Portland, OR
mbeaulieu42.5@gmail.com
503.313.5012
linkedin.com/in/mikebeaulieudesign
mbeaulieu42.5@gmail.com
503.313.5012
linkedin.com/in/mikebeaulieudesign
Professional Summary
Experienced Design Strategist and UX Design Leader with 15+ years of expertise in guiding teams, defining creative direction, and facilitating design thinking workshops. Adept at translating business goals into engaging user experiences, establishing brand advocacy, and leading the development of learning platforms, tools, blended learning programs, and B2B communications. Proven success in managing cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality digital solutions across multiple platforms while fostering an environment for teams to do their best work.
Work Experience
Creative Director, Self Employed
Help Yourself LLC
Portland, OR.
Sept. 2024 - Present
Help Yourself LLC
Portland, OR.
Sept. 2024 - Present
• Designing a line of illustrated cocktail prints to simplify mixology for home users, combining visual storytelling with practical instruction to boost their confidence in preparing their own cocktails.
• Validating product-market fit through in-person demos and cold outreach to 40+ retailers, securing placements in local shops.
• Developed low-footprint POP display solutions that enhanced visibility and simplified setup for store owners.
Creative Director (UX) / Talent Development Manager
GP Strategies / Learning Technologies Group
Portland OR.
Jan 2021 - Jun 2024
GP Strategies / Learning Technologies Group
Portland OR.
Jan 2021 - Jun 2024
• Managed and mentored a multidisciplinary team of 8+ interaction designers, video, and motion design specialists, resulting in improved team performance, 15% increase in peer-review scores, and stronger retention.
• Developed personalized skill enhancement plans that balanced individual career aspirations with evolving client needs, ensuring team members stayed motivated and strategically aligned. Increased designer engagement and improved project outcomes through targeted skill development.
• Coached team members on communication, collaboration, and design process, helping them navigate client interactions and internal presentations with confidence. Elevated the team’s strategic value and increased client trust across accounts.
• Participated in interviews and helped assess design candidates. Partnered with the resourcing team to optimize staffing and project fit, ensuring all designers remained billable and actively engaged in meaningful work. Maintained utilization targets and resolved timeline issues early while supporting career development and long-term retention.
Clients: Meta, Lockheed, Electric Boat, US Navy
Creative Director (UX)
GP Strategies
Portland OR
Jan 2008 - Dec 2020
GP Strategies
Portland OR
Jan 2008 - Dec 2020
• Directed cross-functional strategy and creative development for brand advocacy and blended learning programs, including many finance-focused and compliance-driven initiatives. Aligned client goals with engaging, user-centered digital experiences and established a clear, shared vision across stakeholders. This approach drove positive behavior change, consistent client buy-in, and successful project delivery that exceeded expectations on time and within budget.
• Led design and discovery workshops with clients and internal teams, using design thinking methodologies to clarify business goals, identify user needs, and align on creative direction. Produced actionable insights that informed design strategy and improved client satisfaction scores across accounts.
• Established scalable UX conventions, style guides, and interactive prototypes across mobile, learning platforms, data visualization, VR/360 video, traditional video, and motion design ensuring consistency and usability. Enabled smoother handoffs to development and increased efficiency 20% across teams.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including UX/UI designers, instructional designers, developers, and visual specialists to ensure creative coherence and technical feasibility throughout the production lifecycle. Maintained high design quality and met or exceeded KPIs for learner engagement and retention.
• Presented hands-on Design Thinking workshop techniques at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) conference to an audience of 75+ professionals, showcasing practical tools for enhancing ideation, stakeholder alignment, and creative outcomes resulting in adoption of user-centered practices by multiple client teams.
Clients: Arconic, Avangrid, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna, Comcast, Facebook, Gulfstream,
Hilton Hotels, HSBC Bank, Microsoft, Mondelēz International, Navistar, Nike, Pella, Pepsi, Portland General Electric, PNC Bank, QVC, Sony PlayStation, SunTrust Bank, Starwood Hotels, Under Armour
Clients: Arconic, Avangrid, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cigna, Comcast, Facebook, Gulfstream,
Hilton Hotels, HSBC Bank, Microsoft, Mondelēz International, Navistar, Nike, Pella, Pepsi, Portland General Electric, PNC Bank, QVC, Sony PlayStation, SunTrust Bank, Starwood Hotels, Under Armour
Education
Master of Science, Graphic Arts Publishing: Concentration: Electronic Publishing.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Science, Graphic Communications: Graphic Design and Management.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California
Master of Science, Graphic Arts Publishing: Concentration: Electronic Publishing.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Science, Graphic Communications: Graphic Design and Management.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California
Skills
• Creative Direction
• Design Thinking Facilitation
• User-Centered Design
• Design Collaboration
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Product Development
• Visual Storytelling
• Creative Problem Solving
• Mentorship
• Stakeholder Alignment
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Figma
• Design Thinking Facilitation
• User-Centered Design
• Design Collaboration
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Product Development
• Visual Storytelling
• Creative Problem Solving
• Mentorship
• Stakeholder Alignment
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Figma
Awards
Brandon Hall Group:
• Bronze - Best Use of Video (2017)
• Bronze - Custom Content (2016)
• Gold - Employee Engagement (2016)
• Gold - Custom Content (Gamification) (2016)
• Gold - Custom Content (2014)
• Gold - Best Use of Video (2013)
Brandon Hall Group:
• Bronze - Best Use of Video (2017)
• Bronze - Custom Content (2016)
• Gold - Employee Engagement (2016)
• Gold - Custom Content (Gamification) (2016)
• Gold - Custom Content (2014)
• Gold - Best Use of Video (2013)
Creativity International Awards 44:
Honorable Mention - Book Design (2014)
Honorable Mention - Book Design (2014)
Graphis Design Annual 2015:
Merit Award - Book Design (2014)
Merit Award - Book Design (2014)
Experimental
Projects
These interests help inform my approach to user experience, design, storytelling and a flexible process:
• Electronic/industrial music composition and live performances
• Hand illustration
• Book design
These interests help inform my approach to user experience, design, storytelling and a flexible process:
• Electronic/industrial music composition and live performances
• Hand illustration
• Book design
Artificial Intelligence
I take time each day to experiment with AI and explore its applications for:
• UX Design
• Design Thinking Workshops
• Storyboarding
• Data and Information Design
• User Research Image Generation
I take time each day to experiment with AI and explore its applications for:
• UX Design
• Design Thinking Workshops
• Storyboarding
• Data and Information Design
• User Research Image Generation