Turning complexity
into products people love
Whether it's leading design for autonomous AI pilots, transforming how underwriters evaluate risk with machine learning, or helping traders move billions with confidence, I design systems that make the complex feel effortless.
Many years leading design teams across product types. Consumer platforms with multi-billion dollar exits. Trading systems processing $200B in volume. ML underwriting platforms. AI music production. Autonomous robotics. What ties it together? Taking hairy technical challenges and crafting experiences that just work.
Right now, I'm at Shield AI leading design for Hivemind, a low-code platform that lets engineers build, test, and deploy AI pilots. The autonomy industry is moving from automation to adaptive intelligence. The design challenge is making that accessible.
Previously @
Apple
Shield AI
Federato
Boombox
Axure
Crunchyroll
I've spent my career finding patterns in chaos. The challenge is always the same: how do you take something deeply technical and make it feel natural?
My approach starts with understanding the user's world completely. Not just their workflow, but their mental models, their constraints, their moments of frustration. With that foundation, I build design systems that scale. Systems that let teams ship fast without sacrificing quality. Systems that grow with the product.
As a leader, I focus on building teams that can handle ambiguity. I hire for curiosity and teach for craft. We move fast, we prototype constantly, and we're not afraid to throw away work that isn't solving the real problem. The best design happens when you give talented people clear direction, then get out of their way.
"Great design without compromise. That is what you get working with Robert Gourley. He will push you and your product to new heights. If product design excellence is what you are truly after but you feel blocked or aren't quite sure how to get there, look no further."
Will Ross
CEO & Co-Founder, Federato
"Robert is someone you want to be around. Besides being an stellar thinker and designer, he is an awesome individual. Inspirational and genuine. Always dependable and easy to work with he has a knack for making it look effortless."
Asia Giles
VP, Prudential Financial
"Robert is simply as good as it gets when it comes to collaborating on pioneering innovative and cool ways to reach and engage your audience. The work we were able to create together at Nimblefish, CafePress and later at National Geographic was not only the most FUN but the most creative and impactful."
Amy Maniatis
EVP & CMO, National Geographic
Let's build something
together
Whether you're looking to transform a complex product or build something new, I'd love to hear about your project.