Chris Velazquez
Product Design + Business Strategy
Richmond, Virginia · MBA Candidate, Longwood University
Helping teams solve complex problems
- Experience
- 10+ yrs
- Products shipped
- 30+
- Industries
- 5+
- Credentials
- 6
About
Design with the whole system in mind.
I'm a product designer in Richmond, Virginia. Ten years across energy, insurance, federal agencies, and education, mostly on software where the consequences are real.
Approach
I work as a translator between what users actually need, what the technology can do, and what the business has to get out of it. That starts with the people doing the work. Planners, operators, auditors, analysts. I build relationships that let me describe their tasks accurately and keep the door open for the next conversation, which is usually where the innovation shows up.
From there I design the business, user, and technical vision.
Right now I'm designing grid management tools and finishing an MBA at Longwood. AI is part of that work, but I treat it as functionality layered on top of solid user experience fundamentals rather than a starting point. Know the user, map the process, design something meaningful. The technology gets chosen after that, not before.
How I work
- 01
Learn the domain
I sit with the people doing the work. Planners, operators, auditors, analysts. I stay until I can describe their day in their words.
- 02
Translate
I map what the business needs, what users actually do, and what the tech can support onto the same page. The artifact is usually a shared vision.
- 03
Design & ship
I prototype against the real constraints, work in tight loops with engineering, and ship something the team can keep running.
- 04
Measure & adjust
Once it's live, I track whether it's actually changing the work. Then look for the next opportunity to innovate and improve the systems.
Education & Certifications
Master of Business Administration
Longwood University
AI Strategy & Governance
University of Pennsylvania
People Management Essentials
Google Education
Generative AI Leadership
Google Education
UX Strategy & Management
Interaction Design Foundation
B.A. Media Arts & Design
James Madison University
People who'll vouch for me
Happy to put you in touch with former teammates and managers who can speak to the work. Available on request:
Gregory Primosch
Principal Product Manager, Clearcover
Erin Brooks
VP of Innovation, DEVSIO
Cody Simms
Senior Product Designer, Mission Lane
Saul Medrano
Senior Product Manager, Clearcover
Outside the work
I live outside Richmond, Virginia with my wife and two young sons. We run a small family farm — slow, underground work, where the reward is measured in years.
Most of my time outside of work is outside. Gardening with the boys, building imaginary worlds in the woods behind the house.
The four of us.
The garden mid-summer.
Creek walk with the youngest.
Fishing a creek.
Get in touch
Helping teams with product strategy, design leadership, and AI-informed UX. Based in Richmond, VA.