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

From founders to enterprise clients, I help teams navigate the ambiguity of the product process, to define, design, and deliver business-driven products.

I’m a performance-driven designer who is passionate about combining vision, ambition and strategy to get real outcomes.

Resources for product teams

I share strategies & insights on how I help teams navigate the challenges of shipping high-performing products

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  • 5 most common ways product teams waste design budget

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  • How AI design tools are helping my early-stage clients get better results

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  • Is design helping or hurting your early stage product?

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  • Founders: what to look for in your first design hire

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  • Why discussing growth early is critical for MVP success

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Current projects

2025

  • Founding Design for Longevity Tech startup: 0-1 launch & growth optimization

  • Founding Design for media tech startup Stream DNA: Designing & shipping their first SaaS platform & optimizing for product-led growth

  • Fractional Design for scale ups in health-tech and Financial AI; launching new products, features and enhancements

  • 1:1 coaching for Founders, Product Designers and Product Managers navigating the product world

2024

  • Product Design leadership for JPMorgan&Chase designing the next generation of intelligent Advisor products

Previously
Design Director Goods & Services, Ruca, Momentum Design Lab, Idean,

Client testimonials

  • Ruca

    Chris Zeunstrom
    Founder, Ruca & Yorba

    “ I've had the privilege of working with Ness for over a decade, there is truly no one I trust more to lead design and product 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

    Matt Lesle
    Managing Director & Global Head of Product, JPMorgan

    “ I worked with Vanessa for several years, and she is an exceptional creative leader. She has a strong understanding of the business and ensures that design decisions drive real impact. Her product design skills balance creativity with a clear focus on user needs and business goals. She pushed my teams to aim higher and kept them focused on delivering exceptional work. Always professional and great to work with, she consistently brought out the best in those around her. Any team would be lucky to have her. "

  • 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.”

  • Aloe Care Health

    Evan Schwartz
    Founder, Aloe Care Health

    “ Ness is the rare product designer who can quickly synthesize the goals of the business and the needs of the customer into a design that is modern, on-brand, and easy to use, delivered on time & within budget. The end result is 10x better than we could have ever imagined.”

  • 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.”

  • 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. ”