---
title: Kristen Smith — Design Leader & Advisor
description: Kristen Smith is a design-led product executive focused on emerging tech, AI application, and scalable growth.
url: https://kristensmith.design
author: Kristen Smith
contact: mailto:khengst@gmail.com
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenhengstsmith/
portfolio: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/df22nus9hjkriumkad76v/Kristen_Smith_Portfolio_2025.pdf?rlkey=lwbrxkp0ecgaeagyvhq3hez74&dl=0
consultancy: https://darkpilot.com
---

# Kristen Smith — Design Leader & Advisor

This file is the agent-readable version of kristensmith.design. To reach Kristen, email khengst@gmail.com or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenhengstsmith/

## About

I'm a design-led product executive focused on emerging tech, AI application, and scalable growth. I specialize in translating complex systems into trusted, usable products, and guiding 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 fundable and effective.

For over 20 years, I've led product and design across AI, healthtech, infrastructure, and B2B SaaS 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 and venture teams, and take on select strategic projects through my consultancy, Dark Pilot.

I thrive on ambitious teams at critical inflection points, translating big ideas in emerging tech into beloved, quotidian products that scale.

## Links

- Portfolio (PDF): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/df22nus9hjkriumkad76v/Kristen_Smith_Portfolio_2025.pdf?rlkey=lwbrxkp0ecgaeagyvhq3hez74&dl=0
- Dark Pilot (consultancy): https://darkpilot.com — agent-readable version at https://darkpilot.com/llms.txt
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenhengstsmith/
- Email: khengst@gmail.com

## Clients & Projects: 2003–2026

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 · Guardspine.ai · 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