Design Leader & Experience Strategist

I craft experiences that bridge user needs with business goals, leading teams to create meaningful products that drive growth and delight users 🚀

modern minimalist workspace with design tools, clean desk setup, natural lighting
8+
Years Leadership Experience
40+
Cross-Team Initiatives Delivered
15+
Designers Led & Mentored
20%
Faster Product Design Cycles

Featured Work

A selection of projects showcasing strategic thinking, user-centered design, and measurable business impact.

Welcome screen for McGraw-Hill Building Blocks Adaptiven

Building Blocks Adaptive Redesign

Led the complete redesign of a digital math practice program, increasing user engagement through game-based activities backed with data and reports.

McGraw-Hill Number Worlds student workbook, ebook, and adaptive learning

Number Worlds Product Experience

Experience design for digital-first K-8 math program that is research-based and rigorously tested to help students catch up by one to two years.

My Approach

A strategic framework that combines user research, business objectives, and innovative design thinking.

Research & Discovery

User discovery and market analysis to understand problems and identify opportunities for meaningful solutions.

Strategic Design

Translating insights into strategic design decisions that align user needs with business goals and technical constraints.

Implementation & Growth

Leading cross-functional teams through execution while continuously measuring and optimizing for better outcomes.

About Preston

With 8+ years in product design leadership, I've shaped EdTech products through strategic UX leadership, scalable design systems, and high-performing teams.

I believe great design happens at the intersection of user empathy, business strategy, and technical possibility. My approach combines user research with strategic thinking to create products that not only impactful visually but also deliver measurable impact for the user and organization.

B.F.A. Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Previously at McGraw Hill, Cengage, and Aptara
Pendo Product Discovery Certified 2025
Google User Experience Certification 2021
SFSU Interaction Design Certification 2009
Preston Thomas, product design leader

Let's Create Something Amazing Together

Ready to transform your product vision into reality? I'd love to hear about your project and explore how we can work together.