Role
Expert UX Designer
Timeline
2023
Location
Germany
Scope
Lead + Mentoring
Overview
I joined an active project mid-flight — five junior designers, a US-based product org, and no shared way of working. The team had momentum but lacked structure: handoffs were ambiguous, decisions weren't documented.
This project is under NDA. What follows reflects my approach, not product detail.
What I took away
This engagement taught me that the most valuable thing a senior designer can do on a struggling team isn't redesigning the product — it's redesigning how the team works.
Challenges & Approach
01
Aligning without authority
Multiple stakeholders held differing priorities and no shared decision-making framework. I introduced structured design reviews that made UX rationale visible and traceable — turning opinion-based discussions into documented agreements.
02
Making requirements concrete
Initial briefs were too abstract to design against. I worked directly with product owners and engineers to translate business goals into specific, testable UX requirements — with edge cases accounted for before design began.
03
Structure for a team still learning
The junior team was capable but without process. I introduced a design workflow covering handoffs, feedback cycles, and documentation standards — not to slow things down, but to stop work from being redone.
04
Mentoring as a design output
Five junior designers needed guidance that went beyond critique sessions. I worked with each on their decision-making process — teaching them to defend choices with user rationale, not just visual preference.
This project is confidential. Screen designs, product details, and client identity are protected under a non-disclosure agreement.