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Ryan Brownhill

Director of Design at Instagram and co-founder of HUS Collective, a small AI/ML software studio.

ExecutiveLeads from the frontHybrid schoolProductAIBrand
A senior design leader who stays hands-on building with AI and frames it as a way to make small teams faster and more capable rather than a replacement for craft or people.

Signature win. Built a motion-rooted design craft from IBM's Motion Design Language into directing design for Instagram's core experience at global scale.

The case

editorial · CCBEI · with sources
CraftDirector of Design at Instagram with deep motion-design craft roots (IBM Motion Design Language, Watson); explicitly stays hands-on building, experimenting, and shipping at the product/design/motion/code intersection.8
CommunicationPublished writer on motion and UI craft (easing curves, SVG, After Effects to CSS) and articulates a clear POV that AI + design libraries let smaller agile teams iterate faster.7
BusinessLeads design for Instagram's core experience, a product at massive scale; co-founded HUS Collective shipping real products (Nibby), though specific outcome metrics are not public.7
EducationDirector-level leadership at Instagram and IBM implies team development; runs 'The Imperfect Designer' addressing burnout and growth, but concrete reskilling/mentorship evidence is thin.6
InnovationCo-founded an AI/ML software studio (with an ML engineer) building real products, and advocates AI to make small teams more capable — augmenting people, not shedding them; passes the elevate test.8

Endorsed by peers

illustrative · opens with verified accounts
OverallI'd work for them38
CraftRaised my craft bar43
CommunicationMade the case for design38
BusinessMade design matter to the business38
EducationTaught me something I still use32
InnovationShowed me a new way to work43

Verified peers only — one tap with LinkedIn. Names stay private; we show role and industry. Bars are illustrative until the participation backend is live.

Stories

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