Portable People

Joe is a multidisciplinary designer and leader with 20 years’ experience spanning product, communication, strategy and user experience. As Director of Design Services at Portable, he leads a team of Strategists and Designers who champion human-centred, ethical and inclusive design across digital and non-digital projects.

In his role, Joe provides strategic advice and thought leadership on a daily basis. Passionate about inclusive design, design for wellbeing and human rights, he was instrumental in establishing Portable’s ethical design practice. He also excels in early-stage client engagement, using design thinking to help organisations clearly define problems and achieve their desired outcomes.

Joe has built organisational capability in design methodologies for several public sector and not-for-profit organisations. His work includes collaborations with Creative Victoria, headspace, the Australian Red Cross, and the NDIS. He has also overseen digital strategies and roadmaps to enhance customer experiences and boost stakeholder capability for clients such as the Fair Work Commission, BirdLife Australia and the Victorian Opera.

A skilled practitioner of human-centred design, Joe regularly presents on topics ranging from co-design and empathy in design to the future of user experience and the evolution of work. In 2019, he presented “All the feels: empathy in design and what to do with it” at Melbourne Design Week. He’s also presented on topics such as AI and design and co-design and has co-authored influential reports including “Co-design with purpose” and “Design for education (without screwing it up).”

Before joining Portable, Joe led an award-winning design team at Buzz, creating products and experiences for children. He is also a facilitator of men’s work and serves on the board of the Milkwood Steiner School in Berrimah, NT.