Hi, I’m Lee.

I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of systems and stories. My first web design project was in middle school in the late ’90s, when I built a Redwall-inspired literary role-playing website that grew to more than 400 members at its peak. From there, I kept designing on the side—creating websites for college literary magazines and post-collegiate community projects—long before I had the language of “user experience” to describe what I was doing.

Professionally, I spent nearly twenty years working with independent bookstores around the country, where I led operational, training, and customer experience initiatives in independent bookstores nationwide. I built tools to automate inventory management, created training programs that scaled nationally, and improved workflows that empowered staff, strengthened community connection, and helped put the right book in the right person’s hand at the right time.

Those years taught me that design isn’t just about creating a product or service—it’s about crafting experiences that give people the tools and the narrative to shape their own story, while also making them feel seen, understood, and connected to the communities around them.

Today, I bring that same approach to UX, learning, and service design. I map journeys, analyze complex systems, and collaborate to make experiences easier to navigate. I create experiences that connect, empower, and foster a sense of belonging, just like a great bookstore.

Books remain central to my life. I live in Seattle with my wife, a mental health counselor who reads more than any bookseller I’ve ever met. Our love story unfolded in the stacks: we had our first date at Ada’s Technical Books and were married at King’s Books, an event later featured in the book Bookstore Romance.

I co-host LitUp, a quarterly meetup for book industry professionals that’s been running since 2018, and before that I co-created and produced the Drunk Booksellers podcast, which interviewed booksellers from across the country.

Outside of books, you’ll find me riding my motorcycle along Lake Washington, cross-stitching elaborate Frog & Toad scenes for friends’ babies, having deep conversations with my cats, or learning to whittle (poorly).

At heart, I’m still that middle schooler who loved building worlds where people could gather, share, and belong. That’s the spirit I bring into every design project: creating systems that foster connection, make space for people, and maybe even spark a little joy.

Professional Journey

  • Role: Director of Education, American Booksellers Association (2022–2025)

    As the national education lead for ABA, I oversaw the design and delivery of learning experiences for thousands of independent booksellers. My challenge was to transform a legacy education program into something scalable, inclusive, and genuinely useful—meeting the evolving needs of sellers navigating both physical and digital retail.

    I applied experience design principles to deeply understand user needs, using member councils, surveys, and real-time feedback loops. I restructured the program around modular learning, improving accessibility and retention. We moved beyond static presentations and toward dynamic, on-demand resources tailored for busy professionals.

    I introduced new platforms and content formats, helping increase reach, streamline engagement, and support all experience levels—from first-time booksellers to seasoned managers. This work wasn’t just about content—it was about building trustworthy, intuitive systems that respected users’ time and context.

  • Role: Store Manager, Third Place Books Seward Park (2017–2022)

    This wasn’t just retail—it was service design in real time. At Third Place Books, I led the daily operations of a bustling community bookstore, using user insights to shape everything from layout and inventory systems to team workflows and customer communication.

    Every decision was user-informed. I curated product placement to reflect behavioral flow and optimized signage for wayfinding. Behind the scenes, I designed training and support systems that reduced friction for staff and ensured consistency across touchpoints.

    During the pandemic, I led a rapid transformation of the store’s operations: introducing virtual events, curbside pickup, and an upgraded online experience. These changes weren’t just reactive—they were thoughtful, iterative responses to a changing user environment.

  • Role: Lead Receiver, The Elliott Bay Book Company (2015–2017)

    At Elliott Bay, I found elegance in systems. I led the redesign of receiving and inventory workflows—balancing technical system logic with frontline usability. I introduced standardized metadata practices that improved product discoverability, simplified staff training, and enhanced customer service.

    My work extended to developing SOPs and internal documentation, elevating them from simple instructions to user-friendly tools that anticipated needs. I viewed every process as an experience: one that could either empower or frustrate. My job was to design for the former.

  • Role: Inventory Manager & Assistant Manager, WORD Bookstore (2015–2017)

    WORD’s Jersey City location was a blank canvas—and I got to design the user journey from the ground up. From floor plans and signage to inventory logic and events, I built experiences that spoke directly to the neighborhood's needs.

    We used sales data and qualitative feedback to refine the space, iterate on merchandising, and expand inventory through consignment and community partnerships. Every physical and operational choice was rooted in empathy, observation, and iteration—hallmarks of experience design.

  • Roles at Powell’s Books (2008–2013)

    My early years at Powell’s grounded me in the core principles I carry today: system usability, cross-team communication, and process improvement as a design practice. Whether optimizing large-scale receiving operations or managing metadata across seven locations, I worked to make complexity navigable.

    I created new training manuals, led company-wide initiatives, and even designed data processes to support strategic buying—all with a focus on clarity, usability, and long-term sustainability.