I’m a multi-disciplinary SVP Group Experience Design Director who’s worked in the Chicago Design & Creative industry for over thirty years. I lead the Experience Design Capability in the Digitas Chicago office and have been with the agency for 9 years. I have a diverse background in Experience, AI UX, Product and Platform Design, Branding & Design Thinking. I’m also a passionate champion of the design process, a connector of ideas, brand storyteller and workshop facilitator.
I host the biweekly design podcast called A76, which I created to explore the volatile shift in my industry, synthesize surprising connections and speculate on the future of design. I do this through thematic seasons, showcasing talented designers and adjacent makers who all share my desire to have deeper design conversations.
Recent personal projects include a new rocking chair design, seasonal design for a innovative youth symphony and the redesign of Illinos’ state flag.
While at Digitas I’ve lead website redesigns, ecosystem transformations and managed digital design teams for Aldi, Amway, Ahold, Altria, Duluth Trading Co., Dunkin’, Emerson, Goodyear, Koala, TruStage, Genesis, Kelloggs, Maytag and Whirlpool. I reguluarly collaborate with the Head of Design at Digitas for our DesignOps initiative and lead monthly Design Training Sessions for the Chicago XD Team.
When I’m not designing, I’m running marathons, cheering Arsenal FC on, and spending time with my wife, 3 daughters, 3 cats and 2 doggos in the historic district of Sycamore, in the great state of Illinois.
noel@noelchilds.com
linkedin.com/in/noelchilds
Work experience
DIGITAS
SVP Group Experience Design Director // Head of Design Chicago
January 2016—Present
Experience Design Capability Lead for the Chicago office.
9INE
Director, Designer & Founder
September 2013—December 2015
Creative strategy, branding & positioning, innovation & experiential design
SLACK & CO.
Project Senior Designer
March 2013—December 2015
Branding and positioning, user experience design and integrated campaigns, both print & digital.
MADDOCK DOUGLAS
VP of Innovation, Creative
September 2008—March 2013
Innovation, branding and design of new products, services and business models from concept to launch.
FUSION IDEA LAB
Creative Director
September 2002—August 2008
Branding, design & broadcast advertising.
LEAPNET
Associate Creative Director
October 2000—September 2002
Branding, online design of integrated campaigns.
GOLIN/HARRIS INTERNATIONAL
Senior Art Director
September 1999—September 2000
Branding, design & advertising of integrated campaigns.
VSA PARTNERS
Graphic Designer
September 1997—December 1997
Art Direction & design for print campaigns and annual reports.
PETERTIL DESIGN PARTNERS
Art Director
January 1998—August 2000
Branding & design of integrated campaigns.
TANGENT DESIGN
Graphic Designer
October 1995—September 1997
Art Direction & design for boutique design studio.
BOOM
Designer and Co-founder
September 1994—September 1995
Small startup focusing on design for music industry in Chicago.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
BFA, Graphic Design
1989—1993
DIGITAL
Figma
Prototyping
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe Marketing Cloud
Sketch
Microsoft Office
Multiple CMS Platforms
SPECIALTIES
Experience Design
AI Empowered UX
Design Thinking & Innovation
Product & Platform Design
Visual Design
DEEP KNOWLEDGE
Branding & Positioning Strategy
iOS Design
Idea & Product Development
R&D Methodology
Workshop Facilitation
PERSONAL
Runner
Supporter of the Arts
Arsenal FC fan
Avid reader