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System design first.
Identify key components of the product’s technical and business environments; use models—not screens— to define how they will interact with one another. AI can help document system designs but can’t do system design—at least not yet.
Product design second.
Specify how the user interacts with the product via UX widgets, voice, gestures, and hardware controls; screens are optional and don’t need to be pixel-perfect. This is where AI assistance becomes useful.
Screens third.
Apply final text, colors, typography, editorial voice, and graphic styles to the product design. This is what the user will actually see. AI excels at this—once you know what to tell it to do.
Design is fundamental to every stage of the product process, from product kickoff through development and launch to business strategy support.
I’m a product designer with experience designing products, managing teams, and defining design strategies at startups and Fortune 500 companies in critical industries and markets—FinTech, medical, manufacturing, SaaS, AI, IoT, communications, and consumer electronics
I consider AI another design tool, not a replacement for actual product design and experience.
I’ve been the first design hire at small companies. I’ve been brought in to revitalize existing design teams and processes.
I work successfully across organizations and dive deep. I engage with Development at the level of fundamental tech. I act a proxy user to assist Product Management with requirements and business strategy.
I design holistically and resist the urge to deliver screens without out first understanding the broader product system.
I use models of varying levels of detail to identify and resolve product issues before working on screens and icons.
Systems Design▸
A designer has to be willing to work on a product’s backend system design in order to create a successful frontend user experience.
Product Design▸
A successful product design meets user requirements, fits within development constraints, and furthers business strategies.
Product & Project Management▸
Design timelines and deliverables can and must be integrated into larger product management processes. Doing design in parallel with development never works.
Branding▸
Product design and corporate branding must support each other. I’ve rebranded multiple startups in support of product design, product launches, and funding rounds.
Team management and recommendations▸
I prioritize mentoring other designers. More than one designer has followed me from one company to another. Others have specifically thanked me for the skills I’ve taught them. I’ve been told I’m the “best manager I’ve ever worked for” a few times.
Ron’s extensive knowledge of product design and branding, coupled with his talent for ideation and strategic thinking, sets him apart from even the most elite professionals in the UX field…
Durk Stelter, CEO and entrepreneur▸
Ron is the best manager I’ve ever worked for…after he hired me at NetObjects, I followed him to Amazon, Avaya, and Palm. His passion for great design becomes an inspiration to his team…
Adam Donkin, Product lead and executive coach▸
Dog person▸
My dogs and I normally do not look at the sun. But when we do we wear appropriate eye protection.
Great American Eclipse, August 21, 2017
Ochoco National Forest, Oregon