Andrew Bond

For 9 years, I was the only designer at a startup that became a 150,000-user fintech platform acquired by a FTSE 250 company.

I built everything: the product, the design system, the processes, the team. I learned how to balance speed with quality, startup agility with enterprise compliance, and creative ambition with regulatory reality.

Now I help growing companies navigate similar challenges—without taking 8 years to learn the lessons.

I've done the full journey. I know what it takes to be the first designer at a startup. I know how to convince engineers and PMs to care about design. I know how to hire your second, third, and fifth designer. I know how to survive an acquisition and come out stronger.

Fractional design leadership (2-3 days/week, minimum 3 months)

Design system creation and implementation

Product design for complex features and flows

Design team building and mentorship

Interim leadership during transitions

Improved user retention by 20% through systematic UX research and iteration

Reduced delivery cycles by 35% by establishing design ops and clear workflows

Built design system cutting UI debt in half and enabling non-designers to ship

Scaled design team from 1 to 5 while maintaining quality standards

I work best with founders and product leaders who understand design is a strategic advantage, not just "making things pretty." If you're scaling fast and design is becoming a bottleneck, or you're building a design function and don't know where to start. Hold my beer.