Eric Brown

For over two decades, I’ve led and scaled design organizations that create meaningful, human-centered experiences, helping businesses harness the power of design to drive impact. My work is about craft and strategy, vision and execution, aligning design with business goals, empowering teams, and shaping products that are both functional and beautiful.

I believe form and function are inseparable. The way something looks, behaves, and feels is fundamental to how people engage with it. Complex software, especially in the enterprise space, doesn’t have to feel complicated. Thoughtful design, through minimalism, subtlety, and personalization, can make even the most powerful tools feel intuitive, human, and effortless. Our teams don’t just build interfaces, we create experiences that shape how people work, connect, and solve problems.

I have a deep passion for empowering others to solve complex problems, and I genuinely care about the people I work with and the impact my work has on their lives. I approach design not just as a professional discipline but as an extension of who I am, shaping not only products but also experiences, relationships, and even moments with family. I believe this holistic perspective makes me a better leader, and also a mentor and a builder of things that are meaningful, for the people that use them and for the people that make them.

I thrive at the intersection of design, product, technology and people, helping organizations scale, evolve, and drive impact through design. My focus is on building teams, systems, and cultures that empower designers to do their best work, while ensuring that design is not just a function, but a strategic advantage.

 A few places I’ve made an impact:

Collibra - VP Product Design

At Collibra, a leader in data intelligence SaaS that is transforming how organizations discover, govern, and unlock the value of their data, I led the product design organization with a focus on driving positive change and innovation. Collibra is at the forefront of defining the data intelligence industry, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and maximize the potential of their data assets.

During my tenure, I successfully fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation within the design organization and with cross-functional partners across the company. I established a global, cross-functional design leadership team, integrating expertise in product design, design systems, design operations, user research, and content design. This team was instrumental in propelling our design initiatives forward and positioning the organization for long-term success. Together, we delivered a transformative user experience that not only redefined the trajectory of our products but also helped customers fully realize the value and potential of their data. These efforts inspired employees across Collibra to envision what the product experience could and should be, aligning with the company’s mission to lead and shape the future of data intelligence.

Workday - Director Product Design

At Workday, a leader in enterprise cloud applications for finance, human capital management (HCM), and student solutions, I led the global product design organization responsible for delivering intuitive, cohesive, and high-value user experiences to 65M users across web and mobile platforms. I partnered closely with product, engineering, and platform technology executives to align on a vision that supported Workday’s mission to help organizations manage their most critical business functions with agility and ease.

I successfully helped scale the design organization from 20 to over 200 team members, building a multi-disciplinary group of design leaders, product designers, user researchers, content designers, and UX producers. Along the way, I established numerous firsts for the company, including Workday’s first career framework for UX, the inaugural design system, and new disciplines such as content design and design operations. I also contributed to the launch of new products, enabling Workday to expand its offerings while maintaining a seamless, scalable user experience. Through these efforts, I crafted a design culture that emphasized experimentation, iteration, a growth mindset, and a commitment to excellence, positioning the organization for continued innovation and success.

Dr. Katz - Design Advisor, Fractional Design Leadership

At Dr. Katz, a startup healthcare knowledge platform, I’ve been advising and leading design strategy for AI-powered mental healthcare solutions, deepening my perspective on the role of design in accessible, equitable, and whole-person focused care.

Microsoft - User Researcher, UX Manager

At Microsoft, I led user research initiatives supporting in-house technology solutions for Finance, HR, Legal, and Sales & Marketing, leveraging a broad range of research methodologies, including usability testing, contextual interviews, and participatory design. I coached and mentored researchers in planning, conducting, and synthesizing actionable insights that informed product decisions. Partnering with cross-functional teams, I facilitated UX design efforts, creating personas, task flows, wireframes, and research-driven design strategies. I managed a team of researchers and designers, setting goals, providing coaching, and advocating for UX resourcing and budget needs with senior stakeholders. Additionally, I developed and implemented a UX quality measurement framework, enabling Microsoft IT to track usability and desirability metrics across multiple organizations, with findings landing on CIO scorecards.