John Howrey
Design Leader
Contact
CURRENTLY DigitalOcean
PREVIOUSLY
SCAD
IBM
Skeptic
Philographica
Selbert Perkins Design


Philosophy of Leadership
Design as Story, Leadership as Direction

Leadership, like theatre, is about creating connection. It’s knowing your audience, pacing the story, and orchestrating moments that resonate. I lead teams like a director: bringing diverse voices together, setting a clear vision, and ensuring every detail contributes to the larger narrative.

From my time in academia, I bring a love of experimentation and a focus on measurable outcomes. I believe in crafting environments where bold ideas are tested, refined, and brought to life with both creativity and precision. Like a great production, the work should feel effortless—but only after rigorous preparation.

Core Principles

  • Connection to Audience: Every design begins with empathy, anticipating needs and creating solutions that feel intuitive, personal, and impactful.
  • Pacing and Energy: Leadership requires rhythm—knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to keep the team aligned and inspired.
  • Iterative Excellence: Borrowing from academia, I embrace rubrics and experimentation, blending creativity with metrics to guide both design and growth.

The Vision

Great design tells a story. Great leadership shapes the cast and choreography that make the story possible. Together, they create not just outcomes, but experiences that leave a lasting impression—on teams, users, and the future.