I help leaders use AI to accelerate their path to higher quality design.

Over the last 25 years, I've led design teams at high-growth companies like OpenTable, Uber, DoorDash, and Dropbox and scaled their design craft, impact, and AI tooling.

Now I help guide design and product leaders like you through comprehensive AI adoption, offering strategy playbooks, custom tool implementation, education, and ongoing coaching as an integrated offering.

Define your AI strategy

AI tool stack selection, success metrics and tracking, custom tooling, rollout planning

Upskill your team

Leadership training, team workshops, evolution of UX research and content design

Drive your AI narrative

Strategic comms, executive presentations, demonstrating ROI, partnership building

New AI ways of working

Update career ladders, operating model, quality standards, and eng collaboration

Hire AI-native talent

Designer sourcing, assessment and interviewing, skill benchmarking

I’ll help you navigate the fundamental shift in how design work gets done in an AI world.

Craft, but for real now. Forget the platitudes — craft is just plain fun again when you can build from end-to-end. My playbooks and programs bring this reality even closer for your team.

Hands-on experience. As the founder and sole designer-builder of Dartboard, I relentlessly put every AI tool through its paces for every task of building.

Leadership perspective. I’ve been leading design orgs for over 10 years and know the unique challenges design leaders face with AI transformation in an org context.

Flexible work style. Some leaders want me as a highly visible partner while others prefer behind-the-scenes support—ghostwriting communications, crafting presentations, and building the program while you take the credit and own the narrative. We'll find the right balance for your organization and leadership style.

Let’s work together.

Feeling overwhelmed by your AI options?
Not sure about how to position design within your org?
Want to start building the design function of your dreams?

© 2025 Blake Engel

•

I help leaders use AI to accelerate their path to higher quality design.

Over the last 25 years, I've led design teams at high-growth companies like OpenTable, Uber, DoorDash, and Dropbox and scaled their design craft, impact, and AI tooling.

Now I help guide design and product leaders like you through comprehensive AI adoption, offering strategy playbooks, custom tool implementation, education, and ongoing coaching as an integrated offering.

Define your AI strategy

AI tool stack selection, success metrics and tracking, custom tooling, rollout planning

Upskill your team

Leadership training, team workshops, evolution of UX research and content design

Drive your AI narrative

Strategic comms, executive presentations, demonstrating ROI, partnership building

New AI ways of working

Update career ladders, operating model, quality standards, and eng collaboration

Hire AI-native talent

Designer sourcing, assessment and interviewing, skill benchmarking

I’ll help you navigate the fundamental shift in how design work gets done in an AI world.

Craft, but for real now. Forget the platitudes — craft is just plain fun again when you can build from end-to-end. My playbooks and programs bring this reality even closer for your team.

Hands-on experience. As the founder and sole designer-builder of Dartboard, I relentlessly put every AI tool through its paces for every task of building.

Leadership perspective. I’ve been leading design orgs for over 10 years and know the unique challenges design leaders face with AI transformation in an org context.

Flexible work style. Some leaders want me as a highly visible partner while others prefer behind-the-scenes support—ghostwriting communications, crafting presentations, and building the program while you take the credit and own the narrative. We'll find the right balance for your organization and leadership style.

Let’s work together.

Feeling overwhelmed by your AI options?
Not sure about how to position design within your org?
Want to start building the design function of your dreams?

© 2025 Blake Engel

•

I help leaders use AI to accelerate their path to higher quality design.

Over the last 25 years, I've led design teams at high-growth companies like OpenTable, Uber, DoorDash, and Dropbox and scaled their design craft, impact, and AI tooling.

Now I help guide design and product leaders like you through comprehensive AI adoption, offering strategy playbooks, custom tool implementation, education, and ongoing coaching as an integrated offering.

Define your AI strategy

AI tools selection, custom tooling, success metrics and tracking, rollout planning

Upskill your team

Leadership training, team workshops, evolution of UX research and content design

Own your AI story

Strategic comms, executive presentations, demonstrating ROI, partnership building

New AI ways of working

Update cross-functional operating model, quality standards, career ladders

Hire AI-native talent

Designer sourcing, assessment and interviewing, skill benchmarking

I’ll help you navigate the fundamental shift in how design work gets done in an AI world.

Craft, reimagined for AI. Craft is just plain fun again when you can build from end-to-end. My playbooks and programs bring this reality even closer for your team.

Hands-on experience. As the founder and sole designer-builder of Dartboard, I relentlessly put every AI tool through its paces for every task of building.

Leadership perspective. I’ve been leading design orgs for over 10 years and know the unique challenges design leaders face with AI transformation in an org context.

Flexible work style. Some leaders want me as a highly visible partner while others prefer behind-the-scenes support—ghostwriting communications, crafting presentations, and building the program while you take the credit and own the narrative. We'll find the right balance for your organization and leadership style.

Let’s work together.

Feeling overwhelmed by your AI options?
Not sure about how to position design within your org?
Want to start building the design function of your dreams?