👋 I'm Ness, a strategy-first design leader with 15 years experience building products.

I work with both founders and enterprise clients, to navigate the ambiguity of the product process, and define, design, and deliver business-driven products.

Recent projects

2024

  • Founding Designer for media tech startup designing & shipping their first SaaS platform & optimizing for product-led growth

  • Founding Designer for wearable health tech startup 0-1 launch

  • Fractional Design Leadership for scale ups in healthcare and finance sectors

  • Leading a multi-disciplinary product team at JPMorgan&Chase to design the next generation of intelligent Advisor products

  • Providing 1:1 coaching for product designers, product owners and Founders navigating challenges in the product world


Previously
Design Director at (agencies) Goods & Services, Ruca, Momentum Design Lab, Idean

Client testimonials

  • Ruca

    Chris Zeunstrom
    Founder, Ruca

    “I've had the privilege of working with Ness for over a decade, there is truly no one I trust more to lead design, product, and branding on projects of any scale. Ness brings an unmatched combination of creative vision, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership that ensures every project not only meets but exceeds expectations. Her ability to transform complex challenges into elegant, effective solutions is inspiring, and I couldn't recommend her highly enough.”

  • JPMorgan

    Edith Chu
    Product Manager JPMorgan

    “ Working with Ness was amazing. Her expertise as our Design Director for years brought strategic vision to every project, ensuring that the deliverables aligned perfectly with overarching business goals. Her ability to blend creativity with strategic insight resulted in exceptional outcomes that exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a talented, forward-thinking design leader. ”

  • Momentum Labs

    Steve Koczara,
    SVP, Momentum Design Labs

    “ One of Vanessa's standout qualities is her unwavering commitment to building better solutions, even in the face of skepticism or resistance. She has a rare ability to inspire confidence and rally others around her vision, ultimately driving projects forward with enthusiasm and determination.”

  • StreamDNA

    Jake Kitchiner
    Co-Founder, StreamDNA

    “ Ness has moved us forward in ways we couldn't imagine. Through her process & vision she's helped us clarify our product strategy and solve countless complex business problems. She’s delivered a product that has significantly reduced churn and boosted sales.”