A strategic and results-driven Design Director / Head of Design with over a decade of experience leading design innovation, strategy, and new product development across global organisations. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, drive customer-centric design solutions, and bridge the gap between business objectives and user needs. Adept at delivering scalable, impactful digital experiences across multiple industries, including sports, media, entertainment, and technology. Passionate about fostering a culture of design excellence and innovation.
rich.hideki.mills@gmail.com
↗
+44 (0) 7803 048079
↗
Experience
Skills
Product Innovation
Integrating user experience, emerging technologies, and business strategy to deliver high-impact solutions.
Human-Centred Design
Applying human-centred methodologies to enhance usability and engagement.
Stakeholder Management
Aligning design strategy with executive teams, engineering, and business units.
Design Leadership & Strategy
Leading multidisciplinary design teams, driving vision, and fostering design thinking culture.
Business Growth & Transformation
Driving revenue growth, scalability, and operational efficiency through design.
Mentorship & Team Development
Building, mentoring, and upskilling high-performing design teams.
Brand & Experience Design
Shaping brand narratives and visual storytelling across digital platforms.
Education
University of Brunel, London
Bachelor of Science
Product Design (Hons)
Richard Mills,
Product Innovation & Design Leadership
Home
About
Work
A strategic and results-driven Design Director / Head of Design with over a decade of experience leading design innovation, strategy, and new product development across global organisations. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, drive customer-centric design solutions, and bridge the gap between business objectives and user needs. Adept at delivering scalable, impactful digital experiences across multiple industries, including sports, media, entertainment, and technology. Passionate about fostering a culture of design excellence and innovation.
rich.hideki.mills@gmail.com
↗
+44 (0) 7803 048079
↗
Experience
- Leading the creation of new experience design strategies that challenge conventional thinking and set new standards for user engagement and business growth.
- Working hand-in-hand with product teams, driving opportunities and helping clients realise the transformative power of design.
- Owning the discovery and definition, from gathering insights to shaping user experience and product design.
- Ensuring that experiences align with the client’s commercial goals while maintaining modern standards of design and innovation.
- Clients include: Propellerfish, Network Gaming, UNTIL, Candou and more.
Strategy & Design Director
Deltatre ↗
April 2020 - July 2023
London, UK
- Directed cross-functional teams across design, product, and engineering, driving delivery of high-profile international sports tech products while owning project P&L and ensuring commercial targets were met or exceeded.
- Led design and product strategy for NFL, Sportsnet Now, Volleyball World, F1, Formula E and AS Roma FC.
- Defined and implemented strategic team objectives, delivering measurable improvements in team performance, talent development, and cross-discipline collaboration.
- Led performance management for a multi-disciplinary team, crafting objectives, providing regular feedback, and delivering formal appraisals that contributed to improved retention and alignment with company goals.
- Collaborated with senior leadership to shape company-wide strategic direction, contributing to key initiatives across product innovation, market expansion, and operational scaling.
- Co-developed and launched a corporate ventures program, identifying new growth opportunities and enabling a structured approach to experimentation, internal innovation, and investment in emerging technologies.
- Played a central role in evolving the design and innovation function, helping to reposition it from a delivery role to a strategic partner within the business.
- Improved team delivery efficiency and profitability by aligning resource planning and project prioritisation with business and revenue goals.
Design Director
Massive Interactive ↗
April 2019 - March 2019
London, UK
- Led an 8-person design team delivering UX and UI solutions for global streaming platforms, ensuring design excellence across products used by millions of viewers worldwide.
- Oversaw the design and launch of Bally Sport a multi-billion sports streaming network.
- Oversaw the design and launch of the revamped beIN Sports multi-platform streaming service.
- Managed the ongoing design for key multi-platform streaming accounts, WWE Network, DRTV and NFL Gamepass.
- Set team-wide objectives and conducted regular performance appraisals, supporting individual growth while aligning design output with strategic priorities.
- Championed design quality and consistency, implementing rigorous design review processes and elevating the standard of output across multiple concurrent projects.
- Played a key role in securing new business, partnering with commercial teams to define design strategy for RFPs, pitch presentations, and client onboarding — contributing to successful contract wins.
Skills
Education
University of Brunel, London
Bachelor of Science
Product Design (Hons)
Richard Mills,
Product Innovation & Design Leadership
Home
About
Work
A strategic and results-driven Design Director / Head of Design with over a decade of experience leading design innovation, strategy, and new product development across global organisations. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, drive customer-centric design solutions, and bridge the gap between business objectives and user needs. Adept at delivering scalable, impactful digital experiences across multiple industries, including sports, media, entertainment, and technology. Passionate about fostering a culture of design excellence and innovation.
rich.hideki.mills@gmail.com
↗
+44 (0) 7803 048079
↗
Experience
Product Innovation & Design Consultant
- Leading the creation of new experience design strategies that challenge conventional thinking and set new standards for user engagement and business growth.
- Working hand-in-hand with product teams, driving opportunities and helping clients realise the transformative power of design.
- Owning the discovery and definition, from gathering insights to shaping user experience and product design.
- Ensuring that experiences align with the client’s commercial goals while maintaining modern standards of design and innovation.
- Clients include: Propellerfish, Network Gaming, UNTIL, Candou and more.
Strategy & Design Director
- Directed cross-functional teams across design, product, and engineering, driving delivery of high-profile international sports tech products while owning project P&L and ensuring commercial targets were met or exceeded.
- Led design and product strategy for NFL, Sportsnet Now, Volleyball World, F1, Formula E and AS Roma FC.
- Defined and implemented strategic team objectives, delivering measurable improvements in team performance, talent development, and cross-discipline collaboration.
- Led performance management for a multi-disciplinary team, crafting objectives, providing regular feedback, and delivering formal appraisals that contributed to improved retention and alignment with company goals.
- Collaborated with senior leadership to shape company-wide strategic direction, contributing to key initiatives across product innovation, market expansion, and operational scaling.
- Co-developed and launched a corporate ventures program, identifying new growth opportunities and enabling a structured approach to experimentation, internal innovation, and investment in emerging technologies.
- Played a central role in evolving the design and innovation function, helping to reposition it from a delivery role to a strategic partner within the business.
- Improved team delivery efficiency and profitability by aligning resource planning and project prioritisation with business and revenue goals.
Design Director
- Led an 8-person design team delivering UX and UI solutions for global streaming platforms, ensuring design excellence across products used by millions of viewers worldwide.
- Oversaw the design and launch of Bally Sport a multi-billion sports streaming network.
- Oversaw the design and launch of the revamped beIN Sports multi-platform streaming service.
- Managed the ongoing design for key multi-platform streaming accounts, WWE Network, DRTV and NFL Gamepass.
- Set team-wide objectives and conducted regular performance appraisals, supporting individual growth while aligning design output with strategic priorities.
- Championed design quality and consistency, implementing rigorous design review processes and elevating the standard of output across multiple concurrent projects.
- Played a key role in securing new business, partnering with commercial teams to define design strategy for RFPs, pitch presentations, and client onboarding — contributing to successful contract wins.
Skills
Design Leadership & Strategy
Leading multidisciplinary design teams, driving vision, and fostering design thinking culture.
Product Innovation
Integrating user experience, emerging technologies, and business strategy to deliver high-impact solutions.
Human-Centred Design
Applying human-centred methodologies to enhance usability and engagement.
Stakeholder Management
Aligning design strategy with executive teams, engineering, and business units.
Business Growth & Transformation
Driving revenue growth, scalability, and operational efficiency through design.
Mentorship & Team Development
Building, mentoring, and upskilling high-performing design teams.
Brand & Experience Design
Shaping brand narratives and visual storytelling across digital platforms.
Education
University of Brunel, London
Bachelor of Science
Product Design (Hons)