications used by 2,000+ representatives, streamlining operations and accelerating sales velocity.
Whether acting as a Strategic Director building teams from scratch or a Principal Designer solving deep interaction challenges, I bring the same level of rigor, craft, and strategic vision.
Design Leadership
• Design Team Building
• Mentorship & Coaching
• Cross-Functional Alignment
• Design Ops & Governance
Strategic Impact
• Revenue-Driven Design
• User Adoption Strategy
• Operational Efficiency
• Product Roadmappin
Technical Mastery
• Design Systems Architecture
• AI/ML Interaction Design
• Complex Data Visualization
• Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA)
Beyond the Pixels
When I’m not in Figma or leading design reviews, I’m based in Sandy, Utah, exploring the intersection of creativity and technology. I believe that staying curious is the key to longevity in this industry. I’m constantly learning. Currently deep-diving into Agentic UX and the future of human-AI collaboration.
I am driven by the challenge of the "unsolvable" problem. If you have a complex product that needs clarity, a design system that needs architecture, or a team that needs leadership, let’s talk.
Founded 3 UX departments from zero
Founded 3 UX departments from zero
Led teams ranging from 1 to 8+ designers
Built design systems used by millions
Adobe "Website of the Day" award winner
Resume
I am looking for that next challenging role. If you are needing contract work or looking for a full-time hire, hit me up and let’s connect!
Elementum
2024-2025
Director of User Experience | Principle Designer
Leading design for enterprise AI-driven workflows. Built scalable design system for real-time data viz. Reduced adoption barriers 30%, improved onboarding 40%, boosted satisfaction 35%.
AI Infrastructure
Pioneered UX practices for AI workflow automation
Mentored growing team on AI-focused product design
Led cross-functional teams (data scientists, engineers, PMs)
Nelnet Bank
2020-2024
Director of Product Design & Creative | Principle Designer
Fintech
Founded UX department from zero. Built comprehensive design system. Led mobile app, website, and marketing creative. Achieved 28% satisfaction increase and 15% revenue growth.
Established high-performing UX team from scratch
Championed WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
Integrated data-driven insights into product roadmaps
Vivint Solar
2017-2024
Director of User Experience | Principal Designer
Consumer Tech
Led team of 8 through complete UX overhaul. Built unified design ecosystem. Improved handoffs 25%. Created high-impact sales app (Nike Partnership) for field representatives.
Launched world-class sales application
Established comprehensive research methods
Reduced design handoff friction by 25%
Verisk (Xactware)
2014-2017
Sr. Manager | Principal Product Design
Insurance Technology
Led comprehensive UX strategy across product portfolio
Championed user research & usability testing
Created end-to-end design deliverables
Directed UX strategy for multiple enterprise products. Unified global brand standards. Built online style guide. Improved execution speed 40% through scalable workflows.