Shannon E. Thomas
About Shannon E. Thomas
Shannon E. Thomas is the Head of Experience Design at VanMoof, where she has worked since 2020. She previously founded The Artificial and has held design roles at Microsoft, Big Fish Games, and frog.
Work at VanMoof
Shannon E. Thomas has served as the Head of Experience Design at VanMoof since 2020. In this role, she has created a comprehensive design language system that ensures consistent communication across various touchpoints, including rider-facing, internal users, digital, and print. She designed an organizational structure that initially focused on design and later expanded to include other software disciplines, enhancing communication and efficiency during the company's scaling process. Under her leadership, the experience design team grew from 1 to 12 members within two years. Additionally, she developed frameworks for recruiting and professional development within the design team and the broader company.
Previous Experience
Before joining VanMoof, Shannon E. Thomas had a diverse career in design. She founded The Artificial, where she worked from 2013 to 2020 in the Amsterdam Area. Prior to that, she worked at Microsoft as a designer for zune.net from 2008 to 2009. She also held the position of senior UX designer at Big Fish Games from 2009 to 2010. Earlier in her career, she was an Internet Graphics Specialist at Home Decorators Collection from 2006 to 2007. Additionally, she served as Design Lead at frog from 2010 to 2013 in the Greater Seattle Area.
Education and Expertise
Shannon E. Thomas studied at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Her studies included painting, graphic design, and English, spanning from 2002 to 2006. This educational background has informed her design philosophy and approach throughout her career.
Achievements in Design Leadership
At VanMoof, Shannon E. Thomas has made significant contributions to design leadership. She established a design language system that promotes consistency across various platforms. Her efforts in structuring the design organization have facilitated improved communication and efficiency as the company scaled. She has also focused on team growth and professional development, reflecting her commitment to fostering talent within the design community.