Hi, I’m Sean. I built my first website in fifth grade, check it out. ↗
I’ve been a web developer / ux / product designer professionally for 14 years. I have a particular passion for designing systems, motion, & interaction.
Case Studies
Giving conversational AI a visual language
Early experience design and a unified motion system for Fargo.
Bespoke loader design for the Wells Fargo mobile app.
Reducing the frustration of waiting
Removing a 6-week illustration bottleneck
Turning recurring production work into an enterprise design capability.
THE PERSON BEHIND THE WORKA systems thinker. An animator at heart.
I’m most useful where the big picture and the smallest interaction need to work together.
Over 14 years, I’ve moved between product design, high-fidelity prototyping, visual systems, marketing, and creative direction. At Wells Fargo, that meant helping shape an AI assistant, developing motion standards, and leading the in-house Studio.
I work as a player-coach: setting direction, helping designers develop their craft, and staying close enough to the work to make it better. I design flows in Figma and prototype in Axure and code, with an eye on how the experience will actually behave across time - the oft forgotten 4th dimension.
My Thought Process
01 / DIRECTIONClarify the problem.
Connect the customer experience to business priorities. Bring a point of view, make ideas tangible, and help teams move forward.
02 / SYSTEMSCreate a reusable framework.
Build reusable foundations, teach teams how to use them, and work with developers to efficiently carry the design into production.
03 / CRAFTConsider the details.
Use visual design, motion, and high-fidelity prototypes to communicate intent and make interactions just feel right.
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Summary
Product design leader with 14 years of experience turning complexity into intuitive user experiences. I connect strategy, design systems, and hands-on craft to guide teams and deliver better products.
Founder/Quantitative Trader
Smith Alternative Investments
Apr 2026 - Present
Charlotte, NC
Founded and operate a quantitative trading firm focused on systematic trading, capital allocation, and risk-managed portfolio growth.
Lead end-to-end investment strategy across research, algorithm development, trade execution, portfolio management, operations, and governance.
Lead Product Designer, VP
Wells Fargo
Dec 2021 - Apr 2026
Charlotte, NC
Led the in-house Studio team - a subset of Design Systems - across motion, 3D, photography, illustration and digital experiences, setting creative direction, priorities, quality standards and deadlines.
Developed an enterprise illustration library that eliminated a six-week bespoke production bottleneck and created reusable assets for digital banking teams.
Served as a Brand Steward and contributed to two enterprise rebrands across color, illustration, iconography, motion and sound.
Developed digital banking motion strategy, guidelines and a unified motion design system.
Rebuilt intake and workflow processes, clearing a backlog and shortening turnaround times by weeks.
Presented weekly updates, design recommendations and team progress to directors and executives.
Senior Product Designer, AVP
Wells Fargo
May 2021 - Dec 2021
Charlotte, NC
Designed the initial user experience for Fargo, Wells Fargo’s AI virtual assistant, collaborating with an external strategy team to align interface design with organizational objectives.
Developed a unified motion system for the Fargo conversational AI experience, translating an emerging technology concept into consistent interaction patterns.
Product Designer
Wells Fargo
May 2018 - May 2021
Charlotte, NC
Built high-fidelity product prototypes in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Axure and Figma to support stakeholder discussions and provide implementation references for developers.
Product Designer
Financial Research Associates
Nov 2016 - May 2018
Charlotte, NC
Designed and optimized branded digital experiences; combined audience-behavior analysis with marketing and sales data in Power BI and Salesforce, contributing to a 400% improvement in click rate.
Designed print brochures extensively, combining typography, imagery, and page layout with CMYK production color usage and page bleed setup to prepare designs for print.
Product Designer
Townsquare Interactive
Sep 2015 - May 2016
Charlotte, NC
Designed and developed Wordpress and ecommerce websites for small businesses.
Web Developer / Designer
Freelance
Jan 2012 - Sep 2015
Charlotte, NC
Developed client brand identities and digital web presence.
What People Are Saying
“Sean and I worked together on the Advanced Prototyping Team in the Wells Fargo Experience Design (XD) group for two years. I could always count on Sean to mentor and help me with the prototyping software at any time. He’s technically adept, masterful at prototyping, and displays solid user experience design sensibilities. I was particularly struck by Sean’s communication skills and would call him a “triple threat” - he’s articulate, he writes eloquently, and he’s a great listener. And finally, Sean is very affable - a real pleasure to work with.”
Tom Leach, Wells Fargo“Sean Smith has an incredible skill set that blends critical thinking with strategic design. He is an incredible teammate and produces phenomenal work.”
Jacob Duncan, Wells Fargo
BEYOND THE INTERFACEA composer’s ear, a designer’s eye.
I also compose orchestral music and rock music.
My Symphony No. 1, “The Wolf,” premiered with the Charlotte Civic Orchestra in 2025. I led the production, creative direction, and year-long marketing campaign surrounding the premiere.
That passion for orchestrating multiple parts, maintaining a rhythm, and expressing something shows in my digital product design work.
Get in touch!
I’m looking for a team that cares about thoughtful products, exceptional craft, and the systems that make both possible.
Based in Charlotte, NC.