Extend: Keep Growing, Stay Focused
Fresh eyes see things differently
Tunnel vision happens to the best of us. When you're living and breathing your product day in and day out, seeing the forest for the trees gets really hard. Sometimes you just need an outside perspective – someone who isn't drowning in the same internal politics and historical baggage that accumulates in every company.
I've watched super smart teams inadvertently build features that rarely got used because they were too close to the problem. It happens all the time! Deciding what to build next, figuring out why engagement suddenly dipped, navigating a pivot – these challenges get exponentially harder when you're in the thick of it. Having someone who can look at things with fresh eyes often helps catch issues before they consume your resources.
I prefer to meet you where you are and adapt to how your team actually works. Whether embedded on your full team or collaborating part-time through a flexible retainer, I'll plug in how you need it. You get consistent guidance without the overhead of another full-time hire.
Get the design focus without drowning in too much to do
Not every product needs a full-time design leader staring at it constantly, but every product needs leadership. My fractional approach gives you senior expertise without the full-time headcount or cost.
This arrangement works beautifully if you need ongoing direction or just help through a particularly tricky phase. Things quiet down? We can scale back. Launch coming up? We can ramp up. My ongoing commitment adapts to your product's real rhythm. No more paying for time you don't need or scrambling when you suddenly need more help.
What this actually looks like
Spotting the Overlooked Opportunities
With fresh eyes on your product, I can often identify issues and opportunities that might be invisible when you're too close to it. Many teams discover they've been missing high-impact, low-effort improvements that could meaningfully boost conversion or retention without requiring months of development. These 'quick wins' can make a huge difference while you work on bigger initiatives.
Building Features People Actually Use
When your roadmap is based on evidence rather than internal opinions, you're better positioned to avoid the all-too-common trap of building things nobody ends up using. Teams with more evidence-based priorities tend to see better adoption of what they build, and can move faster because everyone understands what matters and why.
Hands-On Leadership When Needed
Beyond just consulting, I can jump in and lead when that's what you need. Setting strategy, running meetings, helping make tough calls, and keeping the team focused on delivering real value. I can help with hiring and onboarding, too. Then I'll back off when you've got things running smoothly. No ego, just results.
Flexible Design Production
Need me to actually design stuff? Hooray! I can lead design production, or just help with a specific project. Maybe you need a focused sprint (a few days/month), or a deeper ongoing partnership (more days/month), or something project-based, or something totally custom that we figure out together.
How a Design Retainer Works
A flexible, fractional model that provides structure without being overly rigid:
Typical Setup
Usually includes strategic planning, all necessary design and development work, and regular check-ins to adjust course and keep stakeholders aligned. But honestly? Every arrangement is a bit different because every team has unique needs. We'll figure out what works for you, not force you into some predetermined package.
Your Part
To get the best results, plan for a few hours a week for key meetings, quick feedback on designs or answers on strategy, sharing relevant data, and being committed to the process. I'm not one of those consultants who drops in, makes a bunch of recommendations, then disappears. This is a partnership, and I'll need your insights to make it work.
Flexible Options
Need something unique? I can probably tailor to it. If you know you're not ready for a full-time designer, but still need a senior leader, we can work something out.
Why This Works Better
Compared to one-off projects: I actually understand your context over time, provide consistent guidance, can spot issues earlier, and it's less admin hassle.
The Fresh Perspective Advantage
When you're too close to something, it's easy to miss opportunities or continue down unproductive paths simply because they're familiar.
What an outside perspective brings:
- Freedom from internal politics and old baggage
- Insights from different industries and product types that can spark fresh thinking
- The ability to ask 'why?' about things everyone else takes for granted (sometimes the most obvious questions lead to breakthroughs)
- Frameworks for balancing user needs with company goals, so you build what matters
- Permission to challenge sacred cows that might be holding you back
My job is to help you make better decisions and build something people genuinely need and value.
When This Makes Sense
Running Lean
Need product leadership, but a full-time hire feels like overkill for your current stage? Get the strategy without the big commitment. Perfect for startups that need senior expertise but aren't ready for another full salary.
At a Crossroads
Facing big decisions about where to go next? User feedback pulling you in multiple directions? Feature requests piling up? Get experienced help navigating the options and tradeoffs.
Stuck in a Rut
Metrics flat, growth stalled? Fresh eyes can spot new paths forward and help break through the plateau.
Growing Pains
Scaling up fast but things feel chaotic? Structured product management helps grow smartly without sacrificing quality.
Need to define something new or finish building what you have?
Looking for something different? Define what's next or get your current build over the finish line with a design partner that understands the product journey.
Define
Validating what to build, who it's for, and how to measure success. Evidence creates clarity where assumptions often blur the picture. Stop the guessing games and move forward with shared understanding and confidence.
See how
Build
From UI design to implementation, bring validated ideas to life at the right level of fidelity. With a strategy backed with evidence, you can be confident that you're ready to build. No more hoping and praying that users will show up.
See how
Looking for clarity on what to build next?
Let's chat about how a fractional design partner can give your team the strategic boost it needs, without the overhead of another full-time hire.