Technology consulting company (under NDA)
Technology consulting company (under NDA)
Technology consulting company (under NDA)
Technology consulting company (under NDA)
Evolving a Product Design practice to shape the future of two SaaS products
Evolving a Product Design practice to shape the future of two SaaS products
Evolving a Product Design practice to shape the future of two SaaS products
Evolving a Product Design practice to shape the future of two SaaS products
I'm introducing co-creation techniques and AI-powered tools to increase design team maturity, velocity, and streamline product launches
I'm introducing co-creation techniques and AI-powered tools to increase design team maturity, velocity, and streamline product launches
I'm introducing co-creation techniques and AI-powered tools to increase design team maturity, velocity, and streamline product launches
ROLE
ROLE
Sr. Director of Product Design
(Fractional)
Sr. Director of Product Design
(Fractional)
TIMEFRAME
TIMEFRAME
Ongoing
Ongoing
TYPE
TYPE
SaaS Product
SaaS Product
ROLE:
Sr. Director, Product Design
TIME:
Ongoing
TYPE:
SaaS Products
Delivering measurable impact across the business and the team
Delivering measurable impact across the business and the team
Delivering measurable impact across the business and the team
Delivering measurable impact across the business and the team
50%
50%
Faster design
& prototyping
Faster design
& prototyping
Unifed
Unifed
Design Systems
across 2 products
Design Systems
across 2 products
27%
27%
Reduction in
design-related tickets
Reduction in
design-related tickets
3
3
AI-Driven
experiences delivered
AI-Driven
experiences delivered
These results show how integrating new ways of working along with GenAI tools can positively impact team velocity, alignment, and customer value while building trust with developers and PMs.
These results show how integrating new ways of working along with GenAI tools can positively impact team velocity, alignment, and customer value while building trust with developers and PMs.
These results show how integrating new ways of working along with GenAI tools can positively impact team velocity, alignment, and customer value while building trust with developers and PMs.
These results show how integrating new ways of working along with GenAI tools can positively impact team velocity, alignment, and customer value while building trust with developers and PMs.
50%
Faster design & prototyping
Unified
Design Systems for two products
27%
Reduction in design-related tickets
3
AI-driven experiences delivered
50%
Faster design & prototyping
Unified
Design Systems for two products
27%
Reduction in design-related tickets
3
AI-driven experiences delivered
50%
Faster design
& prototyping
Unifed
Two design systems
27%
Reduction in design-
related tickets
3
AI-driven experiences
delivered
I'm driving UX/UI team efficiency, using collaborative tactics and adding AI-powered tools into design processes to increase design velocity and streamline product launches
ROLE
Sr. Director, Product Design
TIMEFRAME
Ongoing
TYPE
SaaS Products
SITUATION
Scaled product, unscaled design process
This tech transformation consultancy has developed a robust suite of enterprise SaaS tools for IT asset and contract management. However, the UX/UI hadn’t evolved with the product’s complexity. Product Design lacked leadership, processes, and a consistent approach to scale across products.
SITUATION
Scaled product, unscaled design process
This tech transformation consultancy has developed a robust suite of enterprise SaaS tools for IT asset and contract management. However, the UX/UI hadn’t evolved with the product’s complexity. Product Design lacked leadership, processes, and a consistent approach to scale across products.
SITUATION
Scaled product, unscaled design process
This tech transformation consultancy has developed a robust suite of enterprise SaaS tools for IT asset and contract management. However, the UX/UI hadn’t evolved with the product’s complexity. Product Design lacked leadership, processes, and a consistent approach to scale across products.
SITUATION
Scaled product, unscaled design process
This tech transformation consultancy has developed a robust suite of enterprise SaaS tools for IT asset and contract management. However, the UX/UI hadn’t evolved with the product’s complexity. Product Design lacked leadership, processes, and a consistent approach to scale across products.
The challenge:
A fast-growing SaaS consultancy had built powerful tools for IT asset and contract management, but design hadn’t kept pace. Without product design leadership, the team slowly delivered inconsistent UX across products, relied heavily on a busy SVP of Product for direction, and lacked processes to collaborate with engineering. The result was functional products that met business needs but didn’t feel intuitive or customer-first.
My role:
I was hired as a Fractional Sr. Director of Product Design to raise the quality and consistency of UX across two SaaS products, speed up delivery in agile sprints, and shift the team toward a customer-centered mindset so the SVP could focus on strategy, not day-to-day design management. I lead and scale the design function while creating designs for new concepts. I introduced structure, restarted design system creation, and aligned design with engineering.
APPROACH
Quickly growing design maturity and concept velocity
I'm acting as player-coach, leading the product design team while introducing design operations and rituals to improve consistency and efficiency. I launched a design system, coached the team on modern UX practices, and improved sprint workflows with engineering.
As the team gained maturity, the SVP of Product and I worked on new innovation initiatives—what he called "concept cars"—future-facing concepts to excite clients and inspire internal teams. These experiments became catalysts for product innovation and sales enablement.
APPROACH
Quickly growing design maturity and concept velocity
I'm acting as player-coach, leading the product design team while introducing design operations and rituals to improve consistency and efficiency. I launched a design system, coached the team on modern UX practices, and improved sprint workflows with engineering.
As the team gained maturity, the SVP of Product brought me into innovation initiatives—what he called "concept cars"—future-facing concepts to excite clients and inspire internal teams. These experiments became catalysts for product innovation and sales enablement.
APPROACH
Quickly growing design maturity and concept velocity
I'm acting as player-coach, leading the product design team while introducing design operations and rituals to improve consistency and efficiency. I launched a design system, coached the team on modern UX practices, and improved sprint workflows with engineering.
As the team gained maturity, the SVP of Product brought me into innovation initiatives—what he called "concept cars"—future-facing concepts to excite clients and inspire internal teams. These experiments became catalysts for product innovation and sales enablement.
APPROACH
Quickly growing design maturity and concept velocity
I'm acting as player-coach, leading the product design team while introducing design operations and rituals to improve consistency and efficiency. I launched a design system, coached the team on modern UX practices, and improved sprint workflows with engineering.
As the team gained maturity, the SVP of Product brought me into innovation initiatives—what he called "concept cars"—future-facing concepts to excite clients and inspire internal teams. These experiments became catalysts for product innovation and sales enablement.
My approach to leading the team:
My approach to leading the team:
My approach to leading the team:
Build closer relationships between designers and engineers to improve sprint velocity.
Establish formal design operations to support more consistent and efficient output.
Mentor design team in modern research and UX techniques using GenAI and and Design Thinking.
Mentor design team in modern research and design techniques using GenAI and and Design Thinking.
Create and scale a design system to unify UX across the platform and reduce rework.
Restart building the stalled design system to unify UX/UI across the platform and reduce rework.
Lead team critiques and async workflows to offload work from the SVP of Product.
Champion a customer council to help inform our strategy and validate design solutions.
CHANGING CULTURE
I started by turning siloed efforts into a rhythm of continuous collaboration
I started by turning siloed efforts into a rhythm of continuous collaboration
I started by turning siloed efforts into a rhythm of continuous collaboration
I started by turning siloed efforts into a rhythm of continuous collaboration
When I started, I noticed the design team lacked regular, structured time to grow, connect, and collaborate across functions. I addressed this by introducing new weekly and bi-weekly rituals that brought momentum, mentorship, and alignment to the team.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
Weekly Design x Engineering Syncs
Weekly Design x Engineering Syncs
I launched a recurring meeting where designers and developers come together to align on our design system. We now discuss how to use MCP servers to connect our Figma design library directly to our codebase (Windsurf), ensuring consistency and speeding up delivery.
I launched a recurring meeting where designers and developers come together to align on our design system. We now discuss how to use MCP servers to connect our Figma design library directly to our codebase (Windsurf), ensuring consistency and speeding up delivery.
I launched a recurring meeting where designers and developers come together to align on our design system. We now discuss how to use MCP servers to connect our Figma design library directly to our codebase (Windsurf), ensuring consistency and speeding up delivery.
Weekly Design Team Support Sessions
Weekly Design Team Support Sessions
The product design team didn’t have a regular cadence to share work or support each other. I established weekly design sessions as a space for mentorship, skill building, and process improvement. These meetings foster a stronger team culture and raise the quality of everything we put into the world.
The product design team didn’t have a regular cadence to share work or support each other. I established weekly design sessions as a space for mentorship, skill building, and process improvement. These meetings foster a stronger team culture and raise the quality of everything we put into the world.
The product design team didn’t have a regular cadence to share work or support each other. I established weekly design sessions as a space for mentorship, skill building, and process improvement. These meetings foster a stronger team culture and raise the quality of everything we put into the world.
Bi-Weekly Customer Success Check-Ins
Bi-Weekly Customer Success Check-Ins
To keep our work grounded in real customer needs, I initiated a standing bi-weekly meeting with the Customer Success team. We use this time to hear directly from those closest to the users—discussing feedback, surfacing new opportunities, and reviewing upcoming design ideas before they go too far.
To keep our work grounded in real customer needs, I initiated a standing bi-weekly meeting with the Customer Success team. We use this time to hear directly from those closest to the users—discussing feedback, surfacing new opportunities, and reviewing upcoming design ideas before they go too far.
To keep our work grounded in real customer needs, I initiated a standing bi-weekly meeting with the Customer Success team. We use this time to hear directly from those closest to the users—discussing feedback, surfacing new opportunities, and reviewing upcoming design ideas before they go too far.
Accelerating design and prototyping process with GenAI
Accelerating design and prototyping process with GenAI
Accelerating design and prototyping process with GenAI
Accelerating design and prototyping process with GenAI
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
I trained the design team on tools like Figma Make and Claude Code to speed up concepting and prototyping. We went from slowly creating mockups to clickable prototypes in hours, not days—making it easier to align with engineering and stakeholders early. This cut delivery time and built trust fast.
Old Process: 2-3 weeks
STEP 1
UI Design Creation
STEP 1
UI Design Creation
STEP 1
UI Design Creation
STEP 1
UI Design Creation
STEP 2
Build Prototype in Figma
STEP 2
Build Prototype in Figma
STEP 2
Build Prototype in Figma
STEP 2
Build Prototype in Figma
STEP 3
Engineering Team Review #1
STEP 3
Engineering Team Review #1
STEP 3
Engineering Team Review #1
STEP 3
Engineering Team Review #1
STEP 4
Stakeholder Review
STEP 4
Stakeholder Review
STEP 4
Stakeholder Review
STEP 4
Stakeholder Review
STEP 5
Final Design Edits w/component states
STEP 5
Final Design Edits w/component states
STEP 5
Final Design Edits w/component states
STEP 5
Final Design Edits w/component states
STEP 6
Engineering Team Review #2
STEP 6
Engineering Team Review #2
STEP 6
Engineering Team Review #2
STEP 6
Engineering Team Review #2
STEP 7
Writing Specifications
STEP 7
Writing Specifications
STEP 7
Writing Specifications
STEP 7
Writing Specifications
STEP 8
Engineering Handoffent
STEP 8
Engineering Handoffent
STEP 8
Engineering Handoffent
STEP 8
Engineering Handoffent
New Process: 3-5 days
STEP 1
Collaborative Prototyping w/Figma Make
STEP 1
Collaborative Prototyping w/Figma Make
STEP 1
Collaborative Prototyping w/Figma Make
STEP 1
Collaborative Prototyping w/Figma Make
STEP 2
Stakeholder Review & Alignment
STEP 2
Stakeholder Review & Alignment
STEP 2
Stakeholder Review & Alignment
STEP 2
Stakeholder Review & Alignment
STEP 3
Customer Validation
STEP 3
Customer Validation
STEP 3
Customer Validation
STEP 3
Customer Validation
STEP 4
Design Refinement in Figma Design or Make
STEP 4
Design Refinement in Figma Design or Make
STEP 4
Design Refinement in Figma Design or Make
STEP 4
Design Refinement in Figma Design or Make
STEP 5
Engineering Handoff
STEP 5
Engineering Handoff
STEP 5
Engineering Handoff
STEP 5
Engineering Handoff
The new, AI-powered process allows us more time to test concepts with customers
The new, AI-led approach has unlocked some big wins:
The new, AI-led approach has unlocked some big wins:
The new, AI-led approach has unlocked some big wins:
Faster Alignment
Co-creating from the start reduces back-and-forth, building shared understanding across disciplines.
Faster Alignment
Co-creating from the start reduces back-and-forth, building shared understanding across disciplines.
Faster Alignment
Co-creating from the start reduces back-and-forth, building shared understanding across disciplines.
Earlier Validation
By testing prototypes with users sooner, we ensure we’re building the right thing before we code.
Earlier Validation
By testing prototypes with users sooner, we ensure we’re building the right thing before we code.
Earlier Validation
By testing prototypes with users sooner, we ensure we’re building the right thing before we code.
Less Spec Work
The prototype becomes the shared source of truth, cutting down on lengthy design documentation.
Less Spec Work
The prototype becomes the shared source of truth, cutting down on lengthy design documentation.
Less Spec Work
The prototype becomes the shared source of truth, cutting down on lengthy design documentation.
Quicker Time to Market
The new process reduces design timelines from 2-3 weeks to under a week, while improving quality.
Quicker Time to Market
The new process reduces design timelines from 2-3 weeks to under a week, while improving quality.
Quicker Time to Market
The new process reduces design timelines from 2-3 weeks to under a week, while improving quality.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Delivering solutions customers need, with outcomes that make an impact
Leading with our new process, I acted as player-coach, guiding the product design team to deliver several product enhancements, new features, and full experiences. I also designed an AI onboarding toolkit for non-design teams to prototype ideas faster and explore AI-enhanced processes.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Delivering solutions customers need, with outcomes that make an impact
Leading with our new process, I acted as player-coach, guiding the product design team to deliver several product enhancements, new features, and full experiences. I also designed an AI onboarding toolkit for non-design teams to prototype ideas faster and explore AI-enhanced processes.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Delivering solutions customers need, with outcomes that make an impact
Leading with our new process, I acted as player-coach, guiding the product design team to deliver several product enhancements, new features, and full experiences. I also designed an AI onboarding toolkit for non-design teams to prototype ideas faster and explore AI-enhanced processes.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Delivering solutions customers need, with outcomes that make an impact
Leading with our new process, I acted as player-coach, guiding the product design team to deliver several product enhancements, new features, and full experiences. I also designed an AI onboarding toolkit for non-design teams to prototype ideas faster and explore AI-enhanced processes.
Customers want full control over their IT data
Customers want full control over their IT data
Customers want full control over their IT data
Customers want full control over their IT data
Unfortunately, the product design team isn't allowed direct access to speak with customers to learn how they use the product and understand their needs. However, through interviews with client reps and workflow audits, we discovered key areas of frustration with our users: IT and Procurement Leaders in enterprise companies.
Unfortunately, the product design team isn't allowed direct access to speak with customers to learn how they use the product and understand their needs. However, through interviews with client reps and workflow audits, we discovered key areas of frustration with our users: IT and Procurement Leaders in enterprise companies.
Unfortunately, the product design team isn't allowed direct access to speak with customers to learn how they use the product and understand their needs. However, through interviews with client reps and workflow audits, we discovered key areas of frustration with our users: IT and Procurement Leaders in enterprise companies.
Unfortunately, the product design team isn't allowed direct access to speak with customers to learn how they use the product and understand their needs. However, through interviews with client reps and workflow audits, we discovered key areas of frustration with our users: IT and Procurement Leaders in enterprise companies.
Inconsistent and confusing asset taxonomy
Inconsistent and confusing asset taxonomy
Need for more powerful search and filtering tools
Need for more powerful search and filtering tools
Confusing order and shipping information
Confusing order and shipping information
Lack of useful dashboards and reporting tools
Lack of useful dashboards and reporting tools
Research Methods:
Customer Rep Interviews
Analytics Review
Customer Feedback
Customer Rep Interviews
Analytics Review
Customer Feedback
Activities I led:
Research Methods:
Customer Rep Interviews
Analytics Review
Customer Feedback
Activities I led:
Customer Rep Interviews
Analytics Review
Customer Feedback
The work is under NDA due to its proprietary nature, so I can only describe the research and design work.
Images below are conceptual and only represent a small portion of the work.
The work is under NDA due to its proprietary nature, so I can only describe the research and design work.
Images below are conceptual and only represent a small portion of the work.
The work is under NDA due to its proprietary nature, so I can only describe the research and design work.
Images below are conceptual and only represent a small portion of the work.
The work is under NDA due to its proprietary nature, so I can only describe the research and design work.
Images below are conceptual and only represent a small portion of the work.
AI-Powered Taxonomy Engine
Led UX/UI for a LLM-powered Asset Taxonomy Engine to auto-classify thousands of IT assets and reduce QA cycles by 90%.
AI-Powered Taxonomy Engine
Led UX/UI for a LLM-powered Asset Taxonomy Engine to auto-classify thousands of IT assets and reduce QA cycles by 90%.
AI-Powered Taxonomy Engine
Led UX/UI for a LLM-powered Asset Taxonomy Engine to auto-classify thousands of IT assets and reduce QA cycles by 90%.
AI-Powered Taxonomy Engine
Led UX/UI for a LLM-powered Asset Taxonomy Engine to auto-classify thousands of IT assets and reduce QA cycles by 90%.
Forecasting IT Needs
Conceived and designed an AI-fueled Asset Insights tool to forecast IT needs based on real-time data ingestion and historical patterns.
Forecasting IT Needs
Conceived and designed an AI-fueled Asset Insights tool to forecast IT needs based on real-time data ingestion and historical patterns.
Forecasting IT Needs
Conceived and designed an AI-fueled Asset Insights tool to forecast IT needs based on real-time data ingestion and historical patterns.
Forecasting IT Needs
Conceived and designed an AI-fueled Asset Insights tool to forecast IT needs based on real-time data ingestion and historical patterns.
Intelligent Dashboards Bring Data to Life
Developed intelligent dashboards that surface critical actions and roadmap blockers in real time.
Intelligent Dashboards Bring Data to Life
Developed intelligent dashboards that surface critical actions and roadmap blockers in real time.
Intelligent Dashboards Bring Data to Life
Developed intelligent dashboards that surface critical actions and roadmap blockers in real time.
Intelligent Dashboards Bring Data to Life
Developed intelligent dashboards that surface critical actions and roadmap blockers in real time.
Helping Internal Teams Fill Missing Data
Boosted operational efficiency and client data accuracy by writing prompts & instructions for an AI-based tool that completes missing IT data.
Helping Internal Teams Fill Missing Data
Boosted operational efficiency and client data accuracy by writing prompts & instructions for an AI-based tool that completes missing IT data.
Helping Internal Teams Fill Missing Data
Boosted operational efficiency and client data accuracy by writing prompts & instructions for an AI-based tool that completes missing IT data.
Helping Internal Teams Fill Missing Data
Boosted operational efficiency and client data accuracy by writing prompts & instructions for an AI-based tool that completes missing IT data.
L'Oréal Paris
Up Next:
IMPACT
Measurable impact across the business and the team
These results show how cross-functional co-creation and consistent, integrated design practices can drive measurable improvements in speed, alignment, and customer value.
IMPACT
Measurable impact across the business and the team
These results show how cross-functional co-creation and consistent, integrated design practices can drive measurable improvements in speed, alignment, and customer value.
IMPACT
Measurable impact across the business and the team
These results show how cross-functional co-creation and consistent, integrated design practices can drive measurable improvements in speed, alignment, and customer value.
IMPACT
Measurable impact across the business and the team
These results show how cross-functional co-creation and consistent, integrated design practices can drive measurable improvements in speed, alignment, and customer value.
50%
50%
Faster design
& prototyping
Faster design
& prototyping
Unifed
Unifed
Design Systems
across 2 products
Design Systems
across 2 products
27%
27%
Reduction in
design-related tickets
Reduction in
design-related tickets
3
3
AI-Driven
experiences delivered
AI-Driven
experiences delivered
50%
Faster design & prototyping
Unified
Design Systems for two products
27%
Reduction in design-related tickets
3
AI-driven experiences delivered
50%
Faster design & prototyping
Unified
Design Systems for two products
27%
Reduction in design-related tickets
3
AI-driven experiences delivered
Delivering measurable impact across the business and the team
These results show how integrating new ways of working along with GenAI tools can positively impact team velocity, alignment, and customer value while building trust with developers and PMs.
50%
Faster design
& prototyping
Unifed
Two design
systems
27%
Reduction in design-
related tickets
3
AI-driven features
delivered
© Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved by Steven Shay
© Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved by Steven Shay
© Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved by Steven Shay
© Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved by Steven Shay