Akshay Salekar
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Toptal member since October 18, 2021
Akshay is a design expert who is passionate about solving critical problems using design thinking, UX strategy, persuasion, gamification, and other best UX practices. He has seven years of experience and has worked with companies like Media.net, Forbes, Mann+Hummel, Lollypop Design, Ecobillz, and many other startups. Akshay is singlehandedly capable of conceptualizing and executing products from ideation to launch.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Full-stack Designer
IAMAI Solutions
- Designed the logo and website for an AI SaaS company in the education space in Figma.
- Conducted discovery calls to understand the target audience, target market, product vision, and problem statement.
- Created a sitemap and information architecture based on the insights and information gathered in the discovery session.
- Created the brand identity and gathered feedback on various options from actual customers.
- Presented a mood board to the client to finalize the design direction and style.
- Created UI designs for a desktop and mobile layout on Figma.
- Created a prototype for a web and mobile site to gather feedback from customers. Incorporated the feedback gathered during customer interviews.
Designer (via Toptal)
Inteleca LLC
- Designed a Shopify website for a hardware reseller using a Shopify 2.0 theme.
- Conducted a discovery session to understand business goals and user needs.
- Created a detailed information architecture to propose a structure for the website.
- Collaborated with the developer and Inteleca team to choose and finalize a Shopify 2.0 theme based on the information architecture created.
- Designed the UI for the shop in Figma and created a clickable prototype for the desktop and mobile breakpoints.
- Created design documentation and style guide for developers.
Product Designer
Ecobillz
- Designed order/table management software for large-scale restaurants to digitize and optimize processes, benefiting stewards, chefs, waiters, and restaurant managers.
- Visited multiple restaurants to conduct research and study the journey of ordering and serving food. Spoke to chefs, stewards and waiters to understand their needs and pain points.
- Discussed research insights with key stakeholders and proposed a solution by drafting a user journey and user flow. Following this, wireframes were created and finalized by the team.
- Created UI design and prototype in Figma for mobile and tablet applications.
- Created a strategy dashboard for restaurant managers/owners to review performance and other important metrics.
Product Designer
Ecobillz
- Designed an e-invoicing application for enterprises, allowing finance and account managers to efficiently segregate B2B and B2C invoices, generate accurate tax invoices, and seamlessly upload them to the government portal for precise taxation.
- Conducted stakeholder discovery session with CEO, product manager, Developer, CX Lead, and HOO to understand customer pain points, business objectives, and goals.
- Created lo-fi wireframes for internal discussion and initial feedback sessions with stakeholders.
- Used ANT Design System and Chart.js to create the UI for the dashboard.
- Designed a strategic dashboard for senior finance managers for data-driven decision-making.
- Created an operational dashboard for finance supervisors and assistants to segregate, upload, edit, read, delete, and update invoices. Enhanced the UX to streamline the process of generating IRNs efficiently.
Product Designer
Ecobillz
- Redesigned the C-Form dashboard to increase efficiency and decrease non-compliance risk. Created a KPI dashboard from scratch for managers to monitor team performance and progress.
- Collaborated with the CEO, product owner, developers, and customer support team to gather feedback and understand customers' current pain points.
- Created user flows and wireframes to present solutions to key stakeholders.
- Used the Ant Design system and Chart.js to create the UI for the dashboard.
- Contributed to the KPI dashboards that managers used to accurately assess the work volume and manage their teams effectively.
- Worked on the critical alerts that enabled managers to maintain compliance most days by warning them when they risked becoming non-compliant.
- Contributed to time tracking that helped managers evaluate team members' performance, enabling them to provide constructive feedback and streamline processes.
- Worked on time tracking that allowed managers to estimate the time needed to meet compliance requirements based on active resources and workload.
Web Designer (via Toptal)
Inteleca
- Designed a responsive website for a hardware manufacturing and consultancy company by conducting a discovery session, understanding their business model, and creating a sitemap, information architecture, and the final UI design.
- Conducted a discovery session to understand business requirements, objectives, and target customers' needs. Gathered the essential requirements to start creating a plan.
- Developed the sitemap and information architecture to present the updated website structure based on insights gathered during the discovery session.
- Created mood boards, color themes, UI design mock-ups, and prototypes. Collected feedback from senior stakeholders to ensure alignment with requirements and aspirations.
- Adopted responsive design layouts for desktop, mobile, and tablet versions and created animated mockups to demonstrate page transitions and loading effects.
- Established a style guide and components to ensure design consistency.
Product Designer | Workflow Management Mobile App
Ecobillz
- Designed a mobile application to improve checks and approvals workflow in the hospitality industry.
- Conducted business and user research to identify goals, pain points, needs, and requirements.
- Created the user flows, wireframes, UI design, and prototype in Figma.
- Provided design specifications, documentation, mockups, and more to ensure a smooth development process. Provided support to developers.
Product Designer | Account Receivable Platform
Ecobillz
- Designed an accounts receivable platform for account and finance managers to track receivable funds from vendors, companies, credit card companies, etc. Created a KPI dashboard for senior managers to monitor receivable, pending, and received funds.
- Conducted stakeholder interviews and user research to understand business and user goals. Interviewed the customer support team manager to understand the most common customer complaints and requests.
- Analyzed the research data to map pain points, feature requests, user feedback, and complaints.
- Created wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to gather feedback from stakeholders.
- Designed the dashboard using the Ant Design system and created an interactive prototype.
- Conducted remote usability testing to identify issues and improvised the prototype.
- Handed the designs with proper documentation and explainer presentation to developers to begin development. Provided the necessary support to build the product efficiently.
Product Designer | Check-in Kiosk
Ecobillz Private
- Visited multiple hotels to conduct user research and observe customers at the front desk while checking in or out of the hotel.
- Gathered and analyzed all information captured during the field study.
- Ideated multiple solutions and sketched them on paper to later create low-fi prototypes for stakeholder presentations.
- Created the final design and prototype and tested it with hotel guests.
- Gathered user feedback while field testing and made final iterations.
- Designed a white-labeled B2B2C kiosk for hotel guests to check in, check out, and make payments during their stay.
Product Designer | Accounts Reconciliation
Ecobillz
- Designed and improvised the accounts reconciliation platform used by finance managers to compare financial statements from different vendors to ensure accurate account balance.
- Conducted stakeholder and customer interviews to understand business and customer objectives.
- Reviewed support calls and tickets to understand the problems that most commonly arose.
- Brainstormed ideas and created low-fidelity prototypes to discuss with key stakeholders and get their feedback on viability and feasibility.
- Used the Ant Design system and created the dashboard screens.
- Redesigned the account reconciliation dashboard to increase efficiency and manual work.
- Updated design documents and provided design support for developers working on the product.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team of developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to build a user-friendly solution.
Web and Brand Design Lead
FloCareer
- Created the new brand identity, brand guidelines, website, and marketing collaterals for Flocareer and provided them with development support to build the website.
- Conducted a discovery session with the Flocareer team to understand their products, vision, goals, and challenges.
- Proposed a user flow, sitemap, and information architecture. Created the wireframes to present the structure of the website.
- Created UI design prototypes, animations, and the style guide for the website.
- Created brand guidelines based on the elements, color, and typography selected.
- Created marketing assets such as brochures, pamphlets, business cards, and more.
Product Designer | Chef Marketplace
Chef Republic
- Designed and managed the development of a Washington-based chef marketplace. Helped in brainstorming and ideation to build features for the MVP by conducting market research and considering budgets and timelines.
- Conducted market research and reviewed competitor websites to understand the services provided by clients and find an opportunity in the market that could help Chef Republic stand out.
- Finalized a set of features and created the product roadmap to ensure smooth launches that result in good traction.
- Created wireframes, UI designs, and prototypes for mobile and desktop versions of the web app. Collected feedback from stakeholders and made iterations.
- Managed front-end and back-end developers to launch the product smoothly.
Lead UI/UX Designer
Ecobillz
- Led the design and development of Ecobillz's website, starting with a comprehensive strategy session to understand the business objectives and target audience.
- Created a detailed flowchart diagram to illustrate the website's structure and user flow, ensuring a seamless and intuitive browsing experience for visitors.
- Developed engaging and persuasive content and wireframes, aligning them with the approved strategy and user requirements. This resulted in a clear visual representation of the website's structure and content hierarchy.
- Designed a moodboard and initial mockups, presenting visual concepts and brand elements to stakeholders for feedback and approval, ensuring consistency and alignment with Ecobillz's brand identity.
- Finalized the design and graphics, incorporating feedback and iterative improvements to achieve an optimal user interface (UI) and user experience (UX).
- Implemented the final design on WordPress using Elementor, leveraging the platform's flexibility and customization capabilities to create a visually stunning and functional website.
- Conducted thorough testing to ensure the website's compatibility across different devices and browsers, guaranteeing a seamless user experience and optimal performance.
- Delivered the website to Ecobillz and trained their marketing team on website maintenance and making content updates, empowering them to manage the website independently.
- Achieved significant results post-launch, including a 28% increase in conversion rate, a 17% increase in user engagement, a 25% increase in scheduled demos, and a 20% reduction in bounce rate.
- Received positive feedback from Ecobillz and stakeholders, acknowledging the website's visual appeal, usability, and ability to drive customer engagement and conversions.
Product Design Consultant
EatLove.is
- Designed and improved B2B/B2C applications to increase CSAT and NPS scores. Established a design system and design documentation for consistent implementation and future enhancements. Provided marketing collateral design support.
- Collaborated with the VP of Product and CTO to design and develop B2B and B2C web and mobile apps for EatLove.is.
- Conducted user research via surveys to collect customer pain points, challenges, bugs, and feedback.
- Streamlined the B2B mobile and web app for the seamless delivery of meal plans and nutritional and health information to patients.
- Improved the B2C mobile and web app for easy comprehension of the meal plans, nutritional values of food items, health information, and personalized diet plans.
- Established and maintained a design system to ensure consistency and accelerate the product development cycle.
- Created marketing assets, including pamphlets, emailers, and presentations.
Product Designer
Bibliate
- Designed a dashboard and website for an Education AI SaaS company that transforms long research articles into easy-to-read summaries for researchers, PhD students, and enthusiasts.
- Created the user flow, sitemap, and wireframe for the dashboard and website.
- Managed WordPress developers to build an SEO-friendly website.
UX/UI Designer
MANN+HUMMEL
- Created two prototypes: one for a mobile app and another for a car dashboard, demonstrating air quality data and the efficacy of M+H air filters by comparing AQI inside and outside the car cabin.
- Conducted extensive user research and analysis, resulting in user personas and journey maps informing the design process, leading to a seamless and intuitive user experience.
- Designed wireframes and interactive prototypes using Figma, facilitating user testing and feedback, resulting in iterative improvements and increased user satisfaction.
- Applied best practices in mobile app design, including responsive design principles, increasing user engagement and a consistent user experience across multiple devices.
- Presented design concepts and solutions to manufacturers, receiving positive feedback and approval for design direction, contributing to successful client partnerships and ongoing collaboration.
- Collaborated closely with product managers and the business team to align user goals with business objectives, conducting user interviews and increasing user satisfaction.
- Implemented data visualization techniques and created visually compelling mobile reports and car display screens, enabling end users to get real-time air quality data.
Product Designer | LMS (Learning Management System)
Learning Beam Academy
- Helped a Canadian school design an LMS system to manage interactions and engagement among students, teachers, and parents. Designed features like assignments, quizzes, tests, calendars, and forums to ensure the smooth functioning of the school.
- Conducted stakeholder interviews to understand their current processes and requirements. Analyzed their processes and created a flow chart diagram to propose a digital product flow.
- Created multiple variations of logos and finalized them with the LBA team.
- Crafted product wireframes and presented them to stakeholders to gather stakeholder feedback.
- Created the UI design and product prototype on Figma and conducted remote usability tests with potential users.
- Supported the developers with assets and clarified their doubts during the development phase.
- Launched the product successfully. The product was appreciated by the LBA team and their students/teachers.
Product Designer
Tribes Fit
- Revamped a fitness app with gamification and rewards to increase user engagement. Created a community feature for user referrals to drive acquisition without added costs.
- Conducted a discovery workshop with the client and their team to align on product vision, mission, and goals.
- Facilitated user research with 50 participants to gather insights. Observed a decline in user engagement after a week of sharing daily workouts.
- Created three user personas based on research findings: super users, moderately active users, and silent users. Formulated problem statements and "How might we" statements to inspire ideas.
- Led brainstorming sessions with the client's team, which resulted in the hypothesis that users feel fatigued after long workouts. I suggested shorter, more competitive, and collaborative alternatives.
- Tested the hypothesis by introducing shorter challenges like squats, push-ups, and running challenges, observing increased engagement and competitiveness. Developed gamification, reward, and notification strategies to maintain user engagement.
- Implemented a community model where users could invite friends and family to their tribe to compete with other tribes. This drove user acquisition without extensive marketing expenses.
- Designed the UI and UX of the application using Figma, incorporating client feedback and iterating on designs. Conducted usability tests to ensure app usability, refining designs through iterations.
- Supported developers with assets and documentation to explain how gamification, rewards, and notifications will work. Conducted design QA to ensure the product was developed to high standards with the strategies we created.
Co-founder | Product Design and Strategy
Yescar
- Led a cross-functional team as a co-founder, overseeing the successful launch of a pre-owned car marketplace and collaborating with developers and product operations managers.
- Conducted comprehensive user research and competitor analysis, gathering valuable insights that informed the product strategy and resulted in a user-centric marketplace experience.
- Created user flow diagrams and conducted iterative UI design, resulting in an intuitive and visually appealing platform that improved user engagement and satisfaction.
- Provided development support and collaborated closely with the development team, ensuring the timely and seamless implementation of design features and functionalities.
- Managed end-to-end product management responsibilities, including defining product roadmaps, prioritizing features, and optimizing user experiences based on data-driven decision-making.
- Conducted user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure the quality and functionality of the platform, resulting in a 90% bug-free launch and a smooth user experience.
- Launched the pre-owned car marketplace, connecting buyers and sellers directly, which resulted in the sale of 100+ cars within a year.
- Received positive feedback from customers, appreciating the convenience and efficiency of the platform's services and the seamless connection between buyers and sellers.
- Implemented continuous improvement initiatives based on user feedback, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction and repeat platform usage.
- Demonstrated expertise in design and strategy, showcasing strong leadership skills, effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to drive successful product launches.
Senior Visual Designer
Media.net
- Revamped the internal reporting and analytics dashboard, significantly improving user experience (UX) and efficiency.
- Redesigned dashboard and enabled 800+ employees to create complex reports within 30 seconds, compared to the previous time of over a minute.
- Increased ad conversion on Forbes Advisor by 25% by suggesting and implementing improved ad placements based on data-driven insights and user behavior analysis.
- Conducted thorough user research and usability testing to identify pain points and gather feedback, leading to targeted design enhancements and a 40% reduction in user errors on the internal dashboard.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including product managers and developers, to ensure seamless integration of design solutions and timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Implemented best practices in visual design, including typography, color theory, and layout principles, resulting in cohesive and visually compelling designs across various digital platforms.
- Created user-centered dashboards and data visualizations, enhancing data comprehension and enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on clear and actionable insights.
- Worked closely with the marketing team to develop impactful presentations that effectively communicated complex information and key messages, resulting in increased engagement and positive audience feedback.
- Received recognition for exceptional design work, contributing to the company's reputation as a leader in visual design and innovation in the industry.
- Stayed up-to-date actively with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies, consistently bringing fresh ideas and pushing the boundaries of visual design excellence.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Automotive Engineering
Sardar Patel College of Engineering - Mumbai, India
Diploma in Information Technology
Thakur College of Science and Commerce - India
Certifications
AI for Designers
Interaction Design Foundation
Fundamentals of Product-Led Growth
ProductLed
Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide
Interaction Design Foundation
UX Design for Virtual Reality
Interaction Design Foundation
Rapid Prototyping for Virtual Reality
Interaction Design Foundation
Skills
Tools
Figma, InVision, Photoshop, Miro Development, Adobe Illustrator, Blender, Balsamiq, Apple Push Notifications, Unreal Engine, Google Forms Development, Prototyping on Paper (POP), Manufacturing, Adobe After Effects Design, Chef, Adobe Firefly, WP eCommerce, Jira, Auto Layout, AI Tools
Languages
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python
Platforms
Web Design, Design Directors, iOS Design, WordPress Design, Google VR, Oculus, Mobile App Design, AIX, Shopify, ObservableHQ
Industry Expertise
Automotive, Fitness, Hotels & Lodging, Logistics Consulting, Transportation & Shipping, Hospitality
Other
UI Design, UX Design, Digital Product Design, User Flow Design, Product Design, UX Design, Prototyping, Prototype Design, Design Thinking, Remote User Testing, MVP Design, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Information Architecture, Visual Design, Wireframing, Rapid Prototyping, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), App UI, App UX, Mobile App Design, Social Marketplaces, UI Design, Graphic Design, Graphic Design, Graphic Design, Competition Research, Design Sprints, Design Systems, Last Mile Logistics, Enterprise System Design, Agile Sprints, UX Design, Cars, Mobile UX Design, Automation, Automation Tools, Web Design, User Validation, WordPress Design, Audits, GUI Design, Sustainability, Data Visualization Design, Quantitative User Research, Qualitative Research, Competitor Analysis, UI Design, Design Workshops, Complex Problem Solving, Edtech Design, eLearning Design, Web Dashboards, Dashboard, Higher Education, UX Design, Dashboard Design, Web UI Design, Marketplace Design, UX Design, UX Design, UI Design, Mobile App, Fitness Trackers, Mobile App, iOS Design, Android Design, Web App Design, User Testing, Gamification Design, Rewards, Rewards Programs, User Research, UX Design, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Car Dashboards, Mobile UI Design, Fintech Development, Credit Cards, Mobile App Design, Mobile Apps, Task Flows, Calendar Design, Mobile App Design, Leadership, Responsive Web Design, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Model View Presenter (MVP), Proof of Concept (POC), Marketplace Design, Design Leadership, UX Leadership, Online Payments, Finance, Personal Finance, Personal Finance Management, Mobile App Design, Credit Card Processing, Digital Banking, Mobile App Design, Usability Heuristics, Exercise & Gyms, Workout Logging, Analytics Development, Community, Habit Formation, User Behavior, UX Design, User Journeys, UX Wireframes, Human Machine Interface, Elementor Design, SaaS Design, Communities, UX Design, Brand Identity Design, Enterprise Development, UX Design, User Empathy, Empathy Mapping, HVAC, UX Prototyping, UI Prototyping, Client Management, Communication Design, User Experience Design, Identity, Web Design, iOS Design, iOS UX Design, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Validated User Research, Web Notifications, Mobile App Design, Community Growth, Wireframe to Product, Branding, Digital Brand Identity, SaaS Design, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS Design, Fleet Management, Fleet Management Platforms, Electric Vehicles, Connected Cars, Smart Cars, Electric Cars, Self-driving Cars, Enterprise Design, Enterprise Startups, React.js, Responsive Web Development, Task Management, Reporting, Graphs, UI Maps, Maps, Tracking, Design Strategy, UX Strategy, Stakeholder Interviews, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Web Design, Information Design, Web Content, SEO Content, Content Writing, Content Strategy, Web UX Design, Web UI, Web Design, Workshops, UX Design, Agile Delivery, Logo Design, Social Media Design, Team Management, Design Management, Data Science, Presentations, Graphic Design, PowerPoint Templates, Product Branding, Ads, Bing Ads, Banner Ads, Native Ads, Creative Advertising, B2B Design, Responsive Design, Web Design, QA Testing, Economic Development, Marketplace Platforms, Two-sided Marketplaces, Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), PWA, Reports, Report Design, UX Research, CX Strategy, Service Design, Mobile App Design, User Validation Testing, UX Design, Brainstorming, Workout, Social Communication, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Learning, School, Assignments, Quizzes, Forum Design, Online Course Design, Landing Pages, VR Design, VR Design, Prototype Design, Extended Reality, X Reality (XR), Augmented Reality Design, Mixed Reality (MR), Spatial Design, UX Design, Storytelling Design, Bezi, Unity, Unity, Unreal Engine 5, Design Thinking Facilitation, Qualitative Reports, User Surveys, Problem Statements, Affinity Mapping, Ideation, Facilitation, Graphic Design, User Feedback, Usability, Usability Analysis, Usability Testing, Remote Usability Testing, Product-led Growth (PLG), GTM Marketing, Go-to-market Plans, Product-market Fit, SaaS Product Marketing, Digitization, Accounting, Online Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Tourism, Checkout, Invoices, Invoice Management, Invoicing, Compliance, Business to Government (B2G), Business to Business (B2B), Design Documentation, Agile Development, Touch Design, Touchscreens, Touch Interactions, Device Interaction, Manufacturers, Industrial & Manufacturing, Game UX Design, Mobile App Design, UX Design, Habit Loops, Native Mobile Apps, User Stories, Mockups, Mockups, Prototype Design, UX Design, Mockups, Mobile App Design, UX Design, Discovery, Discovery Workshops, Information Visualization, Accounting Systems, Reconciliation, Customer Support, Data-driven Dashboards, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Ant Design, Enterprise Application Design, Software Design, Web App Testing, AI Design, Digital Kiosks, UI Design, UX Design, Mobile App Design, Documentation, Verification, POS Displays, On-screen Displays (OSD), Accessibility Development, Accessible Web Design, Web Accessibility, Cross-functional Design, Cross-functional Collaboration, Observation, UX Design, Field Research, UX Design, White Labeling, Financials, Financial Data, Design Guidelines, Accounts, Financial Accounting, Interactive Dashboards, Software Design, Workflow, Workflow Management, Collaboration, Management, Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIaaS), Science, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Component Libraries, Product Owners, Product Ownership, Product Strategy, K-12 Education, Educational Portals, Student Engagement, Ebooks, Calendars, UI Design, Accessory Design, Food Delivery Services, On-demand Services, On-demand, Startup Development, Lean Startups, Market Research Analyst, Feature Roadmaps, Feature Planning, Use Case Analysis, UX Design, Customer Feedback, Digital Tickets, image reading, HVAC Design, HVAC Standards, Infotainment, GUI Design, AI Design, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Monitoring, SaaS Monitoring, filteration, AQI, AI Design, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Machine Learning, Machine Learning, Generative Research, ChatGPT, DALL-E, DALL-E 3, UX Design, Validation, Ethnography, Quantitative Research, Research Reports, User Onboarding, Copywriting, UX Design, Style Guides, Online Auctions, Online Bidding, Web Design, E-commerce Website Design, E-commerce Website Design, UI Design, E-commerce UX Design, Shopify Design, Shopify Theme, Web QA Engineering, Color Palettes, Graphic Design, Web Portals, E-commerce Website Design, Style Kits, UI Design, Business Intelligence Development, Know Your Customer (KYC), Travel Security, Travel, Chart.js, Process Flow Design, Requirements Analysis, Business Process Flow Diagrams, UX Design, User Needs, Participant Observation, Interviews, interview as a service, HR Tools, Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS), Animation Design, GIF Animation, Animated GIFs, Responsive Web Design, Responsible AI, Desk Research, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Travel Design, Card Payments, B2B Marketing Strategy, Lead Generation, Lead Pages, Landing Page Design, Motion Design, Brand Design, Typography, Mobile App Design, Conversion Rate, CRO, Hardware, Retail Sales, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Dropshipping, SaaS UX Consulting, Taxation, Tax Software, Food Ordering, Order Management, Food Ordering Platforms, Node.js, Research, Visual Identity Design, Website Design
Experience
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