Meet Tori Boykins | User Experience & Digital Design Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Boykins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve loved art and design since I started sketching cartoons in every notebook I owned in elementary school. As I began to better understand what I wanted to do professionally, I knew I would find the most joy in pursuing a career where I could have artistic freedom and be challenged creatively.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently the Manager of UX & Digital Design for the Denver Broncos, where I lead a team of designers in creating digital experiences for our fans through our team app and website. A few years back, I switched from Graphic Design to Digital Product Design and Management. This shift came with a steep learning curve that ignited a passion for solving complex design problems within digital environments. This past year, I also completed a graduate UX Management program with the University of Denver to further expand my user experience knowledge.

My career path has definitely been a bit unconventional. After getting my BA in Interior Design from Purdue, I realized pretty quickly that interior design wasn’t where my heart was. Instead, I took the entrepreneurial route and started my own company. I’d been designing flyers and memorabilia for Greek organizations on campus, so I turned that into a business, selling t-shirts, Greek paddles, and other items at events all over the country for about six years.

Eventually, I wanted more stability than the entrepreneurial hustle, so I took a graphic design job at a financial firm. That’s when I discovered that sports teams hire in-house graphic designers, and I was all in on combining my love for sports with my design skills. I jumped into networking, started listening to sports creative podcasts, and even made my own passion projects to practice my craft and strengthen my portfolio.
After months of grinding, I landed a seasonal Graphic Design assistant internship with the Kansas City Chiefs. It was my first big move for a job, and I had never even been to Kansas City before. I was also older than the other interns by quite a bit, but that experience taught me it’s never too late to go after what you want. From there, I moved on to a full-time role with the Kansas City Royals, and then back to the NFL with the Broncos.

My journey has been about blending my graphic design roots with strategic thinking to create digital experiences that are not just good-looking but also user-friendly and brand-authentic. What really sets me apart is that I’ve seen a lot of sides of the design world, and I’ve learned to be quick, creative, and adaptable in finding solutions that make sense for whatever brand I’m working with.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
After three and a half years in Denver, I’ve managed to finally find my “go-to” spots. In terms of food, I would take them to a few favorite restaurants, which include Mr. Oso, Venalonzo’s Tacos, and Kachina.

I started exploring the mountain towns last year, and I’ve found that some of the most interesting spots are the small shops, restaurants, and wineries in towns like Breckenridge, Golden, etc. I love supporting small businesses, and I’m always excited to stumble upon creative, niche shops!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shout-out to my parents, family, and friends. My parents raised my sister and me with high standards, not just in academics, but also in integrity and kindness towards ourselves and others. They always encouraged us to pursue our dreams and take risks, assuring us that they would support us no matter what. Their support empowered me to take risks early on in my career that I might have hesitated to take otherwise. I’m grateful for the unwavering support of both my family and friends.

Website: https://www.toriboykins.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriboykins/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toriboykins/

Twitter: https://x.com/toriboykins