Holly Baxter
Updated February 16, 2025
About

I'm a strategic researcher and designer with a background in applied anthropology, interaction design, and behavioural science.

Over the last 12 years, I've conducted research to uncover the root causes of human challenges, and to identify and design for opportunity spaces in the context of interaction with products, services, policies, and experiences.

I inform and design things that deeply understand the drivers underpinning the behaviour and decision-making of their users.

I'm naturally curious, and I thrive on deep synthesis of multiple sources of knowledge, artful discourse and strong viewpoints loosely held, identifying opportunities at the intersection of emerging technology, behavioural insight, and business strategy, pushing creative boundaries, building inspiring teams and cultures within and around them, and facilitating workshops and processes that expand and connect.

I'm currently open for new, impact-oriented roles. If you think we might work well together, please be in touch!
Experience
Lead Design Strategist
Halo Media (New York)
2024 - Now
Head of Product Research & Design
ASX listed fintech
2022 - 2024
Strategic Design Consultant
Macdoch Ventures, Maia Grazing & Atlas Carbon
2022
Strategic Design Lead
BCG Digital Ventures
2021-2022
Strategic Research & Design Consultant, Emergent Markets
cecil.earth
2021-2022
Product Design Lead, Innovation Stream
IAG Firemark Ventures
2021
Strategic Design Lead
Deloitte Monitor, Hitachi (Tokyo, Sydney)
2020-2021
Qualitative Research & Behavioural Design Consultant (contract)
Australian Government
2020
Research & Strategic Design Principal
ANZ Bank, 1835i Venture Lab
2019-2020
Lead Strategic Designer, HCD Team
Commonwealth Bank, Colonial First State, Comminsure
2017-2019
Behavioural Research & Design Consultant (contract)
Sapien Web3
2017
Senior Experience Designer
BCG Digital Ventures
2016
Senior Product Designer
Qantas Assure, Apple, Fitbit
2016
Senior Qualitative Researcher & Community Research Program Design Consultant
Cognizant, Australian Government
2015
Senior Product Designer
UsTwo, Westfield Scentre Group, Network Ten, Cuscal, Douugh
2015
Experience Designer
Macquarie Group, R/GA, Google
2014
Ethnographer
Startmesh Innovation Fund
2014
Qualitative Researcher
IBM Watson
2013
Qualitative Researcher
Zurich, Vestech
2012-2013
Education
University of Sydney
Bachelor of Arts & Science, Social & Cultural Anthropology
UC San Diego
Interaction Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Data, Economics and Development Policy
Copenhagen Business School
Strategic Management, Innovation and Technology
NYU Tisch School of the Arts (in progress)
Documentary Filmmaking
My specialities
Strategic design
Ethnography and user research
Behavioural insights and strategy
Product, service, and experience design
Outside of work
My rescue wolfhound Groot and I spend time restoring a 1920's farmhouse, making short documentaries, learning mycology, hosting social think tanks, hiking, growing food, and roaming new cultures, coastlines, and forests.