Ryan Higgins
Profile
Design leader with a track record of transforming complex challenges into user-centered solutions for global institutional investors. Skilled in blending qualitative research and data insights, driving continuous process improvement with product and engineering peers, and fostering cross-disciplinary alignment through impactful strategies and artifacts. Passionate about mentoring and empowering teams, cultivating a culture of design excellence, and guiding junior designers into leadership roles.
Experience
Staff Product Designer2019 – Present
Chatham Financial — Kennett Square, PA
- Leading platform design for the Investment Management Platform, leveraging LLMs and ML to deliver scalable solutions for portfolio performance and risk monitoring.
- Collaborates with GMs, product managers, and engineering leads to research, prototype, and deliver market-leading solutions through an agile process.
- Manages the design internship program, contributed to the platform design system, and facilitated workshops on UX methods and best practices to drive cross-functional alignment and innovation.
Digital Design & Development Manager2016 – 2019
Wilmington University — Wilmington, DE
- Led team of junior developers in reducing accessibility issues 82% (WCAG 2.0).
- Conducted cross-functional UX design studio workshops for homepage optimization and redesign project.
Lead Web Designer2009 – 2016
Wilmington University — Wilmington, DE
- Responsible for the design, front-end development, and user experience of university websites. Coordinated build-out of CMS and training.
- In 2013, led the responsive website redesign of the second fastest growing private non-profit university in the United States.
- Responsible for social media strategy and governance; led institution-wide user groups and oversaw administration and social media management.
Adjunct Faculty2013 – Present
Wilmington University — Wilmington, DE
- Instruct and design undergraduate 300-level courses in standards-based interface design, UX design, and development.
- Mentored 300+ students; many now working in FinTech and design systems roles.