Ben Sykes is a multidisciplinary force—equal parts combat-tested leader, creative technologist, and human-centered design advocate. With over 25 years of hands-on design experience, Ben's career has spanned military service in the Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom, to designing immersive UX systems at some of the world’s most influential companies, including Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and Silicon Labs.

Ben Sykes is a multidisciplinary force—equal parts combat-tested leader, creative technologist, and human-centered design advocate. With over 25 years of hands-on design experience, Ben's career has spanned military service in the Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom, to designing immersive UX systems at some of the world’s most influential companies, including Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and Silicon Labs.

From leading the visual and interaction design for American Idol Underground to inventing data visualization backbones at Google, Ben has continually delivered design that is intuitive, scalable, and deeply empathetic. He’s also taught and mentored hundreds of emerging designers as an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University and curriculum designer at General Assembly—empowering the next generation of UX thinkers.

Beyond digital products, Ben’s journey includes work in the film industry, culinary arts for TV productions, and keynote speaking on overcoming PTSD and anxiety. His story is not just about design—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the human experience that underpins every interaction.