About Me
I'm a Senior Product Designer focused on building scalable, user-centered systems, with a foundation in brand that sharpens product clarity and differentiation.
Experience
Product Designer
Next Phase | 2019–Present
Lead product designer for a business intelligence and observability platform serving critical public-health infrastructure. Partnering closely with engineering and product leadership to shape platform strategy, define complex enterprise workflows, and ship scalable analytics and AI-assisted experiences from concept through delivery.
Art Director, Principal Design, Product Design
Backroom | 2016–2019
Directed cross-functional design initiatives spanning brand systems, product design, and digital experiences for startups and enterprise organizations. Designed and launched multiple 0→1 products across fintech and marketplace ecosystems while leading visual and experience strategy.
Design & Marketing Manager
Ceremony Coffee Roasters | 2012–2016
Designed cohesive physical and digital brand experiences for a fast-growing specialty coffee company, helping establish a distinct customer experience and visual language during a period of rapid growth.
Why Me?
A Deep Instinct of Care
I’ve always been driven by making people feel cared for. Whether through service, music, art, or design, I’ve found fulfillment in building things that make people feel welcome, understood, and supported. Product design became the natural extension of that instinct.
Relentless Curiosity
“I don’t know” has never felt like a stopping point to me. I’m driven to understand how things work, why they break, and what makes them better. Product design gives me the space to ask better questions and turn those answers into meaningful solutions.
I Don’t Fear Problems
I thrive in problem space. I want to understand why an issue exists, who it affects, and how to solve it the right way. Whether it’s a product challenge or a broken appliance at home, I’d rather deeply understand the problem and the system that surrounds it than apply a temporary fix.
What's important to me?
Community
I love building and being a part of communities. Whether it’s the book club I’ve shared with the same eight friends for over 10 years, or the weekly dinner party we started in college that’s still going strong, I believe people are meant to be together. Amazing things happen when they are.
Learning Everything
It’s both a blessing and a curse to find almost everything fascinating. The upside is I never run out of things to read, explore, or build. I’m happiest when I’m learning something new, and lately that curiosity has led me deeper and deeper into software development.
Putting Good Things Out There
At the risk of putting product design on a pedestal, I believe we have immense power and an even greater responsibility. The digital experiences we create shape people in ways both big and small. I want to make sure the things I put out into the world genuinely make it better.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
My coding journey is on GitHub,
my thoughts are on Substack,
my experience is on LinkedIn,
or email me at hello@joshhardingdesign.com