Ben Howard Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Leadership: Within first year, built & executed plan to transition ad-hoc R&D innovation & HCD training group to Experience Design Lab. Lead diverse team of five and directly own DEX LAB strategy, operations, group initiatives and project direction. Project Management: Defined 5yr project pipeline to support company transformation vision.User Focused Development: Implemented human-centered design methods and innovation frameworks across design, R&D, Commercial, and Strategy domains, aligning with International Motors & TRATON goals.Design Growth: Identified and scaled key design domains (User Research, UX/UI, SDV, & Experience Design); +500% planned personnel growth to deliver product pipeline.Innovative Collaboration: Founding member of the Design Ops group and active member within Innovation Core Team, reporting to executive leadership and fostering a culture of innovation.Stakeholder Engagement: Established regular touchpoints with VP, Director, and Chiefs across technology and business domains, collaborated with global TRATON Partners at Scania, MAN & VW Brazil and created direct connections with Volkswagen NAR counterparts (VW / AUDI) while representing International across global and brand development governance.

Dearborn, Michigan, United States

Worked within the group D-Ford, this design entity (originally lead by IDEO) was responsible for identifying, crafting and delivering future vehicle user experiences. I joined this collective of designers, makers and doers to lead design teams within Ford’s most profitable vehicle platform.Delivered product design stratagies and connected vehicle roadmaps detailing holistic user experiences for next gen EVs and platform based autonomous drive systems, consisting of identified user pain points, prioritized use cases, service blueprints and technology enablers (digital & physical).Directly led multiple diverse design groups, to identify best opportunities and create user focusedsolutions for the future 2027 2nd Gen EV truck with projected volumes of 500k* annual vehicles.Indirectly led dozens of designers / engineers, internal & external experts in new physical and digital technology domains, building functional prototypes and protecting IP with patents filings.Led EV program workstream and built multitude of physical & digital assets to support user focused product proposals – resulting in 5 new-to-market future product systems and replicating development process for future vehicle development.Leveraged IDEO design thinking, agile methodologies, and innovative development frameworks complimented with complex storytelling to create unique product focused presentations resulting in dozens of products and features implemented.

Hastings, Michigan, United States

Support our strategy to grow new, value-driven business. Our teams primary focus will be to develop products and technology outside of our legacy business.

Hastings, Michigan

Building an innovation team, process and culture to support long term strategic growth.Developing Voice of the Customer (VOC) mentality & training across business unit groups with a key focus on interactive customer co-development plans with outward facing teams.Identifying and leveraging innovative partnerships across industries.

Holland, Michigan

Led Innovation & Development team.Developed and improve development workflow tools through constant iteration and direct feedback.Research, develop, design, and engineer new products & opportunities through analysis of market research.Develop, test, and standardize new manufacturing capabilities.Manage product design & engineering projects as needed per client requests.Work directly with International parent and sister companies on product development and engineering.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Worked within the product development team for the Blu Dot and private label brands. Designed, created and managed user focused product assembly instructions for entire company product catalogue, including private label products. Communicated and worked directly with local and international product manufacturers.Created product packaging as well as graphical product information for web and print use for a variety of applications.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Developed & produced products, concepts and graphic assets to entrepreneur on variety of startups and businesses. Work included: storytelling, pitch decks, business case development, infographics, product ideation, prototypes and POCs, interior design, product renderings, plus much more.

Minneapolis, Mn

Managed restoration operations of company including personnel, furniture teardown and assembly, ordering/finding parts, and storage optimization.Responsible for all photography including documentation of furniture, archives, finished products, and studio work.Managed online stores and websites.

Kansas City, Mo

Joined product development team on early product prototyping and small batch production processes [CNC tooling & thermoplastic forming]. Projects included medical equipment, tools and tool accessories, as well as industrial and home organizers.