Who I am

I'm a designer and creative director in New York City. I have worked professionally as a designer for over 15 years, partnering with a wide variety of clients on four continents to build creative teams and deliver engaging, human-centered design systems. I love impactful interactive experiences and have a bold design aesthetic. 

I'm the author of Cross-Cultural Design, available now from A Book Apart.

I am currently VP of Design at Nava, where we partner with government to improve the simplicity, effectiveness, and accessibility of government services, specifically for vulnerable populations.

As the Design Director at Constructive, I directed interactive, UX, and strategic design for social impact.

At Cambridge University Press, I led a global marketing and interactive design team, creating design systems and solutions for audiences from São Paulo to London to Dubai.

During my eight years in Japan, I worked first as a teacher trainer, and then as a designer, partnering with businesses that needed design for both Japanese and Western audiences.

In short, I work on design projects that benefit our fellow humans.

Where I'm from

I’m the child of a Nigerian father and an Dutch-American mother. I grew up in Nigeria, lived in Japan for almost a decade, and now call New York home.

Getting to live on three continents has meant being a part of constantly shifting cultural and physical spaces. Those experiences have given me a global outlook, with unique insight into the influence of culture on communication and creativity. 

What I do

My personal design practice explores the intersection of design, identity, and culture, resulting in a number of well-received interactive projects. My work has been featured in The New York Times, Slate Magazine, and NPR (National Public Radio), and my writing is in A List Apart and Smashing Magazine.

I speak regularly at design and communications conferences all over the world about digital storytelling, transmedia, and cross-cultural design issues. The talks have sparked many heartfelt conversations with people about building a flexible cross-cultural design practice, clever UX and design strategies, and how culture affects the design industry. I hope those talks have been a help to others as they navigate those sometimes agonizing decisions.

Get in touch

Have an interesting project to discuss? Email me! 

senongo [at] senongo dot net