Say Hello to Ben Greve, Senior Product Designer

What do you do?

I’m a product designer working on Instacart’s consumer experience. I’m currently working on growth projects that help us attract new customers.

How did you get into design?

I once got explosively angry at a poorly designed app and decided if no one else was going to make it better, then I would.

What makes everything worth it?

Shipping products, moving metrics, watching strangers interact with your designs — these are all awesome. But what I love most is the act of designing itself, getting absorbed in the work and finishing a day having created something I’m proud of.

What’s the greatest piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

If you have patience, you can get good at anything. You might not see much progress in two weeks but if you practice for two years, you’ll be amazed.

What advice would you give to a designer just starting out?

You can learn something from every person you interact with. When you really listen to what people say and do, even (especially) when you disagree, it will challenge your thinking and help you to grow as a designer and as a person.

Where do you find inspiration?

For me, inspiration can come from almost any place — other products, music, literature, people, nature — but what has always inspired me the most is collaboration. Working together with my peers towards a common goal, with an intersection of ideas, perspectives, and talents, has always pushed me to do my best work.

Working on various projects at Instacart, which one was the most challenging and exciting for you?

My current project (working on growth and new customer activation) has been the most exciting by far. We’re operating extremely fast while maintaining a strong experimental framework for every change we test, which gives us the freedom to try bold ideas in a safe, measured way and also maximize our learning along the way. It’s challenging and high pressure, but the rigor and focus of the team is empowering and motivating and has enabled me to work in a way I’ve always aspired to.

Where did you grow up and what made it special?

When I was young I lived in a rural part of Connecticut, outside of New Haven. I remember exploring the forests behind our house and biking around with my friends from down the street. I also had a pet ferret named Snickers and he was the best.

What was the first thing you ever designed?

I drew a shoe while in kindergarten that was so good my mom thought I was going to be the next Picasso. Sorry, mom.

What is something you’re most proud of in your life/career?

The fact that I get to do something I love — and also provide a great life for my family (and myself) in the process.

What’s your favorite thing to order on Instacart?

My number one thing to order is blueberries. I have a one-year-old and while he’s not a picky eater, he demands at least one handful of blueberries with every meal. These days, no Instacart order is complete without half a dozen containers of fresh blueberries!

Come build with Ben.

If you’re excited about defining the future of a one trillion dollar industry, building an ad-serving network for groceries, scaling the world’s most extensive grocery catalog, perfecting a real-time on-demand logistics chain, all while simultaneously designing the future of food for millions of people, you should take a look at the available opportunities or reach out to someone from the team.