Design & Product Strategy Consultant
I help growing companies make better product decisions through strategic UX and design leadership.
For over 2 decades I've delivered measurable business outcomes for brands such as Nandos, Vitality, Google, Lloyds of London, Microsoft and Channel 4.
My Approach
Most design consultants focus on aesthetics. I focus on business outcomes.
I work with companies that have achieved product-market fit but need strategic clarity on what's next. I help connect research insights to product decisions, set up operations that leverage AI-first tools, and build frameworks that make design a measurable business driver.
I combine strategic design thinking, research-driven insight, behavioural psychology principles, and modern AI-augmented workflows.
My Current Focus:
Taking on 2-3 strategic advisory clients for ongoing guidance or intensive strategy engagements.
Based in the South East & London, working with growing companies across the UK, Europe and the USA.
What I Help With
Design & UX Strategy
Strategic design direction that drives business outcomes
UX strategy for product-led teams
Behavioural design and psychology-driven product decisions
Connecting design thinking to business impact
Product roadmap prioritisation and feature strategy
Research operations setup and optimisation
Customer intelligence systems that connect insights to decisions
Design ops for AI-first teams
Product & Research Strategy
Strategic frameworks for scaling design teams
Design leadership guidance for founders and executives
Building design maturity across organisations
Mentoring designers and design leaders
Design Ops & Leadership
Career Timeline
I'm Olly, a design strategy consultant based in the South East, UK. I've led product design at enterprise scale across fintech, healthtech, hospitality and consumer products, working with companies from Series A startups to FTSE 100 organisations.
My career started at top UK design studios, but for the past decade I've focused on strategic consultancy, helping ambitious founders make better product decisions through design thinking and behavioural psychology.
2025 - Present
Design Strategy & Principal UX Architect, Nando's Group (Global Team)
I lead strategic design across the global business for Nando’s Group. I specialise in Restaurant Operations and Kitchen efficiency, with key projects being rolled out across the global Nandos estate including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
I work alongside Group Leadership and Global Heads of Technology and Brand to deliver outstanding product experiences for employees and customers. I also contribute to strategic projects that help connect the global markets and bring overarching design principles to a previous disjointed global brand.
This role demonstrates strategic design at enterprise scale, exactly the approach I bring to advisory clients.
2024 - Present
Company Director
Founder & Design Strategy Consultant
Strategic design advisory for Series A/B companies. I help founders make better product decisions through design strategy, UX strategy, and design leadership guidance.
Focus: Strategic guidance only, no execution. Limited to 2-3 clients at a time to ensure exceptional value.
Typical engagements: Series A/B SaaS, fintech, health-tech or hospitality companies with conversion, adoption, or design leadership challenges.
2022 - 2025
Lead Product Designer, Nando's (Contract Role)
At Nando’s, I drive the end-to-end design process for digital products that support core operational functions — including stock control, supply chain, and kitchen efficiency.
I collaborate closely with senior stakeholders across product, engineering, and operations to deliver strategic solutions that streamline workflows, reduce complexity, and improve the day-to-day experience for restaurant teams. My work directly contributes to operational excellence and employee productivity across the business.
In parallel, I play an active role in evolving the Nando’s Design System — ensuring consistency, scalability, and accessibility across internal and customer-facing products.
2021 - 2022
Lead Product Designer, Vitality Insurance (Contract Role)
At Vitality, I led design initiatives across web and mobile, working within a cross-functional team to deliver key features for both the health insurance and rewards areas of the business.
My role focused on turning complex requirements into intuitive, high-performing user experiences, while also contributing to the evolution and maintenance of their enterprise-level design system — ensuring consistency, scalability, and accessibility across products.
2017 - 2019
Senior UX Designer, Electric Square (Contract Role)
I worked alongside Electric Square, one of Brightons most recognised AAA games studios, as a freelance UX Designer for a number of high profile gaming projects. This included a mobile game for Microsoft and Turn Ten's Forza franchise which went on to be released across iOS, Android and Windows.
I worked with a diverse team of artists, games designers, engineers and producers to help create the mobile UX and UI, creating user flows, wireframes, prototypes and polished UI.
2016 - 2024
Company Director
Freelance Product Designer
Independent design consultant delivering digital experiences for enterprises and startups across insurance, finance, hospitality, gaming, retail, and entertainment.
Client work spanned responsive web, iOS, and Android—solving complex problems with user-centered design driving measurable business value.
Notable clients: Vitality Insurance, Nando's, Lloyd's of London, Microsoft, Which?, Crunch Accounting, Google, Channel 4, Memrise.
2012 - 2016
Senior Product Designer, Ribot, Design Agency
As a Senior Product Designer at a top-tier design agency, I led the UX/UI design for a wide range of client projects. I was responsible for the full design process, from sketches, user flows, and customer journey maps to wireframes, UI designs, and interactive prototypes.
Throughout my role, I collaborated with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to deliver user-centered solutions that aligned with business objectives. My work spanned industries, with clients including Google, Tesco, Channel 4, BCA, Harris+Hoole, and Memrise.
2007 - 2012
UX/UI Designer, Sprung Studios, Design Agency
Sprung Studios is where I began my design career and developed a strong foundation in UX and UI. As part of a small, high-performing team, I worked primarily on mobile apps and mobile web projects across industries including telecom, banking, gaming, and healthcare.
I contributed to end-to-end design delivery — from sketching and user flows to wireframes and polished visual design — collaborating directly with stakeholders to meet user and business goals. During my time there, I gained hands-on experience with major clients such as Orange Mobile, Vodafone, BBC, NHS, Three Mobile, and NaturalMotion.
Behind the scenes.
You’ll mostly find me nestled in the South Downs in rural Sussex, UK. I’m a hobbies guy, a keen mountain biker, snowboarder, fisherman and wanna-be rock guitarist. I spend much of my free time exploring the countryside in our camper van with my young family, seeking out great food, the odd craft beer, cooking up a feast on the BBQ and travelling as much as I can.
I’m a friendly, open minded chap so don’t be afraid to drop me a message!
Let's Discuss Your Design Strategy Challenge
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how strategic design guidance could help your company. No pitch, no obligation, just a conversation about your biggest design challenges and whether I can help.