About

A collage of Brandon in different environments.

Design isn't a tool or an artifact. It's creating function from form and solving problems.
By the seventh grade, I taught myself how to code and built three websites.

Today, I build and scale high-performing experience design teams that tackle complex digital problems and connect experiences across digital channels. The designers, researchers, and writers I lead think systematically, practice design thinking, and deliver impactful user-centered solutions.

Beyond work, I'm a writer, a transit advocate, a family historian, a Pallas cat conservationist, and an artist.

Recipes For Design Leadership

UX is Not a Janitorial Process

Ingredients

  • A clear understanding of UX as a problem-solving discipline
  • Empathy and commitment from leadership
  • A culture of proactive collaboration

Method

  1. Treat UX as a core strategy, not a cleanup task.
  2. Empower teams with tools and time to explore problems deeply.
  3. Reinforce the value of solving human problems, not just organizational pain points.
Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion

Ingredients

  • A team with varied cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds
  • Open channels for all voices to be heard
  • A culture of curiosity and respect

Method

  1. Build a hiring pipeline that values diversity.
  2. Encourage collaboration where unique perspectives can thrive.
  3. Foster an environment where differences drive creativity, not conflict.
Establish a UX Practice

Ingredients

  • Straightforward design and research process
  • Shared goals, values, and principles
  • "Work smarter, not harder" strategies

Method

  1. Document workflows and processes that align with your team's goals.
  2. Regularly revisit these practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  3. Ensure everyone understands and buys into the system to avoid misalignment.
Remember We're Human

Ingredients

  • Work-life balance
  • Space for creativity and recovery
  • A psychologically-safe culture

Method

  1. Advocate for work-life balance by setting clear boundaries.
  2. Build a culture that celebrates experimentation, growth, and play.
  3. Create an inspiring workplace that nurtures rather than drains energy.
We Design for People, Not Dollar Bills

Ingredients:

  • A user-centered design mindset
  • A focus on user feedback and needs
  • Long-term vision over short-term profits

Method:

  1. Root every project in research about real human needs.
  2. Balance stakeholder goals with the integrity of user-focused design.
  3. Trust that prioritizing people will lead to lasting business success.
Build a UX Army

Ingredients

  • Cross-functional partnerships with analytics, marketing, and product teams
  • Metrics to demonstrate UX success
  • Regular storytelling about the impact of UX

Method

  1. Establish strong relationships with key partners to amplify UX insights.
  2. Use data and research to validate decisions and show the value of UX.
  3. Communicate success stories to gain further buy-in from stakeholders.

Awards & Recognitions

2018
18th Annual Webby Honoree
  • Organization: The Webby Awards
  • Category: Websites/Digital Media
  • Project: GE Capital Bank Website
  • Role: Designer
2016
New York City Citation of Honor
  • Organization: President of the Borough of Queens, New York
  • Award: New York City Citation of Honor
  • Project: Access Queens
  • Role: Designer/Public Advocate
2011
American Package Design Award
  • Organization: GD USA
  • Award: American Package Design Award
  • Project: Connecticut College "Viewbox"
  • Role: Designer
2010
American Graphic Design Award
  • Organization: GD USA
  • Category: "Brochures/Collateral"
  • Project: Frank's Place Website
  • Role: Designer
2009
38th Big W Awards
  • Organization: Advertising Club of Westchester
  • Award: Silver - Interactive/Social Media
  • Project: Manhattanville My Soldier
  • Role: Designer, Developer
2009
38th Big W Awards
  • Organization: Advertising Club of Westchester
  • Award: Gold - Non-Profit Website
  • Project: PEPA Website
  • Role: Designer, Writer, Developer

About "Manji"

MANJI [mahn-jee] · n. Charms and symbols of luck, divinity, and spirituality — often used by Jains and Buddhists of ancient Persia, India, China, and Japan.

Rooted in Purpose.

The name "Manji" carries meaning I've always worked by: luck, blessings, and the ongoing cycle of creation. It's drawn from ancient Chinese metaphysics, Taoist cosmology, and the feng shui concept of baguas, which map energy across eight areas of life: family, prosperity, reputation, relationships, creativity, career, spirituality, and health.

Guided by Balance.

Those areas aren't separate from design work; they're a lens for it. The yin-yang at the center of that framework, representing balance and change, reflects how I approach every project: holding tension between function and beauty, speed and craft, user needs and business goals.

Design as Strategy.

For me, design has never been decoration. It's a force that aligns ambition with clarity, and turns complexity into something people can actually use. That philosophy shapes how I lead teams, how I show up in cross-functional work, and how I push for outcomes that are both purposeful and precise.