I'm a Product UX/UI Design and Research leader who helps to turn tough and often hidden problems into simple, delightful, and effective digital experiences. I bring to every challenge a mix of curiosity, experience, and healthy skepticism.
2024- Present
First Design leader @ Veoci
Launch and continuous improvement of new no-code web application build platform
Develop and evangelize design system
Build design culture and process
2019 - Present
Hands-on UX research and design leader for Wiley's digital education division
User research, qual and quant
Design of new learning platform built on modern micro-services architecture
Implement and evangelize design system
Mentor, develop and grow UX team
Created UX/R internship program
Knewton (Acquired by Wiley, 2019)
2016 - 2019
Built and led UX design and research team for launch of Knewton Alta + hands-on design
Implemented design system
Developed UX process with product, engineering, marketing, and customer support
Conducted user research with focus groups,1:1's, surveys; Measured user sentiment in-app
Satisfaction ratings for instructors hit 92% and the customer-base increased 20% YoY.
2015 - 2016
Modernization of UX design tools and design system
Initiating the use of responsive web design
Directed UX design for What to Expect When You’re Expecting native and web apps
Grew and stabilized the design team
Introduced new UX processes and tools, design sprints
Developed custom medical illustrations
2013 - 2015
Founding employee
Lead UX design and engineering of a suite of mobile command/control tools and mobile apps targeting government agencies and first responders
Collaborated with founders and first responder advisors in the NYPD and LAPD
Prototyped new apps and features for the web and iOS and Android mobile platforms.
Company secured $3.8M in funding from In-Q-Tel
Horn Group
2005 - 2013
Provided UX and Design services for early stage and mid-size technology companies
Built and managed a team of 15 designers, developers, copywriters, and motion graphics animators
Managed a multimillion-dollar P&L for this award-winning digital communications agency
Contributed to the acquisition of Right Media by Yahoo! for $850M dollars
My portfolio includes case studies and design samples from a range of side projects in technology, film and streaming television, real estate, and more.
Read what current and former colleagues have to say about me.
💬 Alex: UX Designer, Direct Report
"Mike is an exceptional manager and leader. His unique ability to motivate and rally others is complemented by his compassionate and inclusive approach to people management. He possesses a remarkable talent for UX design, consistently delivering products that excel in both aesthetics and user experience...
...He brings immense value to the team through his insightful questions and fresh perspectives, and he fosters an innovative and collaborative culture. Mike is fantastic to work with, and any team would be lucky to have him."
💬 Caitlyn: UX Research Lead, Direct Report
"Mike is an exceptional manager and leader. His unique ability to motivate and rally others is complemented by his compassionate and inclusive approach to people management. He possesses a remarkable talent for UX design, consistently delivering products that excel in both aesthetics and user experience...
...He brings immense value to the team through his insightful questions and fresh perspectives, and he fosters an innovative and collaborative culture. Mike is fantastic to work with, and any team would be lucky to have him."
💬 Scott: UX Design Lead, Direct Report
"I’ve been lucky enough to work on Mike’s Digital Education UX Team at Wiley for several years. Mike is a seasoned design leader with an inherent ability to balance managing people and executing on high-quality, thoroughly considered design deliverables. His biggest strength as a manager is supporting and developing talent...
In addition to being a supportive leader, Mike is a prolific, hands-on designer, always offering a fresh perspective on how to solve complex user challenges..."
💬 Stephanie: Director of Product Management, Colleague
"I had the privilege of working with Mike Mancuso when he was the Senior Director of User Experience at Wiley. As a Director of Product Management, I relied heavily on my partnership with the User Experience team, and under the leadership of Mike, this relationship was incredibly successful. Mike created an atmosphere of exploration and excellence that was essential to the advancements we made for our customers. He managed a team with an ambitious roadmap across many product groups and he ensured that all needs were prioritized and met. I was always inspired to watch how he empowered his team members to take on leadership opportunities while providing support and guidance as needed. Mike also took a deep interest in our projects and would often bring innovative ideas to meetings when we were developing our approach. His input and guidance were instrumental in our success.
Mike is not only an inspiring teammate who makes any product he works on better, but he is a joy to work with. Mike makes hard work fun. He is an incredible asset to any company and I hope to work with him again one day."
1 Eagle Scout Rank
Scouts honor ;)
2 Children
17 year age gap!
32 Years in NYC
Am I a NYer yet?
1 Skydive
Twas a perfectly good airplane, too...
1 Album Made
Dooby Dooby Dooooo
2 Marathons Ran
Going for a 3rd ASAP