🔥 Product Designer | 3 Years of Visual Design Excellence | Proficient in Figma & Protopie✨ | Open to Remote Opportunities

I'm a Product Designer with 5+ dynamic years crafting impactful designs in SaaS, social apps, tech recruitment, and startups. 

I've averted $100,000 in potential losses, launched an MVP app at WebSummit, and 3X brand recognition through strategic marketing. I also recently obtained certifications in HTML/CSS and am currently learning Javascript.

Most recently, I played a key role in improving the user experience of a bootstrapped Biotech SaaS startup by tackling usability issues and implementing strategic design processes, which included conducting stakeholder interviews and evolving the design system. Drove a UX redesign and the implementation of a design system to ensure consistent branding, thereby establishing a cohesive identity that could potentially enhance the company's market share in brand initiatives.

I specialize in designing intuitive and engaging digital products, with a primary focus on language learning apps, travel planning apps, and recruitment marketing software. 

As a Product Designer, I excel in both UX and UI design, particularly emphasizing information architecture, accessibility, and skeuomorphic elements. My sweet spot lies in creating consumer-facing experiences for adult users. I thrive in remote work environments and prioritize collaboration with developers, marketers, and leadership. 

My problem-solving expertise centers around AI integration, innovation, differentiation, and ensuring optimal usability and accessibility. Proficient in Figma, Protopie, and Marvel, I am committed to continuous learning, including expanding into web development with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

I'm open to fully remote, flex-schedule opportunities. Please send me a DM or email me at sanders.samc@gmail.com.

Samantha Sanders

Teaching Founders & Designers about UX & AI | Design Lead & Engineer (15y exp.)

Most designers talk about users.

I talk about revenue and metrics that matter ↓

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:

↳ 40% profit increase in 6 weeks for a financial services client
↳ Shipped apps that manage $120M+ AUM
↳ 30%+ conversion rate improvements across 3 enterprise products
↳ Scalable front-end architectures serving thousands of users daily
↳ Design systems that cut dev time in half while improving consistency

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? 

I don't just design interfaces. 

I build solutions that bridge three worlds most companies struggle to connect:

→ 𝗨𝗫 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: User-centered thinking that drives business outcomes
→ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁-𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ReactJS. I ship code, not just mockups
→ 𝗔𝗜-𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄: Custom AI tools that 3x my output without sacrificing quality

15 years across Fortune 500 enterprises and nimble startups taught me something critical:

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 "𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲" 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼:

☑ Speaks fluent Developer (so your engineers actually respect the designs)
☑ Understands business metrics (so your CFO sees the ROI)
☑ Ships fast and learns faster (because remote work demands it)
☑ Asks "why are we building this?" before "how should it look?"

I've spent my career at the intersection of design, development, and business impact.

Most designers pick one. I refused to choose.

---

Currently transforming financial services UX at Edward Jones.

If your team needs someone who can merge business goals into user wins and deliver value faster than your competitors, then let's talk.

John Balboa

Most UXers think they need different skills to become a Product Manager.

They don't.

They need a different frame.

Data from 2025 shows 2% of all PM transitions come from UX.

Not because the skills don't transfer.

Because UX pros don't realize they already have them.

The average PM makes $149k (Glassdoor 2026).

Not for knowing SQL.
Not for memorizing frameworks.

For three capabilities:

→ Understanding user needs
→ Navigating technical constraints  
→ Connecting work to business impact

You do this already.

You just call it:
↳ User research
↳ Design collaboration
↳ Stakeholder presentations

The gap isn't technical.
It's perception.

PMs prioritize features based on user impact AND revenue.

You prioritize design solutions based on user needs AND feasibility.

Same decision-making. 
Different vocabulary.

You're already driving business outcomes.
You're just not framing them as product strategy.

The transition takes an average of 2 years.

You need to:
☑ Reframe research findings as roadmap decisions
☑ Position design systems as infrastructure strategy
☑ Present stakeholder work through revenue lens

What companies want in PMs:

→ Someone who bridges design, engineering, and business
→ Someone who makes trade-offs with incomplete data
→ Someone who advocates for users while meeting business goals

That's your current job description.
The bridge is shorter than you think.
You don't need an MBA.

---

PS: Have you considered becoming a Product manager or owner? 

Follow me, John Balboa. I swear I'm friendly and I won't detach your components.

#ProductManagement #UXDesign #CareerTransition #ProductStrategy

Teaching Founders & Designers about UX | Design Lead & AI Developer (15y exp.)

Most UX portfolios are fiction.

Beautiful case studies. 
Perfect processes. 
Flawless outcomes.

All bullsh*t.

I've reviewed 300+ portfolios in the past several years. 
Rejected 89% for the same reason.

They showcase projects. 
Not decisions.

Here's what kills your credibility:
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 "𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀" 
→ "Stakeholders didn't understand my vision" 
→ "Leadership killed my best work" 
→ "Engineers couldn't build what I designed"

Translation: You can't navigate reality.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 
→ Revenue impact? Missing 
→ User metrics? Generic 
→ Business context? "Improved experience by 40%"
40% of what? Vibes?

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 
→ No failed experiments 
→ No wrong turns 
→ No trade-offs between speed and quality

Hiring managers aren't stupid.

We know design is messy. 
We know constraints exist. 
We know you didn't "10x conversion" alone.

What we want to see:
☑ How you made decisions with incomplete data 
☑ How you influenced without authority 
☑ How you shipped under pressure 
☑ How you measured what mattered

The designers who get hired?

They show 3 projects with real numbers. 
They own their failures. 
They explain trade-offs.
The ones who don't?

They're on their 8th revision of a portfolio nobody reads.

Your portfolio isn't a trophy case. 
It's proof you can operate in the real world.

---

PS: What are the biggest lie you've seen in portfolios?

Follow me, John Balboa. I swear I'm friendly and I won't detach your components.

#UXDesign #PortfolioTips #DesignCareer #HiringDesigners

𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗹-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿.

Most UX designers are stuck in: 
Figma + Stakeholder approvals (and hope)

Meanwhile… 
You're skipping what companies value.

Not aesthetics. 
Not innovation. 
Just… outcomes.

I learned this in 2020.
Travel client during COVID. 
Tourism dead. 

Marketing department says: 
"Make it pop,"
I said no.

Focused on conversion speed instead.

6 weeks later: 
$30k+ monthly revenue increase. 
Zero ad spend.

The design wasn't prettier. 
It was faster to make a buying decision.
This isn't "design doesn't matter" thinking.

This is:
Designers who prove ROI → get promoted. 
Designers who prove taste → stay stuck.

The real shift?

Forrester's latest report shows 351% ROI from UX optimization. 

Companies track design like they track AI now.

Now you know the metric.

What I'm really saying is:
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. 
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.
𝙽̲𝚘̲𝚝̲ ̲𝚜̲𝚌̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚎̲𝚗̲𝚜̲ ̲𝚍̲𝚎̲𝚕̲𝚒̲𝚟̲𝚎̲𝚛̲𝚎̲𝚍̲.̲



--

𝗣𝗦: What changes in your next review if you track "decisions made" instead of "designs shipped"?

Follow me, John Balboa. I swear I'm friendly and I won't detach your components.

#UXDesign #ProductDesign #DesignLeadership #ROI

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