World-Class Experience

I’ve led, learned, and delivered at the intersection of design, emerging technology, and human need—impacting millions at industry-leading companies.

Deep Expertise

Human-centered design drives results. I bring the tools to scale its impact across teams and organizations.

Leadership

Product Vision
Experience Strategy
Design Direction
Workshop Facilitation
Building functions 0-to-1 

Tools

Human-Centered Design
Emerging: AI (LLMs, Agents)
UX Optimization & Experimentation
Design Systems
Information Architecture

People

Culture Building
Org Design & Growth
Coaching
Psychological Safety
Change management

People Leadership

In the age of AI, people still matter – more than ever. I invest in relationships and team success to build better products, experiences, and outcomes.

Lisa L., Head of Research @ Amazon
"Austin is one of the best, most collaborative senior leaders I've had the pleasure to work with—empathetic, mission-driven, and masterful at balancing business strategy with meaningful design impact. Austin has a natural ability to create psychological safety while driving impactful outcomes and this made every project better and every team member feel valued and heard. What truly sets Austin apart is how he brings people together, fostering an environment where innovation thrives and teams feel empowered to do their best work."

Marco O., UX Lead @ Google
"Austin is a great manager, friend, and mentor. He is always willing to share insightful stories and experiences for every question you may have while providing tangible and practical advice. He approaches his work with an infectious sense of optimism and enthusiasm but isn't afraid to ask the hard questions. He leads by example and sets the bar high, all with an extreme amount of grace and professionalism."

Lisa H., UX Research @ Uber 
"There are designers and then there are Designers – as in, the receptive, visionary and take charge kind that all project teams hope get assigned to them. Austin Hastings epitomizes that second bucket: no nonsense, no ego, all passion for creating the “right” user experience. It was always a treat working with Austin at Bank of America where, as the user researcher, I benefited firsthand from his cross-disciplinary skills as both interaction and visual designer, and his openness to any critique or different perspective. Austin absolutely “gets” user-centered design. His vast knowledge of design trends ensures that whatever project he takes part in will benefit from industry best practices alongside his genuine collegiality that makes him an absolute pleasure to work with."

Kathleen M., Content Designer @ Instagram
"Austin is an inspiring leader who genuinely cares about the happiness and professional growth of his team. He seamlessly balances big-picture strategy with full attention to each of his many direct reports. Austin is a great listener who takes the time to get to know his team members personally and identify where they might need encouragement or training. He respects his team members’ talents and allows them to shine, while always looking for ways to help them stretch even further. As a new manager, I relied on Austin’s mentorship to help me grow and lead my team, and he was always there to provide guidance and feedback. He’s perceptive, kind, and fun to work with."

Jessica V., Brand Innovation Lead @ Shutterstock
"Austin is hands-down the most collaborative design lead I've had the pleasure of working with. I worked directly with Austin on the Hotwire Brand Identity and its successful application to Product. The road to marrying Brand and Product at Hotwire would have been a bumpy one if not for his leadership and keen eye for strategic design. Through patience and mentorship, he has swiftly built a team of highly-valued designers regarded for their ability to deliver creative that far surpasses expectations. Austin's even manner, thoughtful approach to design and understanding of Brand are hallmarks of his that I deeply respect. His leadership and passion for what he does inspires those around him to produce work that far exceeds expectations."

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Contact

austinhastings@gmail.com

© 2025 Austin Hastings

Human-Centered Design Leadership