Leadership

Since October 2021, I've led recurring design reviews for a team of 5 product designers at D‑Tools. I focus on the seams between systems—turning complex multi-system workflows into reusable patterns.

  1. Started leading design reviews

    Team of 5 product designers at D-Tools

  2. Focus: Multi-system patterns

    Reduced one-off solutions, increased consistency

  3. Weekly reviews & reusable patterns

    Unblocking decisions across complex workflows

Leadership focus

  • 5
    Designers supported

    Weekly reviews that unblock decisions, strengthen critique habits, and improve consistency across complex platform work.

  • Multi-system
    Platform complexity

    Work that spans tools, roles, and data—turned into reusable patterns that scale across features and releases.

Mentorship

Since May 2021, I've mentored UX students and early-career designers through Designlab, where I was promoted to Senior Group Critique Facilitator in January 2023. My coaching focuses on critique, communication, and execution.

  1. Started mentoring at Designlab

    UX students and early-career designers

  2. Promoted to Senior Facilitator

    Leading group critique sessions

  3. 400 sessions, 1500 designers

    Many mentees landed first UX roles

Mentorship highlights

  • 400
    Group critique sessions

    Weekly critiques focused on process, communication, and execution—so designers leave with clear next steps and stronger rationale.

  • 1500
    Designers coached

    1:1 and group coaching that turns project work into outcome-led stories and clear, honest case studies that hold up in review.

Ryan Schmidt with his family hiking in the woods

Behind the work

About

I live in Austin, TX with my wife, our toddler, and two cats (Pickles and Pesto). After 12 years of remote work, I balance screen time with hands-on pursuits.

Beer-league hockey captain

Organizing the team teaches me how small coordination systems keep groups moving forward—same principles I apply to design reviews.

Learning guitar

Progress comes from deliberate practice and feedback, just like critique improves design work incrementally.

Cooking

Mistakes happen, but good systems (mise en place, tasting as you go) catch them before they compound—a philosophy I bring to design process.