Benjamin Bowles

About

Hello, I’m Ben.

I’m a self-taught product designer in Bristol, UK, with a background in content, retail and media production. I’m creative and technically minded, a strong team player, and I have a keen eye for visual detail and real care for customers and clients.

I studied Media Production, spent years in retail making vintage shops look irresistible, then joined Groupon’s content team. I got into design there by doing it before anyone asked. That route shaped how I work: I think about the customer standing in front of the shelf, I’m happy to own a problem without supervision, and I like to make the thing myself, whether that’s a Figma file, an Android build or a YouTube edit.

Portrait of Benjamin Bowles, shot on film

Experience

  1. Groupon — Bristol

    Aug 2024 — Oct 2026

    Product Designer

    I used my initiative and self-taught design skills to move from Content Administrator into a core creative role. My proactive work caught the design department's attention, and I was chosen for a secondment covering maternity leave, managing design responsibilities three days a week. I then took the role on full time and went on to lead a range of projects.

    I prototyped the Vouchercloud redesign in a team of three, including the profile section and the Controlcloud back office. I redesigned much of Groupon's and Vouchercloud's email marketing, including the Vouchercloud reward journey emails, and created bespoke email templates for the engineering team. I also worked closely with the sales team on high-fidelity mockups for client pitches, a collaboration that was instrumental in securing a major new deal with RAC.

    Vouchercloud case study →

  2. Groupon — Bristol

    Feb 2020 — Jul 2024

    Content Administrator

    After leaving Urban Outfitters, I started almost immediately at Groupon in the Content team. My main role was writing, proofing and posting coupon listings for a large portfolio of brands on the Groupon, Vouchercloud and Mumsnet coupon websites. We handled exclusive content directly from brands and were trusted with information about upcoming sales and offers before they were announced.

  3. Urban Outfitters — Bristol

    May 2016 — Feb 2020

    Sales Assistant

    After moving to Bristol to be closer to friends, I joined the UO Bristol team just before their busy summer period. I was keen to show my eye for good vintage fashion and took charge of their Urban Renewal section. I merchandised the fixtures, brought in new stock, and adapted the section with what the wholesalers supplied so it always showcased the latest vintage trends.

  4. Harper & Lewis Vintage — Reading

    Apr 2015 — Dec 2015

    Store Manager

    In 2015 I was promoted to Store Manager and took on additional responsibilities. I scheduled staff, interviewed new starters and calculated the payroll for the store. I also began working directly with our area manager to improve the marketing, merchandising and overall look of the shop.

  5. Harper & Lewis Vintage — Reading

    Sep 2014 — Jan 2015

    Supervisor

    My duties included helping customers, managing staff, handling deliveries on arrival, unloading stock and marketing new items on the shop floor. The store operated as a pop-up, and the variety of vintage stock meant a lot of thinking on my feet. It let me show my merchandising skills, my marketing knowledge and my eye for detail.

  6. NEXT Retail — Reading

    Dec 2008 — Sep 2011

    Sales Assistant

    I gave customers personal service across a number of departments, helping them choose items and advising on outfits and combinations. I handled shop-floor replenishment, including rearranging stock and adjusting prices, worked the till and the stockroom, received and processed deliveries into the store, and handled customer orders. I left to study for a degree in Media.

  7. Wrestl — Side project

    2026

    Designer & Developer

    In my spare time I designed and built Wrestl, a fan-made pro wrestling news aggregator for headlines, events, ratings and podcasts. It's live on the web and as a native Android app on Google Play.

    Wrestl case study →

Interests

Music

I’ve been producing music since I was 15, and my work has caught the BBC’s attention, leading to local radio airtime. I release it as Broncksea through my own label, Stolen Artefacts.

Podcast

I co-produce a wrestling podcast, Cheap Shot Wrestling Podcast. It’s free on all podcast platforms, and we host and distribute every episode at no cost.

YouTube

I run a gaming YouTube channel, Ben’s Video Rentals, doing the editing, graphic design and everything else myself.

References available upon request.