Manage: Keep Growing, Stay Focused
Get unstuck from product plateaus and avoid development dead-ends. An outside perspective can help focus your efforts where they're most likely to drive real growth.
Fresh eyes see things differently
Tunnel vision happens. When you're living and breathing your product, seeing the forest for the trees gets hard. Get an additional needed perspective, free from any internal biases that build up naturally.
I've watched smart teams inadvertently build features that rarely get used because they were too close to the problem. Deciding what's next, figuring out why engagement dipped, and navigating a pivot can be tough. Having someone who can look at things with fresh eyes often helps catch these issues before they consume your resources, and can help redirect focus to what's most likely to move your key metrics.
Embedded on a full team or collaborating part-time through a flexible retainer, I plug into your team how you need it. You get consistent guidance without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Get the design focus without getting overwhelmed by too much to do
Not every product needs a full-time leader staring at it constantly, but every product needs leadership. My fractional approach can give you senior expertise without the full-time headcount or cost.
This works if you need ongoing direction or just help through a tricky phase. Thing quiet down? We can scale back. My ongoing commitment adapts to your product's real rhythm.
What this 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.
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 evidence-based priorities tend to see better adoption of what they build, and typically move faster because everyone understands what matters and why.
Hands-On Leadership
Beyond just consulting, I can jump in and lead. 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.
Flexible Design Production
I can lead design production, or just help with a specific project. Maybe a focused sprint (a few days/month), deeper ongoing partnership (more days/month), project-based, or something totally custom.
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.
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.
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
- The ability to ask 'why?' about things everyone else takes for granted
- Frameworks for balancing user needs with company goals
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? Get the strategy without the big commitment.
At a Crossroads
Facing big decisions about where to go next? 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.
Strategy is just the start, time to execute
Looking for something new? 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. Teams 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.
See how
Looking for clarity on what to build next?
Let's chat about how a flexible retainer can give your team the strategic boost it needs.