Kevin Wilson
Product Design
Crafting digital products with huge impact.
Over the past fifteen years, I have shaped enduring experiences and led design teams for some of the internet’s most successful companies.
As the founding designer at Cloudflare, I not only crafted their earliest products but also built the design team from the ground up. Today, Cloudflare powers nearly twenty percent of the internet.
At Discord, I grew the design team from two to twenty-four members during its rapid expansion to two hundred million users. During this period, I served as a player-coach, establishing Discord’s first design system, redesigning the light theme, and leading both the product design and creative teams as the Head of Design.
My timeline
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
1990
My interest in video games began with my first console, a Nintendo Entertainment System, sparking a lifelong passion that would eventually blend with my career.
1998
I discovered a love for digital art, crafting cringeworthy anime desktop backgrounds using a cracked version of Paint Shop Pro, sharing them on a rudimentary website.
2009
After earning degrees in graphic design and photography from Sacramento State, I started my career as a graphic designer at a local agency in Sacramento.
2011
Determined to make it doing design anywhere in San Francisco, I joined Cloudflare as their first designer and accidentally stumbled into the world of tech startups.
2015
I joined Mesosphere to focus in on product design — something I had fell in love with while working on the Cloudflare dashboard during my time there.
2017
I discovered Discord while playing Overwatch with friends and fell in love instantly. I had to work with them. I joined as their second product designer.
2023
I joined up with two ex-Discord friends to co-found a startup called Whatever, where we would develop an app focused on helping couples plan better date nights together.
2024
After several years of being a people manager and startup founder, I was ready to get my hands dirty again and delve back into being an individual contributor on a product design team by joining Mixpanel.
Mixpanel
Staff Product Designer
2024
Today
Whatever
Co-founder
2023
2024
Discord
Director of Product Design
2017
2023
Mesosphere
Senior Product Designer
2015
2017
Cloudflare
Founding Designer
2011
2015
PAIR design
Graphic Designer
2009
2011
Sacramento State University
Graphic design and photography student
2003
2009
The Internet
Young Explorer
1995
2003
Recent work
Whatever had an ambitious vision of addressing the loneliness epidemic by making real-life events easier to discover and plan.
I joined fellow ex-Discord staffers in co-founding Whatever in the wake of the pandemic. Our goal was to take the community-building skills we brought to online spaces into the real world, where we would do our small part to fight the loneliness epidemic.
Whatever had two versions — one that helped groups plan events collaboratively using AI-backed voting features for timing, place, and what to do. The second version focused in on couples, helping them discover date night ideas and plan more regular dates collaboratively.
At Whatever I was responsible for all design, ranging from the branding and marketing to the product experience. As an early-stage startup co-founder, I also had to wear many other hats along the way.
Unfortunately, Whatever could not achieve product-market fit and wound down in mid-2024.
Product Design
Design Systems
Branding
Art Direction
Visual Identity
Discord is a gaming-focused communication platform that offers voice, video, and text chat. It has over 200 million users.
My time at Discord began as an individual contributor, then as a player-coach as I grew the product design team alongside the Discord feature set, and ended as a full people manager of a team of two dozen designers.
Product Design
Design Systems
Art Direction
Leadership
