# Abi Brody

> 👩🏼‍💻 Design leader.  Apple roots. Startup wings. Human-first AI. Let’s connect the dots forward — while quietly rebuilding. Available for remote consulting.

Location: Berkeley, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/abi

Hello — I'm glad you're here.  I'm writing this from home, my live/work space, where I've spent most of the past year. On my desk: a coffee with milk going cold, and two of my three cats — Michaël and Leo — sitting behind my Apple display on top of my Studio Pro. Mocha, the third, is somewhere nearby. So is a canvas tote full of books I keep meaning to get through. In the coming week I will start my first round of chemo. I don't mention that for sympathy, but because it's true — and because I've decided that the only way forward, for me, is honesty.  I am a designer. I have been one for thirty years, and I intend to keep being one.  I graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1995 with honors in Communication Design. I co-founded an Internet venture in 1998. And then, for a decade, I was at Apple — helping build the tools that changed how people create and share photos, videos, and music. FinalCut Pro X. Logic. GarageBand. Aperture. iCloud. Early iPhone UI. I founded the first Applications Design team there, and was brought into the most confidential projects — the ones with code names, badge-only rooms, and stakes high enough that the details still feel remarkable to say out loud.  I learned at Apple what I had begun to believe long before: that the best design is what remains after everything unnecessary has been removed. Steve used to say that someone picking up a Mac for the first time should be up and running in under fifteen minutes. That standard — invisible effort, obvious humanity — has shaped everything I've made since.  Since Apple, I've led design at PayPal, Huawei, and You.com, the first AI-powered search engine, now valued at $1.5B. I work best at the beginning of things — 0 to 1, where vision has to become real and clarity is the only tool that works.  Right now, I am at rock bottom. I have no income. I am in treatment. And I am, perhaps for the first time, letting people see that.  I've launched a fundraising campaign — not because it's easy to ask, but because I've learned that the people worth knowing are not frightened by the truth. If you want to understand where I am and where I'm going, it's all there: gofund.me/9a0eb212c  I am available for remote consulting and, in the right circumstances, flexible full-time work. I cannot work on-site during treatment — compromised immunity makes that impossible — but I bring thirty years of hard-won craft, principle, and creative clarity to everything I touch.  The age of AI needs designers who understand people. I am one of them. And I'm still here.

## Work Experience
### Design Consultant @ Abigail Brody
Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
Alongside building my own venture, I am an international design and product consultant.

I partner with agencies, founders, early-stage startups, corporations, and Venture firms to shape products, experiences, and brand identities that resonate deeply — especially at moments of technological transition.

🧑🏼‍💻 I bring deep knowledge 🧠, both visual and product-oriented, and thrive in ambiguous situations. I can transform vague beginnings into clear and compelling experiences 🔮.
👓 I influence through my craft and clarity, collaborating closely with others across design, product, engineering, and editorial teams. I set direction 🎯, not just aesthetics, by shaping systems, narratives, and standards — that set a very high bar.
🧩 I am a design systems “nerd” and deeply care about mental health, dignity, and delight. My designs prioritize what truly matters — people’s lives and our planet 🌎.


Focus:
Human-centered design (software and devices)
Emerging technologies (including AI)
Systems thinking, storytelling, and craft
Branding and storytelling

Current and past collaborations: 
DePin, Inc. with founder (and Physna Cofounder) Dennis DeMeyere, Apple (former employee/ consultant), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GoogleX (Moonshot factory), BIG Capital (Vietnam), and organizations across AI, big data, beauty and cosmetics, branding, building industry, design systems, eCommerce, hardware, healthcare, lifestyle, media, mobile, software, websites and VTOL vehicles — including Nacero, Nanoscent, Nuria Beauty, Dean Ornish Spectrum, BMW/SKAI by Alaka’i, Pentagram Design, and Wondros (a creative collective founded by Jesse Dylan).

I’m selective about projects, but open to high-impact collaborations especially start-ups — whether as a partner, advisor, board member, or hands-on contributor.

If this resonates and you’re building something bold and thoughtful, feel free to reach out: brody.abigail@gmail.com

### Founder @ Stealth AI Startup
Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
I’m working on something deeply personal and long in the making.

We live in a paradoxical moment:
We’ve never had more information, tools, or intelligence at our fingertips — yet human attention and human time remain finite.

AI accelerates everything.
But acceleration alone doesn’t help us choose what truly matters.

What I’m building sits at the intersection of brain science, cognitive science, creativity, and storytelling — shaped by a simple, urgent question:

How do we design experiences that help people spend their limited lives on what they won’t regret?

This idea has lived with me for over two decades. I’ve pursued versions of it before — raising $1.5M in the late 90s, and later over $20M for a venture launched in 2018. The company still exists today, but the original vision was ahead of the technology, the tooling, and the moment.

That’s changed.

Today, designers can prototype, code, and ship meaningful systems without large teams or early capital. The distance between imagination and reality has thinned — dramatically.

I’m currently in stealth, building deliberately and thoughtfully. If you’re an engineer, designer, writer, investor, angel, or creative cat drawn to human-centered technology — not just faster systems, but wiser ones — I’d love to connect.

If you’re building something that deserves to exist, let’s explore what we could create together. 🌱

### Principal Product Designer @ Physna
Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 | San Francisco Bay Area
Co-founder Dennis DeMeyere tapped me to transform Thangs* from a niche geometric-search site into the world’s largest 3D-platform — scaling to 20 million+ users in under a year. *Note: Thangs got acquired in 2024, and has changed look & feel — beyond my control.

Before the acquisition, I designed an internal CMS where experts upload, localize, version, and publish 3D assets in minutes. I introduced conversational 3D search — natural-language queries with predictive analytics that auto-classify function, material, cost, and compliance — turning raw geometry into rich, searchable metadata.

To monetize the ecosystem, I designed the Marketplace & Subscriptions: storefront, pricing tiers, entitlement logic, and checkout flows that opened new revenue without adding friction.

Behind the UI, I built a responsive design system for web, desktop, and mobile (light & dark). Detailed specs, redlines, and use-case docs, plus tight QA partnership, cut engineering iteration time by 50 %.

My research loop—surveys, rapid prototyping, A/B tests—fed measurable design moves that lifted retention and ARPU. Real-time telemetry exposed pain points and guided continuous tuning of search relevance and compatibility suggestions.

I layered in assistive AI: automated version control, generative colour/texture suggestions, photoreal scene renders, and GPT-written model descriptions—all of which trimmed upload time and elevated creator output.

Working weekly ship cycles, I aligned founders, engineering, product, and growth teams through Figma prototypes and crisp storytelling decks that secured executive and investor buy-in.

I fostered a “build-test-learn” culture—mentoring designers to keep craft high under rapid change, echoing the discipline I learned while shaping Apple’s pro apps.

Result: a seamless platform where designers, makers, and entrepreneurs can search, share, and print 3D models with the effortless clarity users expect from world-class tools.

### Head Of Design @ You.com
Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | San Francisco Bay Area
At YOU.com, we reimagined search to make the internet more helpful, trustworthy, and human.

As Head of Design at SuSea Inc., the Palo Alto startup behind YOU.com, I helped shape the company’s design vision from the ground up — working closely with CEO Richard Socher to lead a product strategy rooted in user trust, transparency, and intelligent AI experiences.

I oversaw the full design lifecycle — from problem definition to implementation — collaborating with product, engineering, and research teams to deliver seamless, high-impact solutions. Our modular, intuitive interface reduced cognitive load and enabled over 1 billion queries, helping millions of users work smarter with AI — all in one place.

I also guided the development of YOU.Chat, YOU.Write, and YOU.Code, and helped integrate partner tools and preferred sources to create a cohesive, engaging experience. Beyond product design, I built and mentored a multidisciplinary design team, fostering a culture of creativity, clarity, and innovation.

📰 The Verge: https://lnkd.in/d5VXf32X

#ai #search #youdotcom #startup #design #searchengine #productdesign #leadership

### Advisor @ Alakai Technologies Corporation
Jan 2018 – Jan 2020
Skai by Alaka’i is an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle and is the world’s first to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells. More information on www.skai.co

### Quoori (Now Herewith) @ Herewith
Jan 2017 – Jan 2019 | San Francisco Bay Area
As the founder, former CEO, and Chief Design Officer of Quoori/Herewith, I'm proud to have built a global team of over 50 visionaries, designers, engineers, and marketers across San Francisco and Hamburg, Germany. We're committed to revolutionizing the world of digital operating systems, placing the human experience at the forefront of everything we do.

With an executive team boasting experience from leading technology companies such as Uber, Adobe, Samsung, and more, we've been able to create a team of unparalleled talent. We started from scratch, building a world-class team that includes gifted individuals from Pixar, Uber, Adobe, Samsung, and beyond.

Our journey began with a business idea, a concept, and a demo. We secured seed funding of $1 million and went on to secure Series-A funding of $20 million, a testament to our team's hard work and innovative approach.

At Quoori/Herewith, we believe that the best design is one that seamlessly integrates with people's lives, enhancing their experiences while keeping things simple and intuitive. Join us on our mission to create a new kind of digital operating system that puts humans first. Let's build a future that's better than anything we've ever imagined.

### Chief Designer UX & Vice President @ Huawei Consumer Business Group
Jan 2015 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area, and Asia
As Chief Designer and Vice President at Huawei Consumer, I redefined the global UX, brand, and consumer product direction, setting up an R&D studio in the heart of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Working closely with the CEO, CTO, CMO, and other executives, I led a global multi-disciplinary design team with offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, London, Munich, Santa Clara, and our recently established San Francisco studio.

At Huawei Consumer, we're committed to providing users with experiences that are not just useful and meaningful, but also delightful and intuitive. From devices and wearables to IoT, cars, homes, and beyond, we're always looking for ways to put people at the center of our strategy.

By embracing a human-centric "intent"-driven strategy, we've been able to increase Huawei's brand value by over 50%, ranking twenty-fifth on Brand Finance Global 500 2018 with a value of 38.046 billion dollars. It's been an honor to work with such a forward-thinking company and to open my heart and mind to the Asian people.

As I move on to pursue my own ventures and plans as an entrepreneur, I'm proud to have left Huawei in a much better place than when I arrived. My experience with Huawei has taught me the importance of putting people first, driving innovation with intention, and working collaboratively across teams and borders to create something truly remarkable. Let's continue to push the boundaries of design and technology, together.

### Head of Product Design @ HELIX RE, Inc.
Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | San Francisco Bay Area
HELIX, formerly Flux Data, was the first spin-out of Google X. Flux Data built custom software used by architects, engineers and general contractors creating the most sophisticated buildings on the planet. In February Flux Data became HELIX to reflect a transition from focusing on optimizing a small number of technically sophisticated buildings toward creating solutions that target all buildings. I moved on after only a short stint with Flux, because I was to explore a role with a company in Asia that would give me the opportunity to learn more about Asia, which was impossible to say no to. Everyone understood…

### Vice President of Global Design @ PayPal
Jan 2010 – Jan 2012 | San Jose, California
I had the honor of working alongside eBay Inc.'s CEO John Donahoe and the executive team to revolutionize the global design organization, with a focus on building and refining capabilities around PayPal products and customer experiences. One of my first moves was hiring the renowned Fuse Project to rebrand PayPal, ensuring that the brand identity represented PayPal's pioneering history while addressing its goals for mobile, online, and real-world growth. I applied my hands-on design touch and contributed to the development of design strategies at the executive level, working tirelessly to solve the most difficult design problems that involved strategic and competitive situations.

One of my proudest achievements was reengineering and streamlining PayPal’s in-house user experience and R&D practice from a reactive, bulky team of 300 to a proactive, streamlined, and agile internal agency/consultancy of around 150 practitioners. I also led PayPal’s award-winning “Mobile First” design philosophy, implemented “Global Always” product development methodology, and re-engineered PayPal’s core products in the consumer and merchant space, across all platforms.

I was committed to leading Lean UX/agile delivery methodologies over waterfall and hired vendors like Fjord and Liquid Agency to inject a fresh breath of air into PayPal. With my innovative and strategic leadership, I created a refreshed PayPal brand identity in collaboration with external vendor Fuse Project that better represented its pioneering history and addressed its goals for mobile, online, and real-world growth.

My design process methodologies embody the values of innovation, creativity, and user-centered design, and my contributions have transformed PayPal's user experience. I believe that design is not only about creating visually appealing products, but also about solving complex problems and making people's lives easier. I am proud of the impact my work has had on PayPal and its users.

### Lead Product Designer & Manager @ Apple
Jan 2001 – Jan 2011 | Cupertino
I spearheaded Apple’s inaugural applications design team, conceptualizing and executing the development of professional application suites that revolutionized the macOS user interface. Additionally, I introduced groundbreaking interactions on the original iPhone, including Dark Mode, a feature specifically tailored for creators in low-light environments. My contributions continue to influence the way people interact with Apple products in the present day.

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
Led innovative design for foundational ProKit, iCloud, Emmy award-winning FinalCut Pro X, Logic Pro, and Apple Photos (formerly Aperture and iPhoto), reshaping creative tools for millions of users.

Defined Apple’s signature Dark Mode for the original iPhone, earning a key patent that is still in use today.

Partnered with senior executives and led multidisciplinary design, engineering, and marketing teams.

R&D: Played a crucial role in the top-secret development of the first iPhone and iOS 1.
Patents & Recognition: Secured several awarded and pending patents, contributing to Apple’s continued design innovation legacy.

CORE SKILLS
Product Design & UX Leadership: Over a decade of experience shaping iOS, web, and enterprise applications.

Design Systems & Consistency: Maintained world-class design standards, focusing on usability, accessibility, typography, and interaction patterns.

R&D and Creative Direction: Delivered end-to-end products by balancing technical requirements with user needs.

Cross-functional Communication: Presented design strategies to executives, guided teams, and drove successful product launches.

STRENGTHS
Visionary, detail-oriented design leader driven by innovation.
Proactive communicator, mentor, and creative problem-solver.
Skilled at translating complex data into simple, meaningful solutions.
Passionate about inclusive design, accessibility, and continuous learning.
Expert in tools like Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and custom prototyping platforms.

### Manager, Visual Design @ Cooper Interaction Design
Jan 2000 – Jan 2001
During my time at Cooper Interaction Design, I served as the Visual Design Director and worked closely with the executive team to rebrand Cooper and establish the Visual Design Department. My design methodologies were based on my unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and a deep understanding of user needs.

I was responsible for creating goal-directed solutions for clients such as AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, and Informatica, which helped position Cooper as a leader in the industry. My design solutions were always goal-directed and focused on meeting the needs of the user while creating beautiful and functional interfaces that embodied the values of simplicity, elegance, and intuitive design, much like the Apple brand.

My contributions to Cooper were significant, as I helped establish the company as a leader in visual design and branding. My work reflects a commitment to excellence and a willingness to push boundaries, which are values synonymous with the Apple brand.

I believe my contributions will continue to inspire and influence the industry for years to come.

### Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder @ AlcheMe, Inc.
Jan 1998 – Jan 2000 | San Francisco, California
Co-founded and managed a digital lifestyle infomediary, providing a secure personal space on the Internet.

### Owner @ A. S. Brody, LLC
Jan 1996 – Jan 1997 | San Francisco Bay Area, California
We are a nimble Silicon Valley-based, human interface design consultancy that partners with individuals, start-ups, organizations, and companies to humanize technology.  By crafting elegant, easy-to-use products and services we make a difference in people’s lives.  We combine business strategy, user insight, and interface design to create ground-breaking user experiences for web, desktop, and mobile.  Primarily focused on the developer ecosystem, our core specialty is to promote design excellence, simplicity, consistency and best practices for iPad, iPhone, and Mac applications.  Our core competency is product conception and visual design for mobile and the “internet of things”.

Founded by designer Abigail Sarah Brody, our small but international studio brings more than a decade of award-winning design experience to disciplines ranging from human interface design, visual design, to branding and identity design for both software and hardware.

Before permanently relocating to the US, Abigail led the creative direction for projects for European companies and institutions, such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the European Commission. 

Recent design engagements include projects with Wondros—a media, production, and creative agency in Los Angeles and with Jesse Dylan’s “hive of compassion and discovery” Lybba.org—a non-profit organization that uses research, design, technology, and media to drive change in healthcare. 
Clients include The Starkey Hearing Foundation, Creative Commons and Barbra Streisand. Abigail also serves on Dean Ornish’s advisory board and works as personal design advisor to Guy Kawasaki since 2008.


## Education
### B.A. in Communication Design, Film, Digital Media
ArtCenter College of Design


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abigailbrody
- Website: https://www.abibrody.com

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Source: https://flows.cv/abi
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/abi/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-08