Gary Hedrick: Experience Design & Product Leader
A maker at my core and a design leader by practice
I’m a creative leader, designer, and artist working at the intersection of experience, systems, and storytelling.
For 20+ years, I’ve shaped digital platforms, brand systems, and creative work that connects with people in a real way. I’m driven by instinct as much as strategy—finding clarity inside complexity and turning it into something simple, usable, and meaningful.
what I do
I’m an Associate Creative Director in Interactive Design at Boston University, where I lead experience design and product direction across large-scale digital platforms. I originate and guide product and platform initiatives from concept through delivery, working across design, development, product, marketing, and analytics teams. A lot of what I do starts as something undefined—and becomes a real system, tool, or platform that people use.
How I work
I bring people together to make things move.
I lead workshops, working sessions, and collaborative environments where teams align, challenge assumptions, and move forward with clarity.
I’m often the connective tissue between disciplines—translating between teams so ideas don’t stall out and actually get built.
Leadership
I manage and mentor designers, lead cross-functional teams, and guide projects from early thinking through execution. At Boston University, I’m one of the primary leaders in Interactive Design and a contributor to the university’s evolving brand and digital ecosystem. I’ve helped shape how experience design is approached across teams—developing processes, frameworks, and systems that are now being adopted more broadly.
How I think
I think in systems. Not just design systems, but human systems—how people move through experiences, how decisions get made, and how ideas become real. I care about craft, but I care just as much about whether something actually works in the real world.
Outside of work
I’m also an artist and musician. That part of me isn’t separate, it informs everything I do. It keeps me grounded in intuition, rhythm, and emotional truth—things I believe matter just as much as logic and data when creating meaningful experiences.
What I’m About
I’m not chasing trends or surface-level solutions. I’m interested in building things that last—work that feels real, lived-in, and connected to the people it’s meant for.
Experience & Impact
Associate Creative Director, Boston University (2018–Present)
Co-lead interactive design and experience direction across large-scale digital platforms within a complex, decentralized organization.
Originate and guide product and platform initiatives from concept through delivery, working across design, development, product, content, and marketing teams.
Lead and mentor designers while directing cross-functional teams to deliver cohesive, scalable digital experiences.
Establish and evolve design systems and experience frameworks that reduce ambiguity, enable reuse, and strengthen consistency across platforms.
Shape strategic direction by connecting user needs, business priorities, and long-term organizational goals.
Lead workshops and collaborative working sessions to align stakeholders, define problem spaces, and move initiatives forward with clarity.
Partner with analytics teams to inform decisions and improve usability, engagement, and overall experience outcomes.
Create environments where teams can operate with confidence, alignment, and shared purpose.
Prior Experience
Built foundational experience in Boston-area agency environments, developing strong execution, collaboration, and client partnership skills.
Founded and lead an independent creative practice focused on strategy-driven brand and experience work, grounded in trust and long-term relationships.
Known for helping organizations move forward with clarity, focus, and shared understanding.
Selected Creative Leadership Work
A selection of work spanning brand, product, and experience—connecting strategy to execution across disciplines.
Much of my product and platform work lives within case studies below.
Selected Clients & Collaborations
I’ve worked with and collaborated with organizations across industries, including:
Aegens / Armstrong Ambulance / Avaya / Bauer / Berkley Place / Big Blue Banshee Recording Studio / Bostitch / Boston Harbor Hotels / Boston Public Schools / Boston University / Blue Cross Blue Shield / Casino Productions / City Fresh Foods / Coalition for the Homeless NYC / Cognetra / Concentra Healthcare / The Cornerstop Eatery / Corning University / CRTV / Cubist Pharmaceuticals / Dan Gillan Photography / Delta Dental / Edison Beer / Elephas Creative / Ember Gardens / Fishbone / GE Healthcare / Georgia Pacific / Greg Hren Photography / Herbwell Cannabis / Honeywell / Hull Public Schools / JS Puffer Electrical / IEWC / Jackrabbit Design / Jordan’s Furniture / KHJ Brand Activation / Massachusetts General Hospital / Mesirow Financial / The Mighty Mighty Bosstones / MIT / Moonshot Beer / Nantasket Beach Resort / Poker Central / Sallen Cycles / Scrubology / Shepard Fairey / Stanley Tools / Swan Boats / Taco Party Truck / 360 Communications / TJX Companies / Toad the Wet Sprocket / Unisys / Untold Brewery / Winsper / Woodworks / Work ’N Gear / Verndale
These projects span enterprise, lifestyle, higher education, retail, culture, brewing, cannabis, and tech — giving me the ability to work fluidly across both large-scale systems and deeply expressive, emotionally driven brands.
Awards
CASE Circle of Excellence (2023, 2022)
IHAF Gold & Silver (2023)
UCDA Award (2023)
University & College Designers Association (2020)
Horizon Interactive Award (2016)
Exploring What’s Next
I’m interested in opportunities where experience design, product thinking, and creative leadership come together to create clarity, scale thoughtfully, and build meaningful, usable experiences.
Whether within established organizations or through long-term partnerships, I’m drawn to complex challenges that require alignment, direction, and strong execution.