Russell Flench
About Russell Flench
Russell Flench is the Director of Design Operations at Bixal, where he focuses on designing processes for onboarding, design methods, and team collaboration. He has extensive experience in service design and human-centered design, particularly in healthcare and public sector projects.
Current Role at Bixal
Russell Flench currently serves as the Director of Design Operations at Bixal, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he is responsible for designing and documenting processes related to onboarding, design methods and tools, professional development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and team member experience. He also works as a Service Designer for federal contracts, a role he has maintained since 2020.
Previous Experience at Bixal
Prior to his current position, Russell Flench held multiple roles at Bixal. He served as the Director of Service Design from 2021 to 2023, and as the HCD Lead for the CMS DataConnect project from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, he was the Health Cohort Lead for one year during the same period. His work has focused on enhancing service design and human-centered design practices within the organization.
Professional Background
Russell Flench has an extensive professional background in design and research. He worked at Cleveland Clinic as a Service Designer from 2016 to 2020, and at Steelcase as a Design Researcher from 2012 to 2013. He also held positions at Point Forward, Inc. as a Senior Design Researcher and Design Researcher between 2013 and 2015, and at Saint-Gobain as a Senior Design Researcher & Strategist in 2016.
Education and Expertise
Russell Flench studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from 1991 to 1997. He furthered his education at the Institute of Design, achieving a Master of Design in Design Research and Strategy from 2010 to 2013. He also studied Sustainable Product Design at Parsons School of Design - The New School starting in 2009.
Personal Interests
Russell Flench finds inspiration in bustling cities and enjoys spending time outdoors. He often goes on bike rides with his daughters, reflecting his appreciation for family and active living. His passion for Human-Centered Design is evident in his work, particularly in creating service experiences in healthcare and the public sector.