Lad Decker
About Lad Decker
Lad Decker is the Head of Research at Blink and a Principal UX Researcher, Designer, and Strategist at Lad.Design, with over twenty-five years of experience in UX research, strategy, and design.
Title and Current Positions
Lad Decker currently holds multiple significant roles. He is the Head Of Research at Blink, a position he has held since 2021, leading research practices across different U.S. locations including San Francisco, San Diego, Austin, and Boston. Additionally, he serves as Principal UX Researcher, Designer, and Strategist at Lad.Design since 2018, focusing on innovative user experience designs and strategic guidance. He is also involved as an artist under LadDecker.com, known for exploring human conflict through painting.
Professional Background and Experience
Lad Decker has an extensive background spanning over twenty-five years in various UX and design roles. At POP, he held positions such as Experience Design Director from 2014 to 2018 and Experience Strategy, Senior IxD II from 2010 to 2014. His career includes significant contributions as Senior UX Consultant at DeckerFoundry (2008-2011), Senior UX Designer at both VML and Wunderman (2004-2008), and Information Architect at Cerner (2001-2004). He also served as Board Member and Treasurer at Puget Sound SIGCHI from 2010 to 2016.
Education and Artistic Training
Lad Decker is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, where he earned a BFA studying Fiber, Painting, and Photography from 1990 to 1994. His secondary education was completed at Booker T. Washington High School from 1986 to 1990. He has further training at Adaptive Path and significant involvement with the Association for Computing Machinery - CHI conferences.
Specializations and Expertise
Lad Decker specializes in foundational research, mental models, and thinking-styles. His work is heavily influenced by generative analysis to identify key design and development opportunities. Trained in the Bauhaus ideals, he combines experiential and practical purposes of art, applying these principles toward business and social progress. His roles often involve collaboration with global partners and mentoring UX practitioners and managers.
Philosophy and Approach
Lad Decker is passionate about design that elevates quality of life. He believes in creating humane experiences with technology, viewing it as a key responsibility of UX leaders. His work philosophy is deeply rooted in understanding human nature and the different perspectives individuals bring to the same situation. As an artist and painter, he studies human conflict, drawing inspiration from international relations, great-power competition, and the Cold War.