Freelance Design Director & Certified Coach

Hello, I’m Jason

I'm a dyslexic thinker, which means my brain has been finding unconventional paths through complicated problems my whole life. I didn't always know that was a skill. Now I know it's probably my most valuable one.

I'm a U.S.-born, Amsterdam-based freelance Design Director and certified coach with over 25 years of experience helping organizations get honest about what they're communicating — and intentional about how.

I've worked with Fortune 500 companies, ambitious startups, and social initiatives you'd recognize: ECCO Shoes, Booking.com, Sears, Polycom, and Motorola on one end of the spectrum; Arugga AI Farming, RespiQ, and For The Right Reasons on the other. Scrappy or established, the challenge is usually the same, there's something important to say and it's not coming through clearly yet. That's where I come in.

My work combines deep listening with design thinking, which is a long way of saying I ask better questions before I touch any tools. Whether I'm embedded in a team or working directly with a solo founder, I bring creativity, empathy, and strategy to every project — and I stay focused on what actually matters: helping you connect with the people you're trying to reach.

I'm Co-Active and Design Thinking trained. Both of those things have made me a better designer. And probably a better human.

Through my coaching practice at The Belong Project, I also work with dyslexic individuals navigating clarity, confidence, and momentum in their personal and professional lives. If that sounds like it might be for you, head over and take a look.

I'm based in Amsterdam, 17 years in and still working on the Dutch — but I work all over the place. The directness has definitely rubbed off.

A few other things worth knowing:

  • 3× Ironman finisher (but honestly, I'm in it for the swimming)

  • Rearranging furniture is my form of meditation

  • Proudly #MadeByDyslexia, expect big thinking & small typos

If you've read this far, there's probably something I can help with. Let's find out.

Let's talk about your project
Jason Mills Design Director and Creative Coach