Senior Product Designer - Ronan McKinless

It’s all me, me, me...

Working with some of the most recognisable brands in the world, including Apple, BT and Cadillac; I’ve designed experiences that have been used 10’s of millions of times.

As well as agency work designing for established brands, I’ve also been part of startups. Octopus Energy had only 50 customers when I was hired as it’s first designer and its now £7bn global market leader.

I’m now in a position to use my expertise to inspire the next generation of designers, delivering lectures at Ulster University, Belfast.

View full CV

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How I work

Honestly, I just like to get stuck in.

I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...

I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...
I want to solve problems.
The most interesting problems are the most ambiguous ones. Users will always tell you what they want, but they often are say they want faster horses rather than the idea of the car. It’s up to us as designers to figure out what the root problem is and solve it.
I want to listen to as many different voices as possible.
Current users, potential users, product managers, engineers, customer service staff, CEOs, CTOs, MMOs, anyone that has something relevant to say.
I love working with data.
Having access to a data set and just asking questions of it to see what stories emerge. This is always a great way to quantify a point, but it’s never the whole story.
Creating solutions collaboratively.
A projects success rests on your chemistry as a team. This is especially true between designers and developers. Bringing developers into the ideation process has always led to better outcomes in my experience.
Feedback and impact.
Whether it’s a journey, an app, a website or even an email subject line, getting it out there is only the start. Real users in real scenarios is the best way to get feedback on your solutions.
And then, off we go again...

Software & Skills

Proficient

Have experience with

HSBC

Senior UX Designer (Contract)

Apr 2025 — June 2025

Conducted research to understand customers' behaviour as they travel through airports in the UK, Hong Kong and UAE. Distilled data from desk research, qualitative surveys and qualitative interviews into customer profiles and journey maps to inform creative brand opportunities.

Ulster University

Lecturer

Oct 2024 — Now

Mentoring students on the Digital Design undergraduate and User Experience and Service Design masters degree courses. Teaching a wide range of design skills including AR/VR design and advanced prototyping (e.g. in Figma). Reporting directly to the Course Lead to ensure personalised provision for each student, as they approach graduation.

General Motors

Lead UX (Contract)

Dec 2022 — April 2024

Designed an AR/AI experience for their flagship Cadillac showroom in Paris, using AR to overlay a real-time glass render onto the showroom vehicle and AI to guide them through the car’s features.
Designed an app for the Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle, from on-boarding, to managing charging and servicing.
Redesigned a KYC / lease applicatoin journey for the Lyriq EV. Reduced complexity while allowing users to pause and resume their application process.

Lead UX (Contract)

Sept 2021 — Nov 2022

Designed Hub Security on the BT Business app.
Redesigned the information architecture and user journeys from the BT Home app to deliver Wi-Fi management on the BT Business app.

Apple

Lead UX (Contract)

April 2021 — June 2021

Defined improvements to the online sale journeys for Apple’s largest European sales partners, conducting a full audit and making recommendations that resulted in increased user conversion across the board.

Lead UX (Contract)

Jan 2020 — March 2021

Iterated the Wi-Fi onboarding experience for the BT Business app, implementing a more user-focused approach that guided them step-by-step through the process.

Skills Builder

Product Designer (Pro Bono)

Jan 2020

Designed the core UX and UI for Benchmark, an app that supports students to reflect on their essential skills.
Redesigned the onboarding journey for the Hub, an app that enables teachers to assess their students and plan learning activities.
Advised their product team on how to conduct ongoing user research and prototype testing.

The Scouts

Lead UX (Contract)

Sept 2018 — Sept 2019

Led the design of a programme planning tool as part of a Digital Transformation team.
Conducted in-depth user interviews and prototype tests with Scout Leaders across the country to understand exactly how they plan their sessions for young people.

Octopus Energy

IC Product Designer

Jan 2016 — Aug 2018

Designed the initial user onboarding experience in the early days of Octopus Energy.
Redesigned user communications and billing to support customers to make sense of their accounts, which won us a customer experience award.
Designed, prototyped and managed development of a sales app for Octopus Electric Vehicles.
Designed the initial UX and UI for Kraken, an industry leading energy and account management system.

Tangent Snowball

Senior UX: Oct 2014 — Mar 2015

UX Designer: Oct 2013 — Oct 2014

Worked with large clients such as Walkers, Carlsberg & Sky.
Designed an e-commerce website and a mobile-first experience for creating customised gifts for beauty brand Nails Inc.
Identified a skills gap among account managers and ran internal classes teaching Google Analytics fundamentals.

Worked with large clients such as Walkers, Carlsberg & Sky.
Designed an e-commerce website and a mobile-first experience for creating customised gifts for beauty brand Nails Inc.
Identified a skills gap among account managers and ran internal classes teaching Google Analytics fundamentals.

Triplicate

Head of Web: 2011 — 2012

Web Designer: 2009 — 2011

Designer: 2008

Worked with clients from a broad range of industries, including financial services, construction and fashion.
Introduced new ways of working on web projects and established a web function within the business.
Managed a team of 3 developers and designers. We worked on everything from small one page websites, to several complete re-designs for major clients.

ronanmckinless.com

v1.01

2025