Hey Lilly team! 👋 It's good to see you!

I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with several teams at Lilly over the years, and what always stood out to me—both across the organization and in the individuals I worked with—was a rare blend of empathy and ambition. There’s a shared belief that the work being done at every level can make a real impact in people’s lives. The Design Director opening within the Incubation Lab feels like an exciting opportunity to bring that belief to life—where caring meets discovery, and where design can directly shape how people experience healthcare in meaningful, human ways.

Design Leadership that Balances Vision and Systems

For more than a decade, I’ve led teams and partners in transforming complex challenges into clear, impactful experiences. My leadership philosophy is grounded in three guiding principles:

1. Empathy as Strategy – deeply understanding user context before defining what’s possible.
2. Clarity through Systems – creating frameworks that make great design scalable.
3. Momentum through Collaboration – connecting teams so design, development, and business move together.

Alongside these principles, I’ve built a reputation as a self-starter who thrives in complexity — whether leading large, multi-stakeholder initiatives or helping teams find direction in fast-moving, ambiguous spaces. I believe the best design leaders aren’t just problem solvers — they’re pattern seekers, uncovering what’s essential when things feel undefined.

I’ve learned to lean into uncertainty rather than avoid it: asking the right questions early, surfacing blockers quickly, and ensuring decisions are made with clarity and confidence. That curiosity-driven discipline has shaped my approach in every environment I’ve worked in.

Turning Complexity into Clarity: The Cummins Recall Platform

One of the most rewarding examples of this mindset in action was my leadership on the Cummins recall site redesign. The challenge was as complex as it was critical: rebuilding customer trust so users could complete essential recall actions with confidence.

By rethinking the user journey and aligning multiple stakeholder groups, we reduced bounce rates by 35% and increased completed recall submissions by 18%. Beyond metrics, the work represented something deeper — transforming a high-stakes interaction into a moment of clarity and trust. That kind of purposeful clarity is exactly what I believe design leadership should deliver.

Designing Systems that Empower Teams: TrendyMinds

At TrendyMinds, I focused on building design systems and processes that empowered teams to move faster and collaborate smarter. Through cross-functional alignment and workflow optimization, we increased efficiency by up to 50%, reducing overlap and improving quality through cleaner developer handoffs.

This wasn’t just about process improvement — it was about cultivating a culture of curiosity and accountability, where great ideas could move from prototype to product without losing their spark. That same curiosity is what drives me to raise my hand when something’s unclear, to ask “why”, and to bring alignment where ambiguity might otherwise slow progress.

Looking Ahead

Lilly’s vision of uniting caring with discovery aligns deeply with how I approach design. I’m genuinely excited about how your team is positioned to drive change within Lilly and reimagine what’s possible when empathy and innovation intersect.

I would love the opportunity to contribute to that mission — to help shape experiences that redefine how people interact with healthcare, and to mentor the next generation of design leaders who will carry it forward.

Thank you for considering my application.

— Seth Benson

Check out a few samples of my work below, or
Email me to set up a call →