Hi, I’m Gus!
My name is David Gustafson, but most people call me Gus. I’m a Product Design Lead based in Sydney, Australia, with 10 years of UX experience and a passion for solving complex problems.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked with global brands like Viator, Tripadvisor, Graincorp, and more, leading teams of researchers and designers to create thoughtful, impactful solutions. As a systems thinker and collaborator, I thrive on navigating the intricate balance between user needs, engineering constraints, and business goals.
My background in project management equips me to streamline processes and ensure no detail goes unnoticed. Whether I’m guiding teams through discovery or delivering high-fidelity UI, I focus on solving real-world problems with scalable, user-centered designs.
What I Bring to the Table
I've been a Technical Project Manager, a UX teacher, and a design lead at a global marketplace. That range isn't accidental — I work best at the edges where design meets engineering, strategy, or a deadline nobody thinks is achievable.
A few things I do differently:
I map the business constraint before I open Figma.
I sit with engineers and can hold my own in a technical conversation - I've never shipped something I didn't understand end to end.
My Journey
I hold a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Object Art and Design - Glass), a Diploma in Digital Media, and a Diploma in IT. My career spans leading design teams at Viator (a Tripadvisor company), where I tackled challenges for travelers and suppliers in the global tours and experiences market.
I’ve also solved major logistical and operational problems for Graincorp and taught UX fundamentals at Macleay College. Before this, I worked at The White Agency (now WhiteGrey) as a Technical Project Manager for clients like Commonwealth Bank and Caltex.
Beyond Design
When I’m not leading design projects, you’ll find me: Experimenting with sounds in Ableton 12, trying to create something listenable. Chasing after my two kids and cooking up a storm—though sometimes it feels like I’m making the same dishes every night! 😂 Soaking in live music as often as possible. Recent favorites: Air, Jungle, Fred Again (twice!), Queens of the Stone Age, NOFX, Caribou, and Tourist.