Hello! đź‘‹

I'm Carlos Esparza

Design Systems & UX Strategy for Scaling Teams

About Me

I’m a design systems and UX strategy lead with roots in web, publishing, and teaching. I started by launching a record label in high school and creating everything it needed, from album art to an MP3 player in ActionScript. Since then, I’ve taught design, built content platforms, scaled design operations in a 50+ person org, and led UX for public-facing sites and MVPs. My work blends creative direction with product-minded systems.

UX Strategy Design Systems Accessibility Content Design DesignOps Team Leadership

Projects

01

Gary Hill Artist Website

Designed a pioneering artist's catalog for the web to serve curators, researchers, and students.

Web Design & DevelopmentContent ArchitectureUser Research & UX Design
02

Pain Point to Product: A Summer UX Experiment

Launched an MVP discovery tool to help New Yorkers find free outdoor movies fast.

MVP Execution & ScopingContent Modeling for Search & DiscoveryMobile-First Product Design
03

UX Leadership Inside a Scaling Design Org

Scaled UX systems and workflows in a 50+ person design org during high-growth chaos.

Design Systems & UX StandardsScalable Team Onboarding & MentorshipCross-Functional Ops & Workflow Strategy

Experience

Art Director (Product & Launch Design Systems)

1517 Media

July 2022 - Present
  • Directed brand and marketing design for 70+ annual product launches across print and digital platforms
  • Managed contract designers, scoped creative budgets, and maintained timelines across multi-stakeholder teams
  • Created reusable toolkits for marketing and sales teams—streamlining go-to-market workflows

Lead UX Designer

Callisto Media

September 2019 - July 2022
  • Led UX design efforts across a fast-scaling 50+ person design org during a period of hypergrowth
  • Introduced iterative cover testing, resulting in measurable revenue lifts on redesigned titles
  • Developed onboarding frameworks, Adobe Library components, and training documentation

Co-founder & Creative Director

Field Studios

January 2015 - January 2020
  • Built and launched City CinĂ©, a mobile-first discovery tool for NYC’s outdoor movie season
  • Produced editorial content for TED, including video and brand support

Marketing Director

Pilchuck Glass School

April 2014 - June 2015
  • Led full redesign of Pilchuck.org to improve donation UX, reduce support calls, and simplify applications
  • Rebuilt IA and application UX to reduce friction and clarify program paths—resulting in a 15% lift in enrollment and fewer support calls

Marketing Director

Random House

February 2011 - October 2013
  • Designed and developed interactive ebook experiences in collaboration with Apple and Amazon
  • Flagship titles included American Grown (Michelle Obama) and Star Wars Encyclopedias

Creative Lead (Web, Editorial, and Programming)

911 Media Arts Center

November 2007 - July 2010
  • Led brand and design efforts for a nonprofit dedicated to experimental media art
  • Designed and managed the org's website, digital comms, and bi-monthly magazine

Education

BFA, Art

Cornish College of the Arts

2004 - 2007

    BFA, Graphic Design

    Art Institute of Colorado

    2001 - 2004