Hello and welcome!
Whether you are here to hire a versatile professional or explore my creative portfolio, you are in the right place. For over a decade, I have crafted intuitive digital experiences as a UX designer, helping organizations bridge the gap between complex engineering and human-centered design.
Alongside my design career, I bring five years of hands-on production expertise across camera operations, lighting design, projection setup, and live audio engineering—giving me a unique edge in understanding immersive, physical spaces. I am also a Denver-based fine artist, having spent the last five years creating and selling original paintings throughout the local art community. I am currently seeking new job opportunities and would love to connect about how my unique blend of technical design, live production, and fine art can bring your next project to life.
consulted
10+
10+
Yrs
Yrs
Design
Design
5+
5+
Yrs
Yrs
Audio
Video
Audio
Video
5+
5+
Yrs
Yrs
Artist
Artist
Some Work
A few hand picked case studies
Looking For An Opportunity
UX / Strategy
User-centered from the start, Sponge Muse approaches each challenge with a focused problem-solving mindset. User affordance is a privilege, and I strive to make the most of every moment.
Creative Direction
Sponge Muse brings clarity and tactical marketing through clear visual language and design systems, from conceptual design to final polish. I bring coherence, story, and visual emotion to every design.
Photography / Videography
Storytelling is what humans do. Our stories hold value and meaning. We bring them to life. Writing, lighting, cameras, and choreography are our tools to translate consciousness into reality.
“Joe was a designer who asked ‘Why’ until the work got honest. His attention to detail and ability to stay on task under pressure is rare in the freelance world.”
DEREK RUDD – DeveloperTown
The Gist
Sponge Muse is a creative studio led by Joe Benson. The practice spans design, photography, and art, with each discipline informing the others to create thoughtful, intuitive experiences. With over a decade of experience, Joe has worked with organizations of all sizes. His collaborations span engineering and business teams, where he helps shape ideas, solve problems, and refine products after launch. The studio’s focus is on crafting frictionless interactions that minimize cognitive load, allowing users to reclaim mental bandwidth for what matters most in life.
Joe is a passionate, knowledgeable UX practitioner who always strives to create the best possible design solution. One of his key strengths is the ability to immediately establish rapport during facilitation, and on our last project—agent satisfaction rose 40% nearly immediately upon deployment.
Working with Joe starts with the right questions. He always made sure he truly understood the ‘Why’ before jumping into mockups. It kept our projects lean, focused, and successful.
