I am an industrial designer and photographer based in Seattle, Washington. You can just call me Billy by the way. For the last 15 years I’ve been a part of agency and corporate creative teams honing my craft as a designer. My project work has taken me around the world and endlessly pushed my creative capacity. I like to think of myself as a curious idealist, yet I have a very pragmatic approach to everything I do. Whether I’m processing a photo or dialing in a design concept, my creative superpower is my ability to persistently refine the details. I love digging in and working through the nuance. I can always find ways to keep iterating, but chasing perfection is a race I don’t think anyone will ever win.
We all have our own story to tell.
I am an industrial designer and photographer based in Seattle, Washington. You can just call me Billy by the way. For the last 15 years I’ve been a part of agency and corporate creative teams honing my craft as a designer. My project work has taken me around the world and endlessly pushed my creative capacity. I like to think of myself as a curious idealist, yet I have a very pragmatic approach to everything I do. Whether I’m processing a photo or dialing in a design concept, my creative superpower is my ability to persistently refine the details. I love digging in and working through the nuance. I can always find ways to keep iterating, but chasing perfection is a race I don’t think anyone will ever win.
We all have our own story to tell.
That's me in one of my happy places.
Kicked back and enjoying the start to a weekend adventure in the North Cascades.
That's me in one of my happy places.
I love a good adventure and will always choose the mountains over the city.
My design career has been an incredible journey so far. I’ve been extremely fortunate to work on some amazing projects with insanely talented and brilliant people along the way. There’s no denying they have shaped me into the designer I am today. Navigating complex problems and achieving project success is by no means a solo endeavor. I’m a designer through and through - it’s who I am - but I’m trying to be more deliberate with the type of projects I pursue. I often reflect on my hand in creating more “stuff”, but I strive to bring a more holistic perspective to the table. I aspire to work with teams who are being more thoughtful with the products they put out in the world. Business metrics and industry pressures are a real thing, but as a designer, I feel we have a real capacity to influence change and shape a brighter future. If you have a project opportunity or know where I could be a great addition, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am currently available for freelance or full-time design positions.
It's all about finding a balance.
My design career has been an incredible journey so far. I’ve been extremely fortunate to work on some amazing projects with insanely talented and brilliant people along the way. There’s no denying they have shaped me into the designer I am today. Navigating complex problems and achieving project success is by no means a solo endeavor. I’m a designer through and through - it’s who I am - but I’m trying to be more deliberate with the type of projects I pursue. I often reflect on my hand in creating more “stuff”, but I strive to bring a more holistic perspective to the table. I aspire to work with teams who are being more thoughtful with the products they put out in the world. Business metrics and industry pressures are a real thing, but as a designer, I feel we have a real capacity to influence change and shape a brighter future. If you have a project opportunity or know where I could be a great addition, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am currently available for freelance or full-time design positions.
It's all about finding a balance.
That's me in a little bit better lighting.
I'm not one to get too buttoned up, but I can clean up when I need to.
That's me in a little bit better lighting.
I'm not one to get too buttoned up, but I can clean up when I need to.
Unlike my design work, photography is a creative outlet completely free of constraints. I have total artistic freedom. It's a passion project I have actively and passively pursued for years. My archive of outdoor films and photo inspiration is bigger than I care to admit, but as a kid growing up in Ohio, these images were my portal to the world. They fueled a desire to get out and experience wild places I had no clue existed. I picked up my first “real” camera (a digital SLR) sometime during design school. I had no idea what I was doing. A healthy bit of curiosity and a heavy dose of persistence went a long way. Ironic as it sounds, it was probably my design internships that sparked the most growth in my photography. Each new internship was a chance to drive back and forth across the country, explore new regions, and point my own camera at the beautiful places I had only ever seen secondhand.
After design school, my time behind the lens took a bit of a backseat. Photography became a tool to document design process, consumer research, and countless prototypes. I was traveling the world focused on meeting project timelines and launching products - not checking the bucket list of exotic photo destinations. My photography got the kickstart it needed when I returned to Seattle for a new design role. Being back in the Pacific Northwest, I quickly remembered how much I loved getting out and capturing the big beautiful views. Landscape photography will always be my foundation, but I’m having just as much fun documenting outdoor adventures and shenanigans with friends. As much as my photography started as a creative endeavor purely for me, I do hope my stories and my work might inspire others to get outside and explore. It’s a big beautiful world out there, and everyone should take the chance to see it.
Seeing the world with my own eyes.
Unlike my design work, photography is a creative outlet completely free of constraints. I have total artistic freedom. It's a passion project I have actively and passively pursued for years. My archive of outdoor films and photo inspiration is bigger than I care to admit, but as a kid growing up in Ohio, these images were my portal to the world. They fueled a desire to get out and experience wild places I had no clue existed. I picked up my first “real” camera (a digital SLR) sometime during design school. I had no idea what I was doing. A healthy bit of curiosity and a heavy dose of persistence went a long way. Ironic as it sounds, it was probably my design internships that sparked the most growth in my photography. Each new internship was a chance to drive back and forth across the country, explore new regions, and point my own camera at the beautiful places I had only ever seen secondhand.
After design school, my time behind the lens took a bit of a backseat. Photography became a tool to document design process, consumer research, and countless prototypes. I was traveling the world focused on meeting project timelines and launching products - not checking the bucket list of exotic photo destinations. My photography got the kickstart it needed when I returned to Seattle for a new design role. Being back in the Pacific Northwest, I quickly remembered how much I loved getting out and capturing the big beautiful views. Landscape photography will always be my foundation, but I’m having just as much fun documenting outdoor adventures and shenanigans with friends. As much as my photography started as a creative endeavor purely for me, I do hope my stories and my work might inspire others to get outside and explore. It’s a big beautiful world out there, and everyone should take the chance to see it.
Seeing the world with my own eyes.
Taking on this website build has been quite the little project. In the midst of trying to update my old site, I accidentally blew things up and realized I needed to start over from scratch. Given the fact I’m not a web developer, the whole process has been a massive learning experience. It’s been fun digging in, getting my digital hands dirty, and trying to figure things out as I go. With endless possibilities and designing for my toughest critic (myself), it has been a process filled with trial and error, endless revisions, and tweaking nuance details many people will likely never notice - but it has been immensely gratifying to see this thing take shape. I guarantee it’s not perfect, but I’ll keep optimizing things as I go. If something isn’t working right, I’d love the feedback. I want to send a huge thanks to a couple of friends who were willing to put some fresh eyes on this project and pass along some pointers when I felt like I was headed nowhere fast. I have stared at this site for far too many hours, but I’m stoked I stuck with it and saw it through. Now it’s time to get back out there.
A little bit about this web design project.
Taking on this website build has been quite the little project. In the midst of trying to update my old site, I accidentally blew things up and realized I needed to start over from scratch. Given the fact I’m not a web developer, the whole process has been a massive learning experience. It’s been fun digging in, getting my digital hands dirty, and trying to figure things out as I go. With endless possibilities and designing for my toughest critic (myself), it has been a process filled with trial and error, endless revisions, and tweaking nuance details many people will likely never notice - but it has been immensely gratifying to see this thing take shape. I guarantee it’s not perfect, but I’ll keep optimizing things as I go. If something isn’t working right, I’d love the feedback. I want to send a huge thanks to a couple of friends who were willing to put some fresh eyes on this project and pass along some pointers when I felt like I was headed nowhere fast. I have stared at this site for far too many hours, but I’m stoked I stuck with it and saw it through. Now it’s time to get back out there.
A little bit about this web design project.
WILLIAM HERWEH
About
Photo
Contact
PHOTO
Home
Design