A full-spectrum designer and developer building critical data products and experiences

Christopher France

Builder and strategist

I'm a designer and developer based in Oakland, California. I focus on decision support, collaboration and sensemaking in a commercial context.

I lead product design process for network-driven companies, usually in collaboration with business and engineering teams. I serve as a full-spectrum, cross-functional integrator who speaks technical, design and business-strategic languages. I also have deep experience as a behavioral usability researcher.

I have a technical design practice; my perspective is anchored in the practical craft of delivering applications, not just imagining them. I always have my sketchbook, but I often find inspiration while writing APIs or implementing error states.

I am motivated by a sense of unrealized human potential which is captured by theorists such as Doug Engelbart and Alan Kay.

Work

LightField — Co-founder at climate data startup
The Data Guild — Lead member at startup studio
Contain — Technology lead at fintech startup
Healthmade — Creative technologist at healthcare design studio
Litterati — Data strategist at environmental startup
Meedan — Design director and co-founder of technology company
Bolt | Peters — Designer and UI researcher at UX consultancy
Ethnio — Rails developer and designer for usability research product
Ushahidi — iOS designer and design advisor for civic media platform
Blast Internet — Linux systems administrator for web services firm
Nonprofit Design — Founder of design services company

Portfolio

I’ve collected selections of my work with reflections on my process.

Talks

I’m grateful to have been invited to speak at venues such as RightsCon, Global Fact, the Online News Association, DrupalCon, the International CrisisMappers Conference, the AIGA, SXSW, the African News Innovation Challenge, the Nonprofit Technology Conference, the NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program and Stanford University.

I am sometimes available for talks, please get in touch.

Consulting

I am not currently available for independent consulting engagements, but if your interest involves data for climate or environmental science, please reach out to my company LightField.

Contact

For more details please reach out via my LinkedIn page or contact form. You may also be interested in my resume.