Hello. I'm Ben.

I have worked in digital since before ‘User Experience’ was even a recognised term. Whether in my early days as a service designer, managing design teams for large companies, or co-owning and running a successful app agency for over 10 years, user-centred digital design has always been at the heart of what I do.

UX Designer

Senior design expertise rarely fits neatly into one box. My extensive design experience includes:

  • User Experience Design of digital interfaces & products
  • Service Design of larger services and operations
  • Design team direction, management and processes
  • Researching and understanding usage and user behaviour
  • Excellent documentation, communication and collaboration skills
  • Large-scale project management & delivery

Data Visualiser

Data Visualisation requires expertise spanning my multiple creative and technical skills:

  • Planning and engineering appropriate data processing and modelling
  • Concepting and designing beautiful data visualisations
  • Data visualisation development using D3.js, jQuery and JSON
  • Support with implementing data visualisations into existing websites and apps

Originally a product designer, I worked in mobile and digital at Hallmark and Orange UK, before creating and running a successful digital agency for over 10 years. Since 2017, I’ve been working as a freelance digital designer and data visualiser.

LinkedIn profile

 My portfolio provides a very brief outline of work produced by me personally or by designers under my direction. However, to really appreciate what I have done and can do, please get in touch for a chat.

Download PDF (18mb)

Digital projects are never delivered individually, often involving collaborators and knowledge from multiple teams, locations and processes. I am a highly effective remote worker – combining best practice remote methods and tools with on-site/face-to-face engagement when required.

Remote working

...and Academic

As digital practitioners, I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure technology positively impacts society. From 2017-2019, I am studying MA Digital Media & Society at the University of Sheffield on a part-time basis, learning new digital research methods and exploring relationships between society, culture, social media and big data.

Taught modules and research areas covered by the course include:

  • Researching Digital Society
  • Social Media, Data & Society
  • Digital Methods
  • Culture & Identity
  • Qualitative Research Methods

Follow along on Twitter

I’m not a prolific Twitterer, but when I tweet it’s mostly related to my academic activities…

Twitter feed

...and Artist

From drawing as a child to technical drawing for my Product Design degree, I now produce drawn work for prints, cards and other formats. I mostly draw on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil as I love the mix of digital method with traditional skills. I have a small local exhibition space and am always happy to discuss commissions and drawing projects.

Contact me

I’m always keen to discuss any project or work opportunity. I am usually booked up for a few weeks ahead but am open to discussing projects of any size and method of engagement.

For artwork enquiries, contact me if you’re interested in a private commission, where to buy existing work or just to give me some feedback.

If you’re a recruiter, by all means get in touch but please do select the appropriate option on the form and ideally a suggestion of why you’re contacting me.

About this site

This site is a concise online presence for me, Ben Childs. For a digital professional, I am relatively low-profile in terms of social networking, hence both professionally and as an exhibiting artist this site ensures I have some visibility online. The site is kept simple to minimise the development and maintenance, and is not demonstrative of the scale of digital products and services I have delivered professionally.

About this site

  • Company name: Ben Childs Ltd.
  • Company number: 10515311
  • Company address:
    7 Hollins Row, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD7 5LA