# Fred McHale

> Ships products. Grows designers. Makes AI useful.

Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/fredmchale

Over the course of the past 19 years, my professional journey has been dedicated to the craft of creating exceptional consumer product experiences. My leadership in the field of design spans well over a decade, during which I've had the privilege of building and leading design teams at internationally recognized organizations such as Cisco Systems, the Academy of Art, as well as numerous startups and private ventures. I've shared my expertise by volunteering with non-profit organizations, striving to make design accessible to all.

I excel in the field of global design leadership, where I have refined my ability to motivate design teams. My adeptness encompasses the implementation of design thinking, design processes, systems design, data-driven product strategy, and the prioritization of product development closely attuned to user requirements, all firmly grounded in the principles of user-centered design methodologies.

## Work Experience
### Director of Product Design @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2017 – Present | San Francisco, California

### Product Design Manager @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2014 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco, California, United States

### Product Design Consultant @ Janie and Jack
Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | San Francisco, California, United States

### Product Design Consultant @ Face Reality
Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | San Francisco, California, United States

### User Experience Design Subject Matter Expert @ Focal Press Books
Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | San Francisco Bay Area

### Design Manager @ Cisco
Jan 2012 – Jan 2014 | San Jose, California, United States

### Product Design Lead @ Cisco
Jan 2010 – Jan 2012 | San Jose, California, United States

### User Experience Designer @ Cisco
Jan 2007 – Jan 2010 | San Jose, California, United States

### Research Assistant @ California State University, Bakersfield
Jan 2005 – Jan 2006


## Education
### BS in Computer Science
California State University, Bakersfield

### Computer Engineering
San José State University


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/fredmchale
- Portfolio: https://academyixd.com

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Source: https://flows.cv/fredmchale
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/fredmchale/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13