Shawn Christopher

About Shawn Christopher

I build at the intersection of design leadership and technology — creating custom AI-powered software solutions that transform how creative teams work. For over 14 years, I\'ve led brand and visual identity work at scale, most recently as Design Director at Mattress Firm, where I manage a team of designers and shape creative strategy across every customer touchpoint. That experience taught me where creative workflows break down — and now I\'m building the tools to fix them. I develop custom software solutions that integrate AI into real production environments: automating repetitive design tasks, streamlining asset management, and giving creative teams more time for the work that actually matters. I don\'t just implement off-the-shelf tools — I architect and build solutions tailored to how creative teams actually operate. What I bring to the table: design direction and brand strategy at enterprise scale, hands-on software development for creative workflows, AI integration that solves real production problems, and a deep understanding of print, digital, and retail execution. I\'m always interested in connecting with people who are rethinking how creative and technology teams work together. Feel free to reach out.

Experience

1. Design Director

   Mattress Firm

   Aug 2022 — Present · Houston, TX, US

   Lead the brand’s visual identity and creative strategy across all customer touchpoints, managing a team of designers who deliver work spanning digital, print, in-store POP, and national campaigns.Identified recurring bottlenecks in creative production workflows and began directing the development of custom AI-powered solutions to address them — scoping requirements, defining product vision, and leveraging AI-assisted development tools to ship working software that automates repetitive design tasks and streamlines asset management.Spearheaded the architecture and implementation of Mattress Firm’s Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, designing the file structure, naming conventions, and tagging strategies that now serve as the single source of truth for creative assets across the organization.Leverage data-driven insights to optimize design performance and inform creative decisions, balancing day-to-day execution with long-term strategic initiatives. Bring a product-minded approach to creative operations — identifying where technology can eliminate friction, then directing the build.

Education

• Sam Houston State University

  Bachelor's Degree, Advertising Graphic Design and Media Arts/Animation

  2004 — 2010