Podcast - UXCC

Together with my friend and former colleague, Mark Boyes-Smith, I co-host a weekly podcast called UX, Coffee + Code. Each week we share a coffee with industry experts on all things Design and Technology.

You can listen to one of our episode below, or click here to go to the full playlist

Experience

I’m a design leader with over fifteen years experience in leadership, design, and software development. I pride myself on being a highly-collaborative person who uses data to drive amazing user experiences.

I began my career as a full-stack engineer, working for Defra (a UK government agency), and quickly moved onto B2B development. Fast-forward a number of years, and I found myself loving the development of user experiences. I didn’t know it at the time, but what I was doing was crafting my ux using code instead of wireframes and mockups.

I then went to work at my first startup - Anaplan. I joined them as their first product designer, and helped craft not only a world-class user experience, but built the teams and processes necessary for success. For example, I brought in a user research team, created a brand new design system, and forged relationships necessary for long-term success.

After Anaplan’s successful IPO, I have gone on to provide Head of Design services to Sentieo / AlphaSense, where I have brought in a brand new research program, hired for a number of key positions, developed internal processes which have increased efficiency, and improved the user-centeredness of the entire organisation.

Testimonials

“Jason is an incredibly encouraging and supportive manager who has the ability to bring out the best in people around him. He is empathetic to his individual team members needs and is an advocate of career development. He has some great ideas on how to bring the team closer together, which can sometimes be difficult since we are distributed globally. Having also worked with him on design projects, his product knowledge of Anaplan is second to none. Being one the longer serving members of the organisation, he often knows the ins and outs of historical decisions and can therefore best advise on the correct approach to tackle a tricky design challenge. A true asset to any company. I’ve enjoyed working with Jason and would love to work with him again in the future!”

Matt Balcers, Founder and Designer of Sprocket Agency

“Jason is a brilliant designer and a truly fantastic colleague. He brings positivity and enthusiasm to every task, he’s proactive, organised, and supportive when the going gets tough, and he knows intuitively how to get the best from his staff. He is very well respected within the global team. I’ve worked with Jason on a number of projects at Anaplan and appreciate how he considers the way in which other teams can contribute and add value to his work areas. Jason works in a very collaborative way, is very unselfish, generous with his time, and really listens to the opinions and feedback of others as a way of improving his own performance and ultimately contributing to the success of the company. I really enjoy working with such a dynamic and positive presence in the office and know I can rely on Jason if I need help or assistance on a project, or just a chat when it’s a tough day. I would highly recommend Jason for any position, his friendly yet authoritative demeanour would be an asset to any company.”

Caroline Boyle, Head of Content Design at IRIS Software Group

“I had the pleasure of working with Jason at Anaplan, collaborating on several projects together. He is a very supportive and collaborative teammate. When I first started at Anaplan, Jason assisted me with Onboarding, helping me get up to speed and in sync with the UX and product teams. His speed of developing complex prototypes was very impressive and always advocated for our users. Jason would be a valuable asset to any organization he joins.”

Catherine Lagman, User Experience Designer at Amazon, AWS

Startup advisory

With a vast experience of building successful products, teams and processes, I can establish and optimize your product, and design organisation. Normally these services are provided in return for shares - which means you get expert advice, without shortening your runway.

Product design & market fit

Having designed and led large and small projects, I will be able to do product and design reviews, and also establish where you can get a market fit.

Team building

Having joined Anaplan (previously NASDAQ:PLAN) as their first product designer, and building out a successful design and research team, I am ideally placed to know what to look for in candidates. If you’re looking for your first design hire, or looking to understand how to fill the gaps in knowledge that exist in your existing organisation, I can help. Whether that’s filling a pipeline, creating job recs, for helping interview someone who’d be a great fit for your team.

Design systems

Design systems are the #1 superpower in getting your product out to your users quicker and with less technical debt. I have experience of building these systems from the ground up, and bringing them in off-the-shelf.

Research programs

Being a user-centered organisation will make or break your product. I can advise on how to set up your research program, and hire the best researchers so you are user-centered right out the gate.

If you’d like to know more or just grab a coffee, contact me here