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KRISTEN SMITH: DESIGN LEADER & ADVISOR

Kristen
Smith

I’m a design-led product executive focused on emerging tech, AI systems, and scalable growth. I specialize in translating complex systems into trusted, usable products—and building the teams that make it happen.

I help companies turn ambitious ideas into real products — thoughtfully, efficiently, and with a clear sense of what matters. I work across product strategy, systems thinking, and design to make sure what gets built is not just elegant, but effective.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve led product and design across AI, healthtech, infrastructure, and media—building platforms, tools, and go-to-market experiences for early-stage startups and global brands alike.

In addition to my full-time role as Chief Product Officer at Nimbus, I advise founders, mentor product and design leaders, and take on select strategic projects through my consultancy, Dark Pilot.

I bring structure, taste, and follow-through to every engagement — and I work best with teams that care about clarity, quality, and building something that lasts.

To view select projects
download my portfolio. For collaboration opportunities, mentorship, or anything else, feel free to say hi.

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CLIENTS & PROJECTS: 2003–2024

Adobe

American Airlines

Apple

Assurant

Barbarian

Best Buy

Bloomberg

Boston Children’s Hospital

Chanel

Complex Media

Control Group (Intersection)

Dasani

Dove

Firetalk

Flowspace

Ful Backpacks

Gathr Films

Gerson Lehrman Group

Havas Media

Health Universe

Harvard University

Justin Timberlake

Kashi

Kate Spade

Kiehl’s

Kilter Group

LEGO

Loop

Matchbook

M&Ms

Miller Brewing Co.

Mini

Murmuration

NASDAQ

New York Life

Nimbus

Ogilvy

Oliver Wyman

The Olympics

Plymouth Rock

Quotidian Ventures

RedEnergía

Samsung

Saucony

Shakira

Smirnoff

Southwest Airlines

Sugar CRM

Svedka

TelcoDR

Timehop

Turner Broadcasting

Unilever

Virgin America

Virgin Mobile

The Webby Awards

Yipit

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