Principal UX
Engineer on-demand.

I'm a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UX design, front-end development, and brand strategy in both startups and larger organizations. The lean startup space was where I enjoyed myself the most (and was able to make the most impact on a fledgling brand and product), so I now focus on creating cohesive, impactful digital experiences for bootstrapped SaaS companies.

Opting for a full-time Principal Designer Engineer involves not only their standard annual salary (which can be substantial), but also other costs like benefits, taxes, and the resources needed for recruitment and onboarding. There's also a significant time investment in finding the right fit and the commitment required to integrate them into your team. Designzen gives you the expertise and flexibility of a senior hire without the overhead or long-term commitment, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution to your design and development needs.

Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of what I do. Working alongside your in-house team, I'll bring a fresh perspective and specialized expertise. My role is to seamlessly integrate with your people and processes, making sure that my contributions accelerate your team and projects.

You don't, yet, and making sure we are is important to me. I always start with a free, no-obligation 30-minute Google Meet session. This initial conversation allows us to explore your needs, goals, and the specific challenges you're facing. It's also an opportunity for you to get a feel for how I work and think. By the end of this session we should have a clear sense of whether our approaches and objectives align, and whether I'm the right person to make the impact you need.

A total brand transformation is a comprehensive reevaluation and redesign of your brand's core elements — from its messaging to its market positioning, to customer interaction strategies and visual identity. This process involves workshops, deep research, strategic planning, and creative execution to ensure every aspect of your brand aligns with your business objectives and resonates with your target audience. It's about creating a consistent and compelling brand experience across all touchpoints, strengthening your brand's presence in the market.

Integrating product and design strategy involves a holistic approach, where every design decision is made with your product's goals and user needs in mind. This means conducting thorough user analysis, understanding the competitive landscape for refining differentiators, and aligning the product's functionality and aesthetic to deliver a cohesive, user-centered experience. By balancing user desires with business objectives, the strategy ensures that the product not only looks great but also performs effectively in the market.

My approach to UX engineering and front-end development is user-centric and technology-driven. I prioritize creating interfaces that are not only visually appealing but also highly usable and accessible. Utilizing the latest web technologies and adhering to best practices in coding, I ensure that the product's front-end is optimized for performance, cross-browser compatibility, and scalability. Through iterative testing and refinement, the goal is to deliver an engaging user experience that drives user satisfaction and conversion.

For a SaaS client struggling with disjointed workflows between designers and developers, I implemented a design system that standardized UI components and design principles. This systematization facilitated smoother handoffs, ensured visual consistency across the product, and significantly reduced development time for new features. By creating comprehensive documentation and easy-to-use libraries, both teams could work more efficiently and cohesively.

Ensuring web accessibility is integral to my process. From the outset, I incorporate accessibility standards and best practices defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) into the design and development phases, focusing on making the product usable for everyone, including those with disabilities. I aim for WCAG 2.1 level AA. This involves appropriate color contrast, semantic HTML, proper use of ARIA labels, ensuring keyboard navigability, and designing for screen readers. Regular audits and user testing help identify and resolve accessibility barriers, ensuring compliance with WCAG guidelines.

My brand workshop process is an interactive and immersive experience designed to uncover the true essence of your brand. It involves engaging exercises with key stakeholders to explore the brand's substance (our why), brand position (our what & how), and brand expression (our who). Through collaborative discussions, we identify your unique selling points and define your target audience. The outcome is a strategic brand framework that guides all future branding and marketing efforts, ensuring a strong and cohesive brand identity.

My subscription plans are crafted for simplicity and focus, catering to a limited number of clients each month to ensure dedicated attention and maximum impact. With monthly and weekly options available, you can choose the frequency that best suits your project's pace and budget requirements. Every plan includes my full suite of strategy, design, and development services, adaptable to your current needs. Whether it's a one-time project or continuous collaboration, you have the freedom to pause or cancel the partnership anytime, giving you complete control over the scope and scale of our work together.

Ongoing support is part of my commitment to your success. Once we launch your project, I'll still be here to provide post-launch guidance. This includes addressing any subsequent tweaks for optimization, answering questions, and ensuring your team feels confident with the new tools or systems in place. If new challenges arise or additional adjustments are needed, I'm ready to step back in to ensure continued success and smooth operation.

Measuring impact starts with your goals. Whether it's user engagement, increased conversions, or improved customer feedback, I establish key performance indicators (KPIs) early on. This approach ensures that the work we do together delivers real, quantifiable results, aligning with your business objectives and contributing to your growth.

Pausing your subscription is simple and keeps your unused days safe. Say you need to focus elsewhere, and you're mid-way through your subscription period — just let me know, and we'll hit pause. You won't lose the remaining time. When you're ready to restart, any days you had left will be waiting, ensuring you get full value from the time you've already invested.

Given the immediate value and actionable knowledge provided from day one, refunds are not part of the service offering. Each engagement is designed to deliver insights and strategies that you can use right away, ensuring that you see value from the very start of our partnership.