Creative leader with fifteen years at the intersection of design, product, and editorial. I lead high-performing design teams inside software companies, and I design, build, and ship products of my own. My work spans AI and agentic product design, design systems, brand and video storytelling, independent publishing at scale, and early field work bringing solar power to off-grid communities.

Portland, Oregon  ·  benvanderveen@gmail.com  ·  734.223.9227

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EXPERIENCE

Manager of Product Design

Customer.io  ·  2025 to September 2026

Led a team of seven designers and writers. Directed a full platform overhaul including agentic workflows, built a new design system, hired and grew the team, and led the company's AI product efforts alongside product and engineering leadership.

Founder and Creative Director

Moss and Fog  ·  2009 to Present

Built an award-winning design and culture publication to 180,000 monthly readers and 30,000 daily subscribers, running continuously for fifteen years. Own editorial strategy, writing, curation, photography and video, SEO, partnerships, and a companion Shopify storefront. Operate the whole business, from the voice to the ad sales.

Senior Manager, Product Design

Salesloft  ·  2021 to 2025

Led an international team of fifteen designers. Drove product-led growth, built a modern design system from the ground up, and directed AI product initiatives, including a patented AI-powered ranking interface. Aligned brand and product narrative across product, marketing, and engineering.

Senior Design Manager

Sprinklr  ·  2018 to 2021

Directed UX for enterprise programs with partners including Apple, Nike, and Microsoft. Player-coach for a team of five, shaping product and content narratives for global launches and campaigns.

Senior Designer and Art Director

InsideView  ·  2013 to 2017

Owned marketing design and brand storytelling across rebrands, campaigns, and launch videos. Collaborated with outside agencies and cross-functional leadership to hold a cohesive brand identity through a period of fast growth.

Earlier Roles

PBS, CurrentTV, Dentsu, Krames  ·  2006 to 2013

Designed for broadcast, editorial, and digital across network and agency environments. Built a foundation in story-driven visual communication spanning print, screen, and motion.

Solar Project Lead

Solar Light for Africa  ·  2004 to 2007

Led solar installation projects across communities in East Africa, bringing renewable power to off-grid clinics, schools, and homes. Managed logistics, local partnerships, and hands-on execution in demanding field conditions across three seasons.

INDEPENDENT PRODUCTS

Campgrounder
Campground discovery for people who actually camp. Designed, built, and shipped the iOS app myself using AI-assisted development. Launched on Product Hunt, closed a first round of investment funding, and joined a regional tech incubator. See the case study.

Solarly
Plug-in and rooftop solar guidance for renters and homeowners, including a solar advisor tool built on NREL PVWatts modeling and satellite imagery. solarly.io

Pool Atlas
An editorial directory of the world's most remarkable swimming pools, built around original photography and research. See the case study.

Electric Future
EV coverage, range data, and home charging guidance for people making the switch.

Atomic Daydream
A retro-futurism archive and sister publication to Moss and Fog, spanning eighty essays on mid-century optimism and the future that never arrived.