Where It Started

I used to think I’d be a lawyer and make it to the NBA. That was the dream. I loved the strategy behind arguments, the quick thinking, the art of the rebuttal. And basketball? That was my first love. I lived it, breathed it, and even played at the college level chasing that vision with everything I had. But life has a way of pulling you toward what you're really built for, even if it doesn’t look like the plan you started with.

During high school, a Saturday HTML and web design class changed everything. What started as a simple introduction to building webpages quickly became a passion for creating things that worked and made a real impact. The thrill of seeing an idea come to life through code and design planted a seed that would grow into something bigger than I could have imagined.

Looking back, those early days of tinkering with layouts and wondering "why does this work better than that?" were the first signs of the UX strategist I would become.

The Pivot

From Full-Stack Developer (with a Strategist's Eye)

Early in my career, I worked as a full-stack developer tasked with everything from interface design to backend development to database and infrastructure setup. Building full systems taught me how to think beyond isolated features and see the full user experience. Even as I coded, I instinctively focused on usability, flow, and clarity. Always asking how the entire system would feel to a real person. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was already thinking like a UX strategist.

To UX Strategist (Choosing Purpose Over Code)

Over time, I realized that building functional products wasn't enough — what mattered most was solving the right problems for the right people. I shifted my focus fully to UX strategy and design, leading projects with purpose, aligning user needs with business goals, and creating experiences that drive clarity, trust, and real outcomes.

Lessons That Shaped Me

The biggest lessons don’t just change your skills. They change your thinking.
These are a few that shaped mine.

Always ask why before how.

Design for outcomes, not trends.

Simplify whenever possible.

Lead when clarity is missing.

Me Outside of Work

I’m not just a designer. I’m a…

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Family Man

My wife and kids are the center of my world. They remind me daily what really matters, and keep me grounded, focused, and present.

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Basketball Coach

Coaching taught me how to lead with empathy, how to challenge with care, and how to build trust, on and off the court.

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Music Lover

Music gives me rhythm, energy, and emotional flow. Whether I’m designing or decompressing, there’s always a beat running in the background.

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Mentor

I believe in sharing what I’ve learned. Helping others grow, whether through design, business, or mindset. This is part of my personal mission.

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Traveler

Travel resets my perspective. It challenges how I see the world, the work, myself and it always brings fresh inspiration.

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Photographer

Photography helps me see the beauty in the small details. It’s how I practice presence, capturing moments others might miss.

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Designed with purpose and empathy by James Bagley.

My Story

The moments that shaped how I think, create, and lead.