About Me
From backyard forts to enterprise platforms, I’ve always been a maker. Now I use design to elevate ideas, align teams, and create real-world outcomes.
Hi, I’m Barb. I’ve been designing things—forts, comics, contraptions, products—for as long as I can remember. But over the years, I realized my real focus wasn’t just on making things, but on elevating design itself—pushing it beyond execution and aesthetics to become a tool for clarity, alignment, and impact.
For 15+ years, I’ve used design to untangle complexity, uncover meaningful insights, and shape strategy across startups, enterprise platforms, and social impact work. Whether I’m prototyping ideas, mapping systems, or crafting new experiences, I’m driven by one question: How can design help us do better—for people and for business?
Where It All Started
I grew up in a small town, constantly making things—drawing, building, inventing. I was always asking “How does this work?” and “How could it work better?” That curiosity led me to study psychology and studio art, blending a desire to understand people with a love for making.
It wasn’t long before I discovered that design was the perfect intersection of those interests—a way to make ideas real and useful. I later earned an MFA in Design for Social Impact, where I partnered with UNICEF and facilitated participatory design workshops with women in Uganda. That work taught me that design isn’t neutral—it can be a force for equity, understanding, and real-world change.
How I Got Here
My early roles spanned visual, UX, and interaction design—including being the founding designer at a fast-paced startup. But I kept finding myself drawn upstream: reframing briefs, challenging assumptions, and identifying unspoken needs. I wanted design to do more than respond—I wanted it to lead.
That drive brought me to DesignMap, where I’ve spent the past decade working with companies like Cisco, Salesforce, and Pure Storage on everything from zero-to-one product strategy to enterprise-scale UX. I’ve helped teams:
Navigate complexity and align on what matters
Design thoughtful, AI-powered tools with real user value
Translate abstract strategy into grounded product experiences
Bring design into the center of decision-making
Along the way, I also completed a D.MBA, deepening my business fluency and further strengthening design’s seat at the table.
What Grounds Me
Psychology is my lens. It shapes how I understand people, navigate teams, and design with empathy.
I never stop learning. I’m fueled by curiosity—constantly inspired by clients, books, and my six-year-old son.
Creative play keeps me inspired. I recharge through drawing, painting, cooking, and building things with my son.
