Brandon E. B. Ward
Contact

The direct line, and a few notes on using it.

Most of what's here applies to recruiters, hiring managers, and reporters. If you're a friend of the work and want to write: even briefer than a cold email is fine.

Other channels

Email is the right one. The rest are listed for completeness.

LinkedInSame record, longer form. Connection requests welcome./in/brandonebward
GitHubThis site. Everything else is private./uxward
CalendarBy introduction only. Email first, scheduling link after.brandon@uxward.com
Before you write

A few honest answers, so the email is shorter.

What tier do you work at?
Head of Design, VP Design, Chief Design Officer, Chief Experience Officer. The executive leadership tier. Not pure individual-contributor work (unless maybe you're LEGO or a streaming media provider), not design management below the Director title, and not contract work outside Precocity's existing book.
Where do you work from?
Dallas (where I live), hybrid with travel, or fully remote. Relocation is on the table for the right leadership role, international included. I will not relocate for a fast-growth startup whose runway is the recruiter's main selling point.
What makes a company worth the conversation?
Design has earned a real seat, and the CEO can name three things their best designer shipped last quarter. Flagship consumer and tooling companies clear that bar — LEGO, Netflix, Apple, Airbnb and their equivalents — and so do traditionally "non-tech" operators like John Deere, Caterpillar, and Maersk.
Will you do a take-home?
No. The work on this site is the take-home. I will do a paid, time-boxed advisory engagement at any stage of the process if it helps both sides decide.
Do you speak, write, or advise on the side?
I speak occasionally and selectively, write only here, and advise only by introduction. I am not signing on as a podcast guest unless you've read the work.
A note on response

I read every email that arrives at this address. I reply inside two business days, including the ones I'm declining. Declining is also a response. If you do not hear back inside a week, the email did not arrive; resend.

Last revised Q2 2026 · Updated quarterly
The direct line

You've read the notes. Here's the line.

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