Get to know Me
16+ years designing consumer platforms, financial products, and digital experiences used by tens of millions of people worldwide.
I work at the intersection of design leadership, product strategy, and business impact — partnering with executive teams to turn complex problems into products that actually ship.
I've spent my career at the sharp end of product design — not just crafting interfaces, but shaping the thinking behind them. From building design organisations from scratch to defining the UX strategy for products used by 50M+ customers, I've always believed that great design is only great if it moves the business forward.
My background spans neobanking, super apps, digital banking, travel tech, and AI-powered experiences. I've worked across London, Dubai, and EMEA — leading teams, running consultancies, and sitting at the executive table where product decisions get made.
I hold an MBA in Digital Banking with Business Administration from Cranfield University, which gives me an unusual lens as a designer: I care as much about the commercial outcome as the user experience. The two aren't in conflict — they're the same thing done right.
Outside of work, I co-host the Beyond the Interface Podcast, speaking with global design and technology leaders about the craft, the industry, and what's coming next. It's been listened to in 21 countries and ranked in the top 15% most shared podcasts globally on Spotify.
My Skills
A practitioner first, a leader second. I bring hands-on craft alongside the strategic and organisational skills to scale it.
Product design
Product Strategy
Design Leadership
Information Architecture
Design Systems
AI-Assisted Experiences
Consumer & Fintech Experiences
Growth, Activation & Retention
Team & People Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Data-Informed Design
Career
A career built across fintech, banking, super apps, travel tech, and consulting — always at leadership level, always focused on measurable impact.
Undisclosed (Crypto)
Principal Product Designer
2025
Careem
Head of Design
2024
RUONALIM
Founder & Design Lead
2023
Almosafer
Director - Product Design
2020
Metro Bank
Head of Product Design
2017
Momondo
Product Design Lead
2015
Sopra-Steria
Product Designer
2014
Apperception
Product Designer
2012
JDT Designs
Product Designer
2009
Tech Stack
The tools I use to design, prototype, build, and ship.
FIGMA
CLAUDE
CURSOR
MAZE
RIVE
ADOBE CC
TESTIMONIALS
Sam Rapp
Sr.Director Product Design
Careem
"
I had the privilege of working with Jay during his time as Head of Platform Product Design at Careem, where he reported directly to me. While our time working together was relatively brief, Jay made an immediate and profound impact on our organization that I feel compelled to highlight. From day one, Jay demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in guiding our platform design strategy. He quickly assessed our existing design infrastructure and implemented thoughtful improvements that enhanced both user experience and cross-functional collaboration. His ability to understand complex business requirements and translate them into elegant design solutions was truly impressive. What sets Jay apart is his rare combination of creative vision and practical execution. He consistently delivered high-quality work under tight deadlines while never compromising on design integrity. His redesign of our core platform components resulted in measurable improvements in user engagement and operational efficiency. Beyond his technical expertise, Jay proved to be an outstanding team leader. He elevated the performance of our entire design department by implementing structured feedback processes and creating opportunities for his team members to grow. His collaborative approach fostered stronger relationships between design, product, and engineering teams. Jay's strategic thinking, exceptional design skills, and leadership abilities make him an invaluable asset to any organization. I wholeheartedly recommend him and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again in the future.
Sam Rapp
Hakeeb Bashorun
Lead Product Designer
Careem & Almosafer
"
I've had the rare chance to see Jay excel as a design leader in two different environments. We worked together at both Almosafer and Careem. Few leaders inspire enough confidence to follow them from one company to another. What I value most about Jay is his willingness to take calculated bets on people. He creates space for his team to explore and sometimes fail, while providing the right support to ensure they continue to grow. At Almosafer and Careem, I watched him trust team members with challenging projects when others might have hesitated. Jay is great at providing the right level of guidance, never micromanaging but staying present to provide support when needed. This balance isn't accidental. He's intentional about building environments where designers can truly own their work. Jay is incredible at making sense of business chaos for his design team. When the organization is pulled in different directions by competing goals and politics, he's able to identify what truly matters and filter out the noise. Jay is exceptional at capturing what's said openly and what's implied, translating both into clear design direction for his team. This invaluable context ensures his team can execute on initiatives with confidence. What makes Jay special is how human his leadership feels. In business where it's not uncommon to prioritize output over people, Jay is intentional about creating genuine connections with his team. His conversations, whether about work or personal life, are thoughtful, considered and authentic. Importantly, he truly cares about his team and strives to create an environment where people feel both professionally challenged and personally valued. I continue to learn from Jay's approach to design leadership. His ability to take calculated bets on people, provide clear direction amid business complexity, and lead with genuine humanity creates teams that both perform exceptionally and grow professionally. Any organization fortunate enough to work with Jay will benefit not just from his strategic vision, but from the thriving, confident team culture he inevitably builds.
Hakeeb Bashorun
Luke Cocker
Staff Product Designer
Almosafer
"
I had the pleasure of working with Jay at Almosafer, where he was Head of UX and my direct manager. Jay is a thoughtful and effective leader. He set a clear direction for our team, brought us together around shared goals, and communicated business priorities in a way that made them meaningful and actionable. He has a strong product sense, is deeply user-focused, and constantly pushes for innovation. What stood out most to me was Jay’s management style. He led with empathy and clarity. He took the time to understand the challenges I was facing and supported me in overcoming them — whether that meant removing blockers, offering perspective, or helping me navigate difficult decisions. He also took a genuine interest in my growth, helping me to shape my ambitions and build toward them with confidence. I’m incredibly grateful for the time we worked together and hope we’ll have the chance to collaborate again in the future.
Luke Cocker
Samantha Hamadeh
Product Marketing Manager
Careem
"
Jay brings a professional, trustworthy, and strategic mindset to every project he takes on. He has an incredible ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and deliver them successfully. By effectively championing important goals, he helps streamline team efforts and enhance productivity. Through transparency and clear communication, Jay consistently earns the trust of those he works with. He also fosters a collaborative environment where team members feel empowered to contribute their best ideas. He is a role model for any design team, not only for his professional impact but for the way he leads with empathy and purpose. If you're lucky, you come across a reliable and supportive colleague like Jay, someone who not only brings excellence to the product design team but also fundamentally improves the culture of the workplace.
Samantha Hamadeh
Khussan Djabbarov
Product Designer
Careem
"
Jay has been one of the most influential mentors in my career. I’ve grown so much under his leadership—not just as a designer, but personally. He gave me the space to experiment freely, push boundaries, and truly own my work. At the same time, he challenged me constantly, especially with interaction design, always pushing for cleaner, more intuitive experiences that elevated our product. One of the biggest things I took away from working with Jay was how to navigate stakeholders and drive design decisions with confidence. He didn’t just give feedback—he unlocked new ways of thinking every time I got stuck. But beyond all of that, Jay never treated me like just a colleague. He treated me like a brother. There were no formalities, no barriers—just genuine support, honesty, and mentorship that went beyond work. If you get the chance to work with him, take it. You won’t just improve—you’ll level up.
Khussan Djabbarov
Linden Dance
Staff Product Designer
Careem
"
Jay has been a huge part of driving progress across the Platform team. As Associate Director of Product Design, he brings a sharp strategic mind and a calm, steady approach that makes a real difference when things get complex. He’s got a great sense for how to balance user needs, business goals, and good design — and he’s brilliant at leading cross-functional work without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. The way he’s helped shape and drive a major vision initiative has brought real clarity, focus, and momentum across the team. Jay leads with transparency, communicates clearly, and is someone people trust to get things moving in the right direction. It’s been great working alongside him — and the impact he’s had is clear to everyone he works with.
Linden Dance
Let's work together
Would you love to set up a time to chat? Let us know if you're interested.
I work with ambitious teams building products that matter — whether that's a fintech scaling fast, a platform rethinking its user experience, or an organisation that needs design leadership with commercial depth.
If you think we'd be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you.
Get to know Me
16+ years designing consumer platforms, financial products, and digital experiences used by tens of millions of people worldwide.
I work at the intersection of design leadership, product strategy, and business impact — partnering with executive teams to turn complex problems into products that actually ship.
I've spent my career at the sharp end of product design — not just crafting interfaces, but shaping the thinking behind them. From building design organisations from scratch to defining the UX strategy for products used by 50M+ customers, I've always believed that great design is only great if it moves the business forward.
My background spans neobanking, super apps, digital banking, travel tech, and AI-powered experiences. I've worked across London, Dubai, and EMEA — leading teams, running consultancies, and sitting at the executive table where product decisions get made.
I hold an MBA in Digital Banking with Business Administration from Cranfield University, which gives me an unusual lens as a designer: I care as much about the commercial outcome as the user experience. The two aren't in conflict — they're the same thing done right.
Outside of work, I co-host the Beyond the Interface Podcast, speaking with global design and technology leaders about the craft, the industry, and what's coming next. It's been listened to in 21 countries and ranked in the top 15% most shared podcasts globally on Spotify.
My Skills
A practitioner first, a leader second. I bring hands-on craft alongside the strategic and organisational skills to scale it.
Product design
Product Strategy
Design Leadership
Information Architecture
Design Systems
AI-Assisted Experiences
Consumer & Fintech Experiences
Growth, Activation & Retention
Team & People Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Data-Informed Design
Career
A career built across fintech, banking, super apps, travel tech, and consulting — always at leadership level, always focused on measurable impact.
Undisclosed (Crypto)
Principal Product Designer
2025
Careem
Head of Design
2024
RUONALIM
Founder & Design Lead
2023
Almosafer
Director - Product Design
2020
Metro Bank
Head of Product Design
2017
Momondo
Product Design Lead
2015
Sopra-Steria
Product Designer
2014
Apperception
Product Designer
2012
JDT Designs
Product Designer
2009
Tech Stack
The tools I use to design, prototype, build, and ship.
FIGMA
CLAUDE
CURSOR
MAZE
RIVE
ADOBE CC
TESTIMONIALS
I had the privilege of working with Jay during his time as Head of Platform Product Design at Careem, where he reported directly to me. While our time working together was relatively brief, Jay made an immediate and profound impact on our organization that I feel compelled to highlight. From day one, Jay demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in guiding our platform design strategy. He quickly assessed our existing design infrastructure and implemented thoughtful improvements that enhanced both user experience and cross-functional collaboration. His ability to understand complex business requirements and translate them into elegant design solutions was truly impressive. What sets Jay apart is his rare combination of creative vision and practical execution. He consistently delivered high-quality work under tight deadlines while never compromising on design integrity. His redesign of our core platform components resulted in measurable improvements in user engagement and operational efficiency. Beyond his technical expertise, Jay proved to be an outstanding team leader. He elevated the performance of our entire design department by implementing structured feedback processes and creating opportunities for his team members to grow. His collaborative approach fostered stronger relationships between design, product, and engineering teams. Jay's strategic thinking, exceptional design skills, and leadership abilities make him an invaluable asset to any organization. I wholeheartedly recommend him and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again in the future.
Sam Rapp
Sr.Director Product Design
Careem
I've had the rare chance to see Jay excel as a design leader in two different environments. We worked together at both Almosafer and Careem. Few leaders inspire enough confidence to follow them from one company to another. What I value most about Jay is his willingness to take calculated bets on people. He creates space for his team to explore and sometimes fail, while providing the right support to ensure they continue to grow. At Almosafer and Careem, I watched him trust team members with challenging projects when others might have hesitated. Jay is great at providing the right level of guidance, never micromanaging but staying present to provide support when needed. This balance isn't accidental. He's intentional about building environments where designers can truly own their work. Jay is incredible at making sense of business chaos for his design team. When the organization is pulled in different directions by competing goals and politics, he's able to identify what truly matters and filter out the noise. Jay is exceptional at capturing what's said openly and what's implied, translating both into clear design direction for his team. This invaluable context ensures his team can execute on initiatives with confidence. What makes Jay special is how human his leadership feels. In business where it's not uncommon to prioritize output over people, Jay is intentional about creating genuine connections with his team. His conversations, whether about work or personal life, are thoughtful, considered and authentic. Importantly, he truly cares about his team and strives to create an environment where people feel both professionally challenged and personally valued. I continue to learn from Jay's approach to design leadership. His ability to take calculated bets on people, provide clear direction amid business complexity, and lead with genuine humanity creates teams that both perform exceptionally and grow professionally. Any organization fortunate enough to work with Jay will benefit not just from his strategic vision, but from the thriving, confident team culture he inevitably builds.
Hakeeb Bashorun
Lead Product Designer
Careem & Almosafer
I had the pleasure of working with Jay at Almosafer, where he was Head of UX and my direct manager. Jay is a thoughtful and effective leader. He set a clear direction for our team, brought us together around shared goals, and communicated business priorities in a way that made them meaningful and actionable. He has a strong product sense, is deeply user-focused, and constantly pushes for innovation. What stood out most to me was Jay’s management style. He led with empathy and clarity. He took the time to understand the challenges I was facing and supported me in overcoming them — whether that meant removing blockers, offering perspective, or helping me navigate difficult decisions. He also took a genuine interest in my growth, helping me to shape my ambitions and build toward them with confidence. I’m incredibly grateful for the time we worked together and hope we’ll have the chance to collaborate again in the future.
Luke Cocker
Staff Product Designer
Almosafer
Jay brings a professional, trustworthy, and strategic mindset to every project he takes on. He has an incredible ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and deliver them successfully. By effectively championing important goals, he helps streamline team efforts and enhance productivity. Through transparency and clear communication, Jay consistently earns the trust of those he works with. He also fosters a collaborative environment where team members feel empowered to contribute their best ideas. He is a role model for any design team, not only for his professional impact but for the way he leads with empathy and purpose. If you're lucky, you come across a reliable and supportive colleague like Jay, someone who not only brings excellence to the product design team but also fundamentally improves the culture of the workplace.
Samantha Hamadeh
Product Marketing Manager
Careem
Jay has been one of the most influential mentors in my career. I’ve grown so much under his leadership—not just as a designer, but personally. He gave me the space to experiment freely, push boundaries, and truly own my work. At the same time, he challenged me constantly, especially with interaction design, always pushing for cleaner, more intuitive experiences that elevated our product. One of the biggest things I took away from working with Jay was how to navigate stakeholders and drive design decisions with confidence. He didn’t just give feedback—he unlocked new ways of thinking every time I got stuck. But beyond all of that, Jay never treated me like just a colleague. He treated me like a brother. There were no formalities, no barriers—just genuine support, honesty, and mentorship that went beyond work. If you get the chance to work with him, take it. You won’t just improve—you’ll level up.
Khussan Djabbarov
Product Designer
Careem
Jay has been a huge part of driving progress across the Platform team. As Associate Director of Product Design, he brings a sharp strategic mind and a calm, steady approach that makes a real difference when things get complex. He’s got a great sense for how to balance user needs, business goals, and good design — and he’s brilliant at leading cross-functional work without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. The way he’s helped shape and drive a major vision initiative has brought real clarity, focus, and momentum across the team. Jay leads with transparency, communicates clearly, and is someone people trust to get things moving in the right direction. It’s been great working alongside him — and the impact he’s had is clear to everyone he works with.
Linden Dance
Staff Product Designer
Careem
Let's work together
Would you love to set up a time to chat? Let us know if you're interested.
I work with ambitious teams building products that matter — whether that's a fintech scaling fast, a platform rethinking its user experience, or an organisation that needs design leadership with commercial depth.
If you think we'd be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you.
Get to know Me
16+ years designing consumer platforms, financial products, and digital experiences used by tens of millions of people worldwide.
I work at the intersection of design leadership, product strategy, and business impact — partnering with executive teams to turn complex problems into products that actually ship.
I've spent my career at the sharp end of product design — not just crafting interfaces, but shaping the thinking behind them. From building design organisations from scratch to defining the UX strategy for products used by 50M+ customers, I've always believed that great design is only great if it moves the business forward.
My background spans neobanking, super apps, digital banking, travel tech, and AI-powered experiences. I've worked across London, Dubai, and EMEA — leading teams, running consultancies, and sitting at the executive table where product decisions get made.
I hold an MBA in Digital Banking with Business Administration from Cranfield University, which gives me an unusual lens as a designer: I care as much about the commercial outcome as the user experience. The two aren't in conflict — they're the same thing done right.
Outside of work, I co-host the Beyond the Interface Podcast, speaking with global design and technology leaders about the craft, the industry, and what's coming next. It's been listened to in 21 countries and ranked in the top 15% most shared podcasts globally on Spotify.
My Skills
A practitioner first, a leader second. I bring hands-on craft alongside the strategic and organisational skills to scale it.
Product design
Product Strategy
Design Leadership
Information Architecture
Design Systems
AI-Assisted Experiences
Consumer & Fintech Experiences
Growth, Activation & Retention
Team & People Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Data-Informed Design
Career
A career built across fintech, banking, super apps, travel tech, and consulting — always at leadership level, always focused on measurable impact.
Undisclosed (Crypto)
Principal Product Designer
2025
Careem
Head of Design
2024
RUONALIM
Founder & Design Lead
2023
Almosafer
Director - Product Design
2020
Metro Bank
Head of Product Design
2017
Momondo
Product Design Lead
2015
Sopra-Steria
Product Designer
2014
Apperception
Product Designer
2012
JDT Designs
Product Designer
2009
Tech Stack
The tools I use to design, prototype, build, and ship.
FIGMA
CLAUDE
CURSOR
MAZE
RIVE
ADOBE CC
TESTIMONIALS
Sam Rapp
Sr.Director Product Design
Careem
"
I had the privilege of working with Jay during his time as Head of Platform Product Design at Careem, where he reported directly to me. While our time working together was relatively brief, Jay made an immediate and profound impact on our organization that I feel compelled to highlight. From day one, Jay demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in guiding our platform design strategy. He quickly assessed our existing design infrastructure and implemented thoughtful improvements that enhanced both user experience and cross-functional collaboration. His ability to understand complex business requirements and translate them into elegant design solutions was truly impressive. What sets Jay apart is his rare combination of creative vision and practical execution. He consistently delivered high-quality work under tight deadlines while never compromising on design integrity. His redesign of our core platform components resulted in measurable improvements in user engagement and operational efficiency. Beyond his technical expertise, Jay proved to be an outstanding team leader. He elevated the performance of our entire design department by implementing structured feedback processes and creating opportunities for his team members to grow. His collaborative approach fostered stronger relationships between design, product, and engineering teams. Jay's strategic thinking, exceptional design skills, and leadership abilities make him an invaluable asset to any organization. I wholeheartedly recommend him and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again in the future.
Sam Rapp
Hakeeb Bashorun
Lead Product Designer
Careem & Almosafer
"
I've had the rare chance to see Jay excel as a design leader in two different environments. We worked together at both Almosafer and Careem. Few leaders inspire enough confidence to follow them from one company to another. What I value most about Jay is his willingness to take calculated bets on people. He creates space for his team to explore and sometimes fail, while providing the right support to ensure they continue to grow. At Almosafer and Careem, I watched him trust team members with challenging projects when others might have hesitated. Jay is great at providing the right level of guidance, never micromanaging but staying present to provide support when needed. This balance isn't accidental. He's intentional about building environments where designers can truly own their work. Jay is incredible at making sense of business chaos for his design team. When the organization is pulled in different directions by competing goals and politics, he's able to identify what truly matters and filter out the noise. Jay is exceptional at capturing what's said openly and what's implied, translating both into clear design direction for his team. This invaluable context ensures his team can execute on initiatives with confidence. What makes Jay special is how human his leadership feels. In business where it's not uncommon to prioritize output over people, Jay is intentional about creating genuine connections with his team. His conversations, whether about work or personal life, are thoughtful, considered and authentic. Importantly, he truly cares about his team and strives to create an environment where people feel both professionally challenged and personally valued. I continue to learn from Jay's approach to design leadership. His ability to take calculated bets on people, provide clear direction amid business complexity, and lead with genuine humanity creates teams that both perform exceptionally and grow professionally. Any organization fortunate enough to work with Jay will benefit not just from his strategic vision, but from the thriving, confident team culture he inevitably builds.
Hakeeb Bashorun
Luke Cocker
Staff Product Designer
Almosafer
"
I had the pleasure of working with Jay at Almosafer, where he was Head of UX and my direct manager. Jay is a thoughtful and effective leader. He set a clear direction for our team, brought us together around shared goals, and communicated business priorities in a way that made them meaningful and actionable. He has a strong product sense, is deeply user-focused, and constantly pushes for innovation. What stood out most to me was Jay’s management style. He led with empathy and clarity. He took the time to understand the challenges I was facing and supported me in overcoming them — whether that meant removing blockers, offering perspective, or helping me navigate difficult decisions. He also took a genuine interest in my growth, helping me to shape my ambitions and build toward them with confidence. I’m incredibly grateful for the time we worked together and hope we’ll have the chance to collaborate again in the future.
Luke Cocker
Samantha Hamadeh
Product Marketing Manager
Careem
"
Jay brings a professional, trustworthy, and strategic mindset to every project he takes on. He has an incredible ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and deliver them successfully. By effectively championing important goals, he helps streamline team efforts and enhance productivity. Through transparency and clear communication, Jay consistently earns the trust of those he works with. He also fosters a collaborative environment where team members feel empowered to contribute their best ideas. He is a role model for any design team, not only for his professional impact but for the way he leads with empathy and purpose. If you're lucky, you come across a reliable and supportive colleague like Jay, someone who not only brings excellence to the product design team but also fundamentally improves the culture of the workplace.
Samantha Hamadeh
Khussan Djabbarov
Product Designer
Careem
"
Jay has been one of the most influential mentors in my career. I’ve grown so much under his leadership—not just as a designer, but personally. He gave me the space to experiment freely, push boundaries, and truly own my work. At the same time, he challenged me constantly, especially with interaction design, always pushing for cleaner, more intuitive experiences that elevated our product. One of the biggest things I took away from working with Jay was how to navigate stakeholders and drive design decisions with confidence. He didn’t just give feedback—he unlocked new ways of thinking every time I got stuck. But beyond all of that, Jay never treated me like just a colleague. He treated me like a brother. There were no formalities, no barriers—just genuine support, honesty, and mentorship that went beyond work. If you get the chance to work with him, take it. You won’t just improve—you’ll level up.
Khussan Djabbarov
Linden Dance
Staff Product Designer
Careem
"
Jay has been a huge part of driving progress across the Platform team. As Associate Director of Product Design, he brings a sharp strategic mind and a calm, steady approach that makes a real difference when things get complex. He’s got a great sense for how to balance user needs, business goals, and good design — and he’s brilliant at leading cross-functional work without ever losing sight of the bigger picture. The way he’s helped shape and drive a major vision initiative has brought real clarity, focus, and momentum across the team. Jay leads with transparency, communicates clearly, and is someone people trust to get things moving in the right direction. It’s been great working alongside him — and the impact he’s had is clear to everyone he works with.
Linden Dance
Let's work together
Would you love to set up a time to chat? Let us know if you're interested.
I work with ambitious teams building products that matter — whether that's a fintech scaling fast, a platform rethinking its user experience, or an organisation that needs design leadership with commercial depth.
If you think we'd be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you.