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Joe Donato

Designer. Maker.
Enthusiastic nerd.

West Seattle, Washington

Curious by nature.
Designer by trade.

I’m Joe, a product designer in West Seattle with more than 15 years of experience making complicated things easier to use. My background spans graphic design, interactive experiences, and digital products for companies including AT&T, T-Mobile, Nike, Allrecipes, and Bowlero. I enjoy figuring out what people need, making ideas tangible, and working with researchers, product managers, and engineers to bring them to life. For me, the best part is seeing something we built together make someone’s day a little easier. 👋

Outside work, that creative curiosity keeps going. I’m usually making animations or turning a side-project idea into a working app, experimenting with AI and learning as I build. My partner and I are both big nerds, so there’s also weekly trivia, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and plenty of enthusiasm for Baldur’s Gate. 🎲 I enjoy running D&D campaigns as much as playing, and I’m always up for some karaoke. At home, our cats, Loki and Thor, keep us company.

How I work

Find the right problem.

I use research to understand what matters to people, then work with the team to decide what to solve.

Make the decisions tangible.

I prototype early to compare ideas, test assumptions, and make tradeoffs easier to discuss.

Stay informed through delivery.

I stay in close touch with product and engineering as we build, keeping up with changes and refining the details together.

People I’ve worked with

View my LinkedIn ↗
Joe is the designer that you wish you had on your team. While working at T-Mobile, Joe was the lead designer on the My Account Android self-service application, used by over 3M+ customers. He is a great partner, very creative, easy to work with and dedicated to his craft.
Debbie TwelkerSenior Business Manager, T-Mobile
Joe is a talented designer and leader. His design and experience sensibilities brought our applications to life. Beyond just being beautiful, Joe's designs are loved by the users for being understandable and easy to use.
Dustin CliffordDirector of Engineering, Bowlero
Joe's vast experience is undeniable, and he applies it with a unique blend of empathy and enthusiasm. He possesses a talent for transforming any product into a best-in-class experience – a feat he has achieved time and again.
Michael KochenburgerDirector of Product Design, Bowlero
He is exceptionally driven to be adding value all the time and it is very common to find that during brief gaps, he has not only identified unmet needs but fully delivered on the solution without needing any prompting. It has been a treat to work with someone so skilled, kind and able to product exceptional results.
Marc JensenDirector of Product Management, WEconnect
Joe’s unrivaled expertise in user experience and design proved vital in our team’s successful delivery of a revamped E2E customer experience at T-Mobile. In addition to serving as the point man for all design-related queries, Joe partnered with the product owner and development leads to pinpoint process gaps and opportunities improve agile maturity on our team.
Casey HorowitzSenior Project Manager, T-Mobile
Whether he's turning around an innovative logo concept or a streamlined app re-skin, he's nimble, creative, and always open to new ideas. Further, he keeps the user experience front and center in all of his work. This is evident in the end result - a big win for the customer.
Laura KelsoSenior Product Manager, Allrecipes.
He knows how to ask the right questions of business and development, conduct competitive research to stay ahead of the trends and translate it all into sleek, simplified solutions that makes everyone in the design review room smile.
Christy KellySenior Marketing Manager, Everymove

Recommendations from LinkedIn

A few chapters along the way.

From graphic design and animation to products people use every day.

  1. AT&T app

    Senior UX Designer

    Wireless and home internet usage, together in one account view.

    Explore AT&T usage
    AT&T wireless and internet usage screens

  2. Goldfish

    Principal Designer

    An employee app that makes goals, progress, and rewards easier to see.

    Explore Goldfish
    Goldfish daily sales goal screen
  3. Bellum

    MoneyBowl

    Senior Product Designer

    Repositioning MoneyBowl around loyalty, with challenges and real-world rewards.

    Explore MoneyBowl
    MoneyBowl app preview

  4. T-Mobile app

    Senior UX Designer

    A clearer digital bill that helps customers understand the charges behind their total.

    Explore the digital bill
    T-Mobile bill and AutoPay screen
Earlier chapters: Allrecipes, Nordstrom, Nike & PNCA

  2. BP animations & digital experiences

    Flash Designer

    Making animations, videos, and digital experiences for Nordstrom’s BP brand.

  3. Interactive launches & microsites

    New Media Designer

    Creating interactive introductions and microsites for Nike products, including the Olympics site.