Kristopher
Hughes
kh@kristopherhughes.com
WorkAboutSay Hello 👋
Kristopher Hughes
HomeWorkAboutSay Hello 👋
HomeWorkAboutSay Hello 👋
© 2023 Kristopher Hughes
Portrait of Kristopher Hughes

About
& Qualifications

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Resume
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LinkedIn

Why Design

Icon of a mountain
Cascades

1988  /  Age 5

In 1986 my five-year-old legs struggled to move my body fast enough as I explored the colossal mountains, towering trees, and vibrant plants of the North Cascades. Every bend in the trail, revealed a magnificent scene of contrast, composition and master creativity. It was on these paths, or more often off these paths, I discovered my inherent desire to create. I believe in designing honest experiences and brands that evoke emotion, ignite action and improve quality of life.

1988  /  Age 5

Icon of a lego block
Castles

1992  /  Age 9

Fast-forward four years, and you'll find a boy investing every free minute in crafting castles, spaceships, and planes from Legos—a budding Master Builder. Even now, over thirty years later, my closet houses an extensive collection of castles, dragons, and knights. Legos taught me that great experiences and impressive creations are built upon a foundation of elements. It's this fundamental knowledge that inspires every component-based digital experience and system-based brand that I create. While many people may believe that systems hinder creativity, I believe they unlock it.

1992  /  Age 9

Icon of a campfire
Camp

1997  /  Age 14

At the age of fourteen, I found myself in the midst of a spirited battle between dysfunctional teenage teams, all vying to complete an obstacle course—an activity that plagues every youth camp in existence. At a pivotal moment, our team realized the need for a leader. Their gaze settled on me. I could say that I confidently thought, 'I can do this, I'll devise a plan, and I'll lead us to victory,' but the truth is, I only thought, 'RUN!' Nevertheless, I accepted the role. We failed miserably, however, I learned a valuable lesson: it's okay to fail, and it's even more rewarding to learn, improve, and win!

1997  /  Age 14

Experience

HashiCorp

2018 — 2023

Senior Design Manager  /  Senior Designer
  • Established and supervised a team of digital and brand designers
  • Revitalized the visual brand identity system
  • Managed the creation, integration, and utilization of a UI design system
  • Collaborated on the design of identities for new products
  • Developed a scalable, component-based visual diagram system

2018 — 2023

Purple

2017 — 2018

UI/UX Director
  • Redesigned and launched Purple's website
  • Helped streamline testing and implementation practices
  • Established an adaptable and scalable UX / UI system
  • Directed photoshoots of captivating website assets
  • Improved project management processes

2017 — 2018

Axis41

2011 — 2017

Art Director  /  Senior Designer
  • Directed a team of digital and brand designers
  • Led creation and rollout of multiple brand identities and systems
  • Managed digital experiences for various companies

2011 — 2017

SpinGo

2011 — 2014

Creative Director  /  Senior Designer
  • Managed the visual brand system
  • Designed, maintained, and tested an event calendar product
  • Created various marketing assets

2011 — 2014

The Moderns

2010

Intern  /  Graphic Designer
  • Assisted in launching a new brand to the broader national market
  • Designed various print and digital marketing assets

2010

Skills

Brand & Marketing
Art Direction
Strategy
Branding
Identity
Campaign
Print
Packaging
Experiential
Map
Signage
Event
Digital
Art Direction
UI UX Systems
Website
Diagram
Iconography
Photography
Illustration
Presentation
Advertising
Infographic
Tools
Creative Suite
Webflow
Figma
Sketch
XD
Lightroom
Invision
Keynote
Asana
MidJourney
All ProjectsSay Hello    👋