Designing What’s Next.
Future-Ready UX / AI Innovation / Rapid Prototyping

Professional Summary

Designing What’s Next. Future-Ready UX / AI Innovation / Rapid Prototyping. A results-driven, agile, user-centred senior digital professional with 20 years experience leading projects in all areas of digital – Product Design UX/UI, LLM & GenAI, eCommerce, DesignOps, Data, Machine Learning – working across corporate, agency and start-up environments on user experience, interaction design, information architecture, and project/product management. A natural leader bringing proven knowledge of strategy, brand vision, creative development, social engagement, effective communication, team building and management to local, pan-European and Global teams and projects.

Skills

Product Design, UX/UI/IA, Data, Machine Learning, LLM’s, GenAI, Design Systems, Interaction Design, Mobile-first, Adaptive and Responsive Design, DesignOps, Creative and Art Direction, Digital Design/Development, Agile, Kanban, Digital Strategy, Ecommerce, Service Design, Project Management, Analytics, MVT, Accessibility, Usability, Mobile Solutions, Team Management, Figma, Sketch, InVision, Adobe CC, Framer, InVision Studio, Zeplin, Jira, Marvel, HTML5, CSS3, React, Angular, JQuery, iOS, Android.

Experience

VP Design and Research – Innovation, Prototyping and Agentic Intelligence – Choreograph/WPP Media

Aug 2024 – Present

Designing What’s Next – Future-ready UX for AI innovation projects using rapid prototyping techniques. Focussing on innovative applications of AI, LLM’s, Agentic Intelligence and emerging technologies.

Global Head of Product Design – EssenceMediacom

Jan 2022 – July 2024

Leading product design for heavily data-focussed, GenAI & Machine Learning-driven global strategic technology products for EssenceMediacom. Define the product design (UX/UI) strategy and roadmap. Implement a new Design System, and optimise existing, user experience and user interfaces for EssenceMediacom’s strategic product suite, as well as develop effective DesignOps workflows which will establish UX optimisation as an integral part of product development.

UX Design Manager – RS Components

Oct 2019 – Dec 2021

Leading the UX Design team at RS Components in constant improvement of all areas of a complex global B2B/B2C eCommerce environment, including a complete responsive re-platforming from separate desktop and mobile experiences, alongside development of a supporting global Design System.

Lead Interaction Designer – Ofsted @Rainmaker Solutions (Contract)

February 2019 – May 2019

Working on the user experience and interfaces for multiple digital projects within the Ofsted Electronic Evidence Gathering (EEG) initiative, working within .GOV and public sector design systems, standards and frameworks.

Lead UX/UI – Global FinTech @Ocean_Barefoot (Contract)

January 2018 – February 2019

Leading the creation of a Design System and UX for a global FinTech client’s new cloud-based suite of products. Helping to transform business requirements into clear and engaging user flows and interface designs.

UX/UI/Creative Director – D3R

September 2016 – December 2017

Creating intuitive user experiences for web, ecommerce & mobile. Building a new UX/UI design team and responsible for the overall creative output of the agency. Ensuring UX best practices are applied and followed throughout the design process. Managing projects and work within tight deadlines. Working closely and collaborating with developers to ensure designs are implemented to the highest standard. Leading creative workshops and requirements elaboration exercises. Working closely with the business development team to create compelling pitches and presentations for potential clients.

Client work includes:- Andrew Martin, SquareMeal, Twickenham/RFU, Dualit, Loaf, Monica Vinader, The Beaumont Hotel, Corbin & King, The Zetter Hotel, Fever-Tree, Aspinal of London.

UX/UI/Creative Director (UK & Global) – Say Media

July 2014 – August 2016

Helping popular digital publications expand their reach by leading UX/UI design on beautiful, content-focussed, responsive websites for the Tempest CMS platform. Also leading projects within the Say Media global creative studios, and working with numerous agency partners to create content-rich, engagement-focussed digital campaigns that include video storytelling, VR experiences, social content and authentic editorial that work across all devices. Functioning as the creative voice of Say Media in the UK & Europe.

Client work includes:- British Airways, Maxim, Selfridges, P&G, Facebook, Marks and Spencer, Unilever, L’Oreal, Renault, Citroen, Ford, Hewlett Packard, Gant, Experian, Lancome, McDonalds, Bacardi, Calvin Klein, Thierry Mugler, Clarins, and many more.

Head of Digital – The Box (CHI/Tag Worldwide) at News UK

March 2013 – July 2014

Working within News UK’s in-house creative agency (The Box), the role consisted of creative and technical leadership, team development and project management, concept generation, overseeing of online design and development. Working on numerous projects for The Times, Sunday Times and The Sun alongside other NI enterprise projects inc. the launch of the Sun+ Digital subscription service, Sun+ Goals, The News Academy, Encounters Dating and Times Tutorials.

Digital Director – The Bouncing Ball

July 1999 – June 2013

Over 14 years experience gained whilst founding and growing a digital design studio – leading client pitches, strategy, planning, project management, creative and development on all forms of brand and digital work, ecommerce, UX/UI, design and development, social media, mobile and app development for startups through to global brands.

Some of the many projects undertaken include:

Selfridges – Change project for the checkout process of their ecommerce website. Worked with the in-house team to redesign the checkout process to increase customer retention, sales conversion and user experience.

Imperial War Museum – Completed several projects for IWM, inc. redevelopment of their existing ecommerce website to increase customer experience and conversion whilst also implementing a new brand identity, and development of their First World War Centenary Partnership Programme extranet site.

QUOODA/Ark Workplace Risk – QUOODA® is a leading cloud and on premise Operational Risk, Compliance and Safety Enterprise Platform. Users can leverage the flexible design to opt for functional solutions and business modules that can address their pressing requirements

Canterbury of New Zealand – Development and initial management of their original European eCommerce platform – covering both sportswear and fashion ranges, as well as a large program of promotional and content marketing.

During this period, I also took on long-term contract roles for numerous companies and agencies, helping to develop and nurture their internal capabilities. Example role:

Head of Digital/Design – TaxCalc/Acorah Software Products

April 2007 – July 2010

Brought in as a direct report to the CEO and charged with a complete overhaul of corporate identity, product development, eCommerce and marketing program that resulted in a 200%+ sales increase year on year. Accountable for developing the eCommerce platform, strategic marketing, SEO and social media. Led a team of designers and developers to implement IA, UX and design improvements to a range of software products and a complete marketing.

Education

BSc (Hons) Product Design – London South Bank University

3 A-Levels – Design Technology, Physics, Maths (with Mechanics)

10 GCSE’s – inc. Design Technology, Maths, Physics, English (Lit and Lang), French and German