Over the past 15 years, I have led product design efforts across EdTech, AI, VR/AR, and fintech, solving complex challenges with elegant and intuitive solutions.
What I’ve learned: a thoughtful, evolving UX process is the foundation of product success.
My approach combines user research, systems thinking, UI/UX execution, and collaborative leadership, paired with the creative flexibility to integrate tools like AI, accelerating ideation, insight, and iteration.
Step 1: Problem Discovery & Research
Great design begins with clarity. That means uncovering the real problem beneath the surface.
In this phase, I focus on conducting user interviews, analyzing behavioral data, conducting competitive audits, and ensuring stakeholder alignment. Increasingly, I have integrated AI tools to identify patterns in user behavior and sentiment, thereby speeding up insight synthesis and making our research more actionable.
Example: At AllHere, I partnered with district leaders to uncover the root causes of family disengagement. Using qualitative interviews and machine learning-based behavior analysis, we identified patterns that shaped a redesigned engagement experience, boosting response rates by 20% within the first three months.
Step 2: Ideation & Conceptualization
With the problem framed, creativity begins, grounded in user needs and team insight.
I lead collaborative ideation workshops that bring together product managers, developers, educators, and users. From napkin sketches to AI-powered concept generation, this stage is about broad exploration before converging on the most promising directions.
Example: At Kangarootime, early co-creation sessions with developers and daycare staff led to the design of a mobile experience that dramatically simplified daily administrative workflows, a key differentiator in the market.
Step 3: Wireframing & Prototyping
This is where structure takes shape.
Low-fidelity wireframes allow us to test flow and functionality without getting lost in aesthetics. I often use AI-assisted prototyping tools to quickly generate variations, accelerating decision-making.
Interactive prototypes help simulate real-world use. At Mainstay, I led rapid testing of prototypes with students and advisors, uncovering friction early and saving engineering cycles later.
Step 4: User Testing & Feedback
No design is complete until it's been tested with real users.
Whether through moderated usability testing, remote surveys, or AI-analyzed session replays, I prioritize direct feedback loops to validate assumptions. I also track micro-feedback, the quiet moments of confusion, hesitation, or delight that guide critical design pivots.
Example: While leading UX for Clydesdale Bank’s mobile revamp, deep usability testing revealed accessibility issues that weren’t obvious in design files, but fixing them directly improved task success rates and customer satisfaction.
Step 5: Design & Development Collaboration
Great products are born from alignment, not handoffs.
I work closely with engineering teams to ensure that the design intent translates into a scalable, high-performing build. This includes maintaining shared design systems, hosting handoff reviews, and leaving room for flexibility when implementation constraints arise.
Example: As Head of Design at Kangarootime, I embedded design reviews into agile sprint rituals and co-built a design system in Figma that sped up front-end implementation while preserving brand integrity.
Step 6: Continuous Improvement & AI-Powered Iteration
Launch isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of learning.
I treat live data, user behavior, and feedback as fuel for iteration. I integrate tools like Mixpanel, Hotjar, and custom AI dashboards to monitor real-time usage trends and prioritize what to improve.
My philosophy: products should evolve as users do. This means staying responsive, curious, and committed to better.
Conclusion: A Modern, Evolving UX Approach
Designing successful products means more than aesthetics; it’s about creating systems of value that adapt over time.
By blending deep research, AI-enhanced workflows, cross-functional creativity, and continuous iteration, I design with purpose. From classrooms to financial dashboards, my process is rooted in empathy, empowered by data, and driven by outcomes that matter.
A great product is never finished. It’s a conversation with users, and I make sure it always stays human.