Meet Ryan Shafer
A UX design leader helping teams turn complexity into meaningful, impactful experiences.
I'm an award-winning user experience design leader who has helped global brands, startups, and scale-ups bring new ideas to life. From proving responsive design works for major brands to applying AI in product design, I turn emerging tech into user-focused solutions. I'm a named inventor on a U.S. patent — reflecting my commitment to innovation at the intersection of product and experience design.
I've led design in high-pressure environments, built cross-functional teams from the ground up, and helped organizations mature their UX practice. Along the way, I’ve been invited to speak about design leadership, been featured by pioneers like Ethan Marcotte (inventor of responsive design) and Luke Wroblewski (creator of the mobile first concept).
Whether advising founders or partnering with executive leaders, I bridge vision and execution—helping organizations build stronger cultures and deliver meaningful, user-driven results.
I’m a dual U.S./Italian citizen living in Italy with my wife and two daughters, where we spend weekends exploring surrounding towns, discovering local traditions, tending our citrus trees and olive orchard, and making the most of slow living.
At a glance
700M+
Experiences Shaped
20+
Years designing
10+
Brands shaped
8
Executive teams advised
30+
Designers mentored
Curious how I’ve moved metrics, shaped teams, and scaled design practices?
My values
People-first Mindset
Good design starts with listening. I build teams, products, and strategies that are grounded in real human needs. From mentoring designers to launching client platforms that made complex data feel intuitive, I’ve always focused on outcomes that support both the user and the business—never one at the expense of the other.
Complexity into Clarity
I thrive in complex environments—where ambiguity, scale, and competing needs intersect. My role is to translate that complexity into systems, interfaces, and communication patterns that feel effortless to users. Whether aligning stakeholders or designing workflows, I apply structure, hierarchy, and UX principles to make the complicated actionable.
Shape Culture Beyond Product
Introducing new tools or practices is only half the battle—lasting change happens when they’re embraced. Whether advancing new technologies or evolving existing ones, I work to raise the design bar and build the cultural conditions where innovation can take root and thrive.
Driving Strategy by Design
Design isn’t just how something looks—it’s how decisions get made, how priorities align, and how ideas gain traction. I’ve worked with founders and executives to bridge vision and execution, using design thinking to drive clarity, momentum, and measurable impact.