Things I made

I like solving problems, from building a bag photographers are asking to carry a 600mm lens up a mountain, to getting that same bag to target cost. If I can avoid problems before they arise even better. I’ve worked with labs to test individual materials and whole constructions, often validating in parallel with field testing with professional users before launch. Working with users has been one of the most rewarding pieces of my work, bringing insights and needs that we couldn’t have found elsewhere. Even when I am a user there’s always someone with more experience and insight. Involving them and understanding their needs at every stage guides a project to be successful in the real world.
     I began at Lowepro as a developer and shifted into a designer position 3 years later, while still managing HQ side development of all my projects. When our California office closed I was asked to move to the Italian HQ. In Italy I worked with the Italian design and marketing teams helping to align the Lowepro and Manfrotto bags teams’ development, user testing processes, as well as supporting setup and training of other designers in new bags prototyping lab in Feltre.
     Aligning with new marketing goals, we started to use more sustainable processes and materials to reduce our impact. Beyond working with the design team to review and approve recycled versions of in line product and achieve recycled content targets on new products, I led a push for PFC/PFAS-free DWR treatments which kept us ahead when the later California and EU regulations were announced.
     Five years is a long time, I met my wife here in Italy, and drove a bunch of European cars.
Now it is time for me to go home to New England and start my next chapter.

TLDR: I design, I develop, I like talking to users, my favorite color is green, I’ve worked internationally.