Darren Hood, MSUXD
Veteran UCD Practitioner | NNg Certified UX Manager | Host of The World of UX | Educator & AuthorWith over 20 years of UX leadership, Darren Hood has shaped design strategy and maturity at some of the world’s most influential organizations—including several Fortune 50 companies. His practice spans the full spectrum of user-centered design: from research and usability, to information architecture, interaction design, and UX operations.
A passionate advocate for UX education, Darren currently teaches graduate UX programs at Kent State, Brandeis, UCLA, Michigan State, and Lawrence Tech, where he empowers the next generation of UX professionals with both foundational knowledge and real-world perspective. His deep experience working with global, cross-functional teams makes him a respected voice in both industry and academia.
Darren is the host of The World of UX podcast on CX of M Radio, a contributing author of 97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know (O’Reilly), and was named a UserInterviews Active UX Leader to Follow. Known for his strategic mind and commitment to elevating UX maturity, Darren brings clarity, excellence, and mentorship to everything he touches.
Join us as Darren brings his no-nonsense approach and decades of insight to the Value UX Conference stage.