Mike Gowen

Lead Product Designer & Investor

Foundation / Rodeo · Remote

Blockchain-based digital art marketplace and creative social network

• –Spearheaded the platform's move to Layer 2 (Base), enabling our transition to Rodeo
• –Conceptualized and designed "Top 9," the most widely used feature of Rodeo, driving user engagement and retention
• –Led the design and launch of Rodeo, a blockchain-based social network, from concept to onboarding our first 500 daily active users
• –Leveraged extensive artist network to accelerate platform adoption and user acquisition
• –Conducted comprehensive UX research to inform product strategy across the organization
• –Participated in Foundation's Series A funding round

Angel Investor & Advisor

Remote

Blockchain technology, generative art, and early-stage startups

• –Became a respected collector and supporter in the digital art space, building an extensive network of artists and collectors
• –Provided strategic advice and funding to various early-stage startups, leveraging startup experience to guide founders

Co-founder & Chief Design Officer

Delighted · Palo Alto

NPS surveys for fast-growing businesses

• –Designed all aspects of the product and brand, creating a user experience that drove rapid adoption and customer loyalty
• –Instrumental in the company’s acquisition by Qualtrics in 2018
• –Post-acquisition, led Delighted's product strategy within Qualtrics and SAP for 3 years, ensuring continued growth and market relevance

Director of Design

Mixbook / Mosaic · Palo Alto

Simple and elegant photobook editor and physical book

• –Created a fast, simple, and opinionated photobook tool that redefined mobile photo product creation
• –Designed physical companion book and packaging, bridging digital and physical experiences
• –Overhauled the entire Mixbook brand and website, significantly improving user engagement and conversion rates

Principal Designer

Yobongo · San Francisco

Location-based chat iOS app

• –Sole designer responsible for creating an intuitive and engaging user experience for both iOS and desktop clients
• –Developed novel UI patterns for real-time, location-based social interactions

Product Designer

Kickball Labs · Palo Alto

Creative social network

• –Collaborated closely with growth expert Andrew Chen, focusing on design strategies to achieve rapid user acquisition and virality
• –Contributed to groundbreaking growth design techniques that later became industry standards

Design Lead

Scrapblog · Miami

Online scrapbook creation tool

• –Pioneered the design of web-based scrapbooking tools before photobook creation became mainstream
• –Won an Adobe Max award for innovative usage of Flex technology
• –Implemented one of the earliest consumer apps to successfully integrate virtual goods and microtransactions in a non-gaming context

Interactive Designer

Propeller · Miami

Advertising and design agency

• –Created impactful designs for a wide range of clients, from luxury brands to mortgage brokers
• –Designed and built Tick, a time-tracking app, showcasing ability to conceptualize and execute full product designs

Creative Director

Alienware · Miami

High-end gaming PC manufacturer

• –Led design strategy during a period of explosive growth
• –Built and led an 8-person design team, establishing design as a core competitive advantage
• –Transformed Alienware's online presence from a basic brochure site to a full e-commerce platform, dramatically increasing direct sales
• –Spearheaded the iconic "Predator" case design project, revolutionizing PC aesthetics and setting a new industry standard that still exists today

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design

Virginia Tech