Brian Pinkney

About Brian Pinkney

As a design leader and experience strategist, I thrive at the intersection of complex human needs and emerging technology. With over two decades of experience across design, research, and strategy, I specialize in transforming intricate technical challenges into intuitive, high-impact digital products.My current focus is understanding the evolution of the Human / AI connection. I am particularly interested in Agentic Experience Design and moving beyond simple chatbots to create AI systems that act with intent, transparency, and high utility while keeping the human firmly in the driver’s seat.Why I’m driven by this space: The Agentic Shift: We are moving from tools we use to agents we collaborate with. I’m fascinated by the UX of delegation, trust-building, and the feedback loops required for successful AI partnerships. Responsible Innovation: I believe great AI design is inherently \"Responsible AI.\" This means designing for ethics, clarity, and human agency from the first prototype to the final build. Innovation for Good: I am an advocate for applying high-level design thinking to Green Technology and Sustainability. I look for \"What if?\" opportunities where innovation can drive environmental resilience and better human outcomes. Leadership through Doing: Whether I’m running a LUMA workshop, mapping a complex service blueprint, or mentoring a design team, I believe in staying grounded. I can wear many hats, from high-level strategy to hands on prototyping, without losing sight of the user\'s reality.AI & Future Forward Design:Agentic Experience Design, AI Strategy (MIT/Wharton Certified), UX for Artificial Intelligence, Responsible AI Frameworks & Governance.Strategy & Leadership:Product Design Leadership, Human-Centered Design (LUMA Certified), Service Design & Systems Thinking, Design Thinking Workshops & Synthesis, Modular Design Systems at Scale.Core Competencies:Design Thinking, Discovery & User Research, Data-Driven Experiences, Rapid Prototyping, OmniChannel Strategy, Systems & Service Design, Product Design.Industries of Interest:Green Technology, Renewable Energy, Environmental Services, Sustainable Supply Chain, Healthcare, Financial Services, and Retail.

Experience

1. Lead Service and Product Design

   Kroger Technology & Digital

   Oct 2025 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   Led Service Design and Product Strategy for a major Kroger Technology initiative, defining the vision for how automation and technology shape the end-to-end user experience- Architected the design strategy for a 2,700-location POS rollout, employing Design Thinking workshops and system-wide service blueprints to de-risk implementation- Identified core technology requirements through deep-dive discovery, mapping complex process journeys to optimize agentic services and system scalability- Ensured technical and business alignment by partnering with Engineering and Product leads to deliver roadmaps that balanced user needs with technical feasibility and KPIs.

Education

• Terra Community College

  Digital Media Design, Web, animation and 3d design

• Ohio University

  Bachelors of Business, Marketing

Skills

• Web Analytics
• Usability
• User Interface
• Experience Design
• Information Architecture
• Web Strategy
• Graphic Design
• Interaction Design
• Web Design
• Art Direction
• Digital Strategy
• User Interface Design
• Usability Testing
• User Experience Design
• User Experience
• Content Strategy
• User-Centered Design
• User Research
• Mobile Design
• Heuristic Evaluation
• Customer Experience
• Creative Direction