None of the ego. All of the performance.
"Most designers hand off to developers. Most developers don't understand design. I've spent thirty years doing both — designing products for Westpac, Qantas, and Service NSW while building a platform from zero that now powers some of the biggest festivals on the planet. That dual fluency means I design things that actually get built, ship faster, and move real numbers."
— Alan James
30 years of harnessing technology to solve real problems — for startups, government, and some of Australia's biggest brands. Here's what I've learned about what actually moves the needle.
The most impactful thing I do is zoom out. Before pixels, before code — is this the right problem? I bring stakeholders on that journey so the vision has buy-in from the start.
Whether it's a data-rich credit card comparison or a government booking flow, the art is in what you take away. Clarity isn't dumbing down — it's doing the hard thinking so users don't have to.
I start from the data — the JSON, the API, the real content — and design back from that. My prototypes aren't clickable mockups, they're dynamic, data-driven journeys that surface "unknown unknowns" early, before they become expensive.
At least half of a designer's job is getting people to buy what you're selling. I'm a pragmatist, not a purist. I pick the hills to die on, win the battles that matter, and bring stakeholders on the journey so good work actually ships.
I think in technology — understanding what's feasible shapes better design from the start. Prototypes become real, testable things, not slide decks.
I zoom out to find the right problem, then zoom all the way in to make sure every interaction feels right.
I build genuine relationships first. That's how bold design decisions get adopted — not through politics, but through partnership.
I'm open to senior product design opportunities with organisations who care about craft, impact, and doing things properly. If that sounds like you, I'd love to chat.