Systems Thinking Product Designer

Desmond Ayettey

I translate complex stakeholder requirements into intuitive experiences, using evidence-backed judgment to earn trust, secure buy-in, and drive business outcomes.

Master's in HCI, certified by NN/g, and shaped by 4+ years untangling federal, healthcare, and public-sector systems.

4+
Years experience
M.S.
HCI Degree
3
Certifications
Desmond Ayettey
8K+ Users served
92% Task success rate
15+ Products & platforms
WCAG 2.1 AA expertise

My story

Why I do this work.

From biology to UX. Biological sciences taught me how one small friction point can break an entire ecosystem. I apply that same systems mindset to digital infrastructure.

I choose complexity on purpose. I design for high-stakes industries: low bandwidth, heavy data, dense regulation. My job is to dismantle the barriers between a user and essential access.

Evidence over opinion. User interviews, card sorting, tree testing, and Figma prototyping turn institutional chaos into intuitive navigation.

Accessibility is foundational. WCAG compliance isn't a checklist. True equity means building systems that leave no one behind.

Curiosity extends beyond design. Whether I'm exploring a new city, capturing moments through photography, experimenting in the kitchen, learning a new song on guitar, or diving into a great video game, I'm drawn to experiences that reveal how people think, behave, and connect. Those same observations continue to shape how I approach design.

Certified by the Nielsen Norman Group. Complex systems don't have to be frustrating; they just have to be designed with humanity at the center.

Education & Certifications

Credentials.

M.S.

M.S., Human-Computer Interaction

DePaul University
Graduate Degree
B.S.

B.S., Biological Sciences

Northeastern Illinois University
Undergraduate Degree
UXC

UX Certification

Nielsen Norman Group
NN/g
AI

AI for Designers

Interaction Design Foundation
IxDF
HF

Human Factors Engineering for Medical Technology

Emergo by UL
HFE

Skills and Methods

What I bring to the table.

Research Methods
User Interviews Usability Testing Contextual Inquiry Web Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) Card Sorting & Tree Testing Heuristic Evaluation Service Blueprinting Journey Mapping
Design and Systems
Information Architecture Interaction Design Design Systems Data Visualization Dashboard Design Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) Responsive Design Wireframing & Prototyping
UX Strategy and Delivery
UX Strategy Stakeholder Alignment Business Analysis Content Strategy Agile/Scrum Project Management
Tools
Figma Figjam Optimal Workshop Mural & Miro Jira & Confluence Adobe Creative Suite AI Assisted Tools

Values

What drives my work.

Equity

Design has the power to include or exclude. I build with underserved communities in mind, not as an afterthought: from accessible interfaces to culturally resonant content.

Collaboration

The best solutions come from bringing together subject matter experts, developers, and stakeholders. I facilitate, not dictate, creating shared ownership of design decisions.

Evidence

Opinions are starting points. I use research data (card sort matrices, tree testing results, usability scores) to ground design decisions and earn stakeholder trust.

Impact

I'm drawn to work that matters: federal compliance tools, health electrification platforms, housing toolkits. The complexity of the problem is what makes the design challenge worthwhile.

Testimonials

What colleagues say.

Desmond built wireframes that were effective, intuitive, and well-received during user testing. He exercised great judgment knowing when to make changes independently versus looping in the team, and stayed on track throughout.

Desmond demonstrated strong UX knowledge, translated user research into high-quality design concepts, and earned consistently positive responses from client stakeholders. His commitment to growth throughout the engagement was clear.

Desmond's keen attention to detail and thorough work process helped the team deliver an administration tool for a workflow application in 8 weeks. His professionalism stood out, and I'd jump at the opportunity to work with him again.

Desmond brought positive energy, a flexible mindset, and a collaborative attitude to our team. He quickly grasped key requirements, communicated his ideas clearly, and delivered strong design work throughout.

Desmond has natural leadership qualities and brings light and positive energy to the team. I had the pleasure of recruiting him to Avanade, and feedback from colleagues was always favorable. I'd happily hire him again.

Desmond truly listens and embraces feedback without being defensive; he always digs into the why so he can make the product better. I would unreservedly choose him for another project.

Let's make the
complex feel simple.

Building an enterprise platform or untangling a dense workflow? That's the work I do best. My inbox is open, and I reply within 24 hours.