Forrest C.

Forrest Corbett

5.0

(6)

Elevate Your Design Career | Ex-Director at Kickstarter & Payscale

Kickstarter Logo

Hiring Manager at Kickstarter

Successful clients at

Not currently taking new clients

Forrest’s Design Qualifications

Experience level: Director

10+ people coached for Design

Forrest has helped clients get into these companies:

Hello! With over two decades of experience in design and product leadership, I've had the privilege of guiding teams at companies like Kickstarter, Xpanse, and Payscale. As a former Director of Product Design and User Experience, I've led successful product launches and improved customer satisfaction through innovative design strategies. My journey also includes founding and leading design-focused companies, where I honed my skills in creating tailored solutions for diverse clients. Having coached several design teams and many individuals, I am passionate about helping aspiring designers and product leaders achieve their career goals. Let's connect and craft a path to your success in the design world! Are you asking yourself: - How do I level up my design skills? - How do I gain more respect and visibility as a designer? - What do employers really want from me? - How can I earn that promotion? - How do I make a bigger impact with my work? If so, you're not alone—I’ve been there too. After years of navigating these very challenges, working across a variety of products and environments, I’ve gained a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive as a designer. Here’s the thing: the answer to these questions isn't one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on your unique context. For example, if you’re working in a sales-driven company, you might face roadblocks when trying to advocate for high-impact design work. But that doesn’t mean change isn’t possible—it means you need a strategic approach. I specialize in helping designers like you assess where you’re at, understand the environment you're in, and identify the next steps to grow your influence, develop your skills, and achieve the success you’re aiming for. Whether you're looking to sharpen your craft or make a bigger impact within your company, I can help you navigate the path forward. Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk about how we can unlock your potential and turn your goals into reality.

Forrest can help with:

AI Automation

AI Fundamentals

AI Graphics Creation

AI Product Design

Branding

Cover Letters

Design Thinking

Freelancing

Interview Prep

LinkedIn Review

Networking Strategy

Promotion Strategy

Prototyping

Resume Review

Salary Negotiation

Skill Building

User Experience Design

User Interface Design

User Research & Insights Automation

Visual Design

Wireframing

View all of Forrest’s categories

Work Experience

Kickstarter Logo

Director of Product Design

Kickstarter

August 2022 - November 2024

Hiring Manager

Cross-functional Team Leadership, Product Design and +10 skills

Xpanse Logo

Director of Product Design

Xpanse

September 2020 - May 2022

Hiring Manager

Head of design & user research for all products - B2B + B2C. Mortgage tech startup. Starting with the customer, we are building products from scratch. Built high performing team. Two successful product launches resulting in a dramatic improvements for customers; both in time saved and conversions. Created highly detailed and scalable design system. Product Design, Strategy and +11 skills

Payscale Logo

Director of User Experience

Payscale

July 2014 - April 2020

Hiring Manager

Gratefully built and led an amazing team of designers & engineers who craft brilliant solutions to complex customer problems, and help PayScale succeed in its mission. Increased the product, design and engineering teams' understanding of our customers, their needs, their wants, and how we can best serve them. Together we crafted an incredible vision for our customers and B2B+B2C SaaS products. Improved customer satisfaction and KPIs of our most popular solutions. Spearheaded and facilitated user research, bringing the voice of customer to the front, and validating our efforts. Reduced front-end development overhead. Dramatically boosted key sales metrics. Reduced common support issues. Ensured adoption of new features. Product Design, Information Architecture and +13 skills

Trulia Logo

Software Development Engineer

Trulia

May 2012 - June 2014

Working in both design & development, I created guiding post designs for primary product - our CRM. Created foundational UX roadmap. Aided in creating new SDLC, simplifying the ideation process and delivering more customer value more quickly. Designer & front-end developer for Market Leader’s mobile CRM, RealEstate.com, and HouseValues.com. Assisted user research studies and spearheaded additional user research. A/B tested designs to help improve conversion and provide useful features. Started a re-brandable, functional pattern library/design language to overhaul our UI frameworks. Web Development, Web Design and +4 skills

Amazon Logo

Web Developer

Amazon

October 2011 - March 2012

Aided in bringing the first Kindle Fire to market. Designed, prototyped and developed interactive content. Guided foundational framework changes to improve user experience and increase developer efficiency

All SMB Sites Logo

Founder & CEO

All SMB Sites

January 2006 - July 2012

Hiring Manager

One of the first premium WordPress hosts, AllSMBSites offered dedicated, reliable and specialized hosting for small businesses running WordPress. Several industry specific verticals were offered, including tailored configurations for specific markets. We forged a path that many companies have since followed. In the process, we grew to over 4000 subscribers, with a feature set far more robust and targeted than any competitor. One of the first premium WordPress hosts, AllSMBSites offered dedicated, reliable and specialized hosting for small businesses running WordPress. Several industry specific verticals were offered, including tailored configurations for specific markets. We forged a path that many companies have since followed. In the process, we grew to over 4000 subscribers, with a feature set far more robust and targeted than any competitor.

Giraffe Deign, Ltd Logo

Founder / CEO

Giraffe Deign, Ltd

February 2002 - April 2012

Hiring Manager

Assembled and lead a team of amazing designers, developers and writers. For a decade, we delivered a huge range of solutions. From a global marketing campaign for a major graphics card manufacture, to guiding a small startup away from the brink of failure, we delivered solutions based specifically on what the client needed. (Sometimes that meant referring them to someone who could better serve them.) With teams based in Seattle and Berlin, our clients ranged from winter resorts like Stevens Pass, Schweitzer, Mission Ridge; to major tech firms such as Intel and fashion companies like Unionbay. Assembled and lead a team of amazing designers, developers and writers. For a decade, we delivered a huge range of solutions. From a global marketing campaign for a major graphics card manufacture, to guiding a small startup away from the brink of failure, we delivered solutions based specifically on what the client needed. (Sometimes that meant referring them to someone who could better serve them.) With teams based in Seattle and Berlin, our clients ranged from winter resorts like Stevens Pass, Schweitzer, Mission Ridge; to major tech firms such as Intel and fashion companies like Unionbay.

6 Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0


Forrest has helped clients get into these companies:

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Forrest C.

Forrest C.

5.0

 
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