Relevant Expertise

End-to-end product leader 
from research to strategy to execution and iteration

Seasoned people manager comfortable with coaching for high performance and managing conflict

Experienced Director and Designer of products, brands, experiences, and trainings

Persuasive facilitator and storyteller working across mediums and audiences

 

Work Experience

Head of Design, Corporate Products Technology
the LEGO Group | September 2024 – present

Product Design Director, Nordea Business
Nordea | October 2020 – August 2024

Design Director – promoted from Design Lead in 2019
Fjord Copenhagen (now Accenture Song) | March 2018 – October 2020

Lead Designer – contract role
New Data Project | November 2017 – March 2018

Service Design Manager – promoted from Senior Designer in 2015
Adaptive Path, aquired by Capital One | 2014 – 2017

Independent Consultant Ayla Newhouse Design | 2012 – 2018

Senior Designer – promoted from Designer in 2011
Normative Design | 2010 – 2012

Intern Bruce Mau Design | 2009

Intern HoBO Magazine | 2006

 

Education

Interdisciplinary Design Strategy Certificate
Institute without Boundaries | 2008 – 2009

Bachelor of
 Communication Design
Emily Carr University | 2003 – 2007

 

Certifications

LEGO® Serious Play® 2019

Yoga Alliance Teacher 2013

CAN Coaching 2012

 

Teaching

Creator and in-house trainer at Nordea Communication for Influence, 2022

Creator and in-house trainer at Nordea Facilitation 101, 2021

Creator and guest trainer at Fjord Nordea Intro to Service Design, 2019

Trainer at Morningstar Financial Facilitation for Designers, 2018

Teacher at UXI (UX Intensive) Design Research, Denver, Washington DC, Copenhagen, 2015–2016

Instructor at Ladies Learning Code Design Course, 2012

Guest Faculty at Institute without Boundaries, 2012

 

Speaking

SXSW panel facilitator, Design as Service / Coaching at Capital One, 2017

Service Design DC panelist at Flavors of Service Design, 2016

UX Week San Francisco Designers & Therapists, 2015

SXSW Designers are the new Therapists, 2015

Pecha Kucha Toronto Dating by Design, 2012

Design Research Conference Chicago Adventure Research, 2010

 

Publications

Author of How to move to Copenhagen like a boss, 2018

Author of The ABCs of Dating by Design, 2014

Published in The Bold Italic Relationships, by Design, 2013

Published in GOOD Magazine Match Game, 2013

Published in The Globe and Mail How to make money while growing your start-up, 2012

Featured in The Globe and Mail Rising Stars of Toronto’s Young Entrepreneurs Scene, 2011

 

Personal Highlights

Finalist Service Design Network Annual Award, 2017

Co-founder 1THING, social gratitude app, 2013

Speaker Pecha Kucha global top 20 presentation of 2013

 

Interests & Hobbies

Architecture & development
Recently built a rental cabin in Canada on raw land

New food experiences
Ask me about the food scene in Denmark, and what I miss most

Designing life
I enjoy organising, coaching, and creating tools for everyday