FAQ

What kind of design work do you specialise in?

I specialise in complex, multi‑platform product design across AI, SaaS, enterprise tools and consumer electronics. My work spans UX strategy, interaction design, design systems, prototyping and cross‑team alignment. You can learn more about my background on my About Me page.

Which industries have you worked in as a product designer?

I’ve designed for AI, SaaS, education technology, communications, enterprise software and consumer electronics. My portfolio includes work for Microsoft, Skype, Obrizum and global hardware partners, all linked throughout my case studies.

How do you typically approach a new design challenge?

I begin by understanding the problem, the people involved and the constraints. I map the system, identify friction points and design solutions that scale — always balancing clarity, accessibility and technical feasibility.

What experience do you have designing collaboration tools?

I led the end‑to‑end UX for a cross‑platform meeting and notes experience used across Teams, Outlook, OneNote, Office and SharePoint. You can explore this work in my Collaboration & Meetings case study.

How have you improved consistency across large product ecosystems?

I created a unified design framework that aligned behaviours, entry points and UI patterns across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web. This work is detailed in my Collaboration & Meetings case study.

What experience do you have building cross‑platform design systems?

I’ve developed scalable design frameworks that reduce fragmentation across dozens of platforms, aligning interaction patterns, visual language and behaviours. You can see this in my Design Frameworks, Coherence & Alignment project.

How do you handle legacy behaviours when modernising a product?

I balance legacy expectations with modern UX principles, ensuring improvements don’t disrupt established workflows. I applied this approach extensively in my Design Frameworks, Coherence & Alignment case study.

What experience do you have designing for consumer electronics?

I’ve designed communication experiences for TVs, home phones, consoles and headless devices, collaborating with partners like Sony and Samsung. You can explore this work in my Consumer Electronics case study.

How do you design user experiences for hardware‑software ecosystems?

I consider ergonomics, distance viewing, remote‑control interactions and manufacturer requirements, supported by detailed guidelines and prototypes. This approach is demonstrated in my Consumer Electronics project.

What experience do you have designing AI powered products?

I led the redesign of a large‑scale learning platform, created a scalable UI system and shaped new experiences including VR learning and adaptive content flows. You can read more in my Scalable UI for AI‑Driven Learning case study.

How has your design work supported business growth in AI powered platforms?

My work contributed to a platform winning a major global training contract for one million learners. Details are in my Scalable UI for AI‑Driven Learning case study.

What experience do you have designing conversational AI?

I’ve designed proactive and contextual AI behaviours for assistants and bots, focusing on subtle, helpful interactions in chat and group conversations. You can explore this in my AI in Conversation project.

How do you design AI behaviours that feel natural rather than intrusive?

I balance intelligence with subtlety, ensuring triggers feel contextual and non‑disruptive. This approach is shown in my AI in Conversation case study.

How do you use prototyping in your design process?

I use prototypes to test flows, validate assumptions, uncover edge cases and accelerate alignment across teams. You can see examples in my Prototyping case study.

Why is prototyping important when designing complex systems?

Prototyping exposes issues early, reduces engineering cost and helps teams make decisions faster with shared clarity. I demonstrate this in my Prototyping project.

What types of projects shaped your early career?

My early work includes enterprise tools for Symantec, financial systems for Goldman Sachs and Citibank, and media projects for BBC, ITV and Opodo. You can browse these in The Archives.

How did your early projects influence your design approach?

They taught me to handle complexity, design for scale and communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical teams. More examples are in The Archives.

How do you collaborate with product and engineering teams?

I work closely with PMs, engineers, researchers and leadership — running workshops, aligning stakeholders and ensuring the final product matches the intended design.

What tools do you use in your design workflow?

I primarily use Figma for design and prototyping, AI tools depending on project, supported by research, telemetry and collaboration tools depending on the organisation.

Do you take on freelance or fractional design leadership roles?

Yes — I work with startups, scale‑ups and established teams who need hands‑on design leadership, systems thinking and product clarity.

Do you also work professionally as a photographer?

Yes — alongside my design work, I run a documentary‑style photography practice specialising in weddings, events and behind‑the‑scenes storytelling. Keith Symons Photography

Ask Me Anything

Case Studies