Chad is available for hire
Hire ChadChad Alderson
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Location
Scottsdale, United States
Toptal Member Since
August 25, 2015
With over 20 years of product management and UX expertise, Chad blends both disciplines to produce user-friendly enterprise and consumer products. Skilled in product definition, prompt engineering, UX design, and technical delivery, he collaborates with business leaders and engineers alike. His solutions achieve goals, boost productivity, and offer A+ UX. With him, his clients get three for the price of one—exceptional product management, outstanding UX, and insightful prompt engineering.
Portfolio
Work Experience
UX Designer | Front-end Engineer
2023 - 2024
PubRocket.fm
- Spearheaded the development of Podrocket.fm, a podcast post-production web app. Defined product requirements and scoped the project focusing on transcription, content generation, and advanced promotion features.
- Designed and implemented the front end using Jinja2 and Tailwind CSS, ensuring a user-friendly interface for managing models and data.
- Played a crucial role in selecting and integrating the front-end tech stack, including Jinja2, Tailwind CSS, OpenAI's GPT-4 for NLP tasks, AssemblyAI for transcription, and more.
Technologies: Jinja, CSS, Tailwind CSS, HTML, Alpine.js, OpenAI, AssemblyAI
Lead Creative and Web Engineering
2020 - 2023
DataStax
- Led the migration of DataStax's 7,000-page website from Drupal to Sanity CMS.
- Collaborated with lead engineer to architect a Sanity CMS solution incorporating Algolia Search, Transifex localization, Canva, and Semrush.
- Created that website macro flow, pillar page SEO strategy, key page wireframes and user flows for the enterprise website.
- Headed the creative team, producing hands-on go-to-market assets for leadership, sales, and stakeholders, boosting brand identity and company success.
- Led the creation of marketing campaigns, training materials, videos, podcasts, and sales collateral, enhancing brand identity and market presence.
- Implemented a streamlined creative request workflow in Asana Enterprise, delighting internal stakeholders.
Technologies: Slack, Figma, Asana, Google Docs, Information Architecture (IA), Rapid Prototyping, Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Technical Project Management, Project Management, UX Design, Mobile Design, Mobile Web, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, A/B Testing, Jira, GitHub, Databases, Sanity CMS, Notion, Graphic Design, Document Design, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, UI Design, Agile, Product Design, UX Research, Artificial Intelligence Product Manager, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Startups, Agile Product Management
Founder
2017 - 2021
Barbless.co
- Founded Barbless.co, focusing on innovative technology like barbless flows and barbless rigs and media to improve angling and conservation efforts.
- Created the brand from the ground up, including UX and design for both barbless flows and barbless rigs.
- Worked with USGS gauge station data APIs and architected a data aggregator to normalize and store private and government water flow data in Google Firebase.
- Emphasized tips, tactics, trends, and observations following the company motto: "Know better. Fish better".
- Served as a podcast producer and host of The Barbless Fly Fishing Podcast for four years, with 300+ episodes and 25,000 downloads per month. It was the largest fly fishing podcast in the western US from 2017 to 2020.
Technologies: Figma, Podcasting, WordPress, iOS, Google Cloud, Google Cloud Engine, App UX, Product Management, Sales, Graphic Design, Document Design, Microsoft Word, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, UI Design, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Artificial Intelligence Product Manager, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Startups, Agile Product Management
Founder
2012 - 2020
Creative Agency - AMP.build
- Conceived, designed, and product-managed a SaaS product for fundraising and its marketing site. This white-label, multi-tenant solution enabled clients to effectively run political fundraising operations while preserving their distinct branding.
- Devised UI/UX and product-managed a fly fishing app that integrated geolocation and real-time hydrological data measured in CFS. The app allowed anglers to stay updated on current river and weather conditions to increase their odds of catching fish.
- Developed and designed an automated project management bot experience via Slack, serving as a virtual assistant for agile software development and streamlining meetings.
- Conceived and developed InstaTeam for WordPress, a multiuser plugin facilitating team-focused posts and improving collaboration and content sharing on the platform.
- Created an HR onboarding iOS app tailored for recent college graduates embarking on their first job in a large company, streamlining their transition.
- Collaborated with Taco Bell Corporate, guiding their marketing, creative, and engineering teams in rapid prototyping techniques to optimize product lifecycle and project outcomes.
- Developed wireframes and visual design for a global wine directory listing service, enhancing the user experience and overall aesthetics.
Technologies: Adobe CC, Figma, Google Docs, Asana, Agile Software Development, Algolia, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Wireframing, Prototyping, Technical Project Management, Project Management, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Mobile Design, Mobile Web, WordPress, Shopify, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, Slack, A/B Testing, Jira, GitHub, Databases, HTML, Sanity CMS, Notion, SketchUp Pro, Graphic Design, Document Design, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, UI Design, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Startups, Agile Product Management
Co-founder | CTO | UX Lead
2011 - 2014
SPARK6 Agency
- Developed the sales funnel optimization strategy for Dollar Shave Club.
- Contributed to business strategy and consulting for eBay Inc.
- Designed interactions for eBay HR college recruiting platform.
- Crafted wireframes (UX) for 21Days, a challenge-based self-improvement platform integrated with Facebook's API.
- Collaborated closely with founding partners to craft various digital product experiences, specializing in early-stage development and strategy for optimal user engagement.
Technologies: InVision, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Technical Project Management, Project Management, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Mobile Design, Mobile Web, Sketch, WordPress, Shopify, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, Google Docs, A/B Testing, Jira, GitHub, Databases, HTML, CSS, Graphic Design, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, UI Design, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Startups, Agile Product Management
Senior Product Manager | Application Platform – Tools and Widgets
2010 - 2011
eBay
- Launched and refined the eBay Application Platform, facilitating the introduction of eBay's new fashion vertical.
- Designed the UX for eBay's App Store, fostering growth to over 500,000 sellers and generating 1,000,000+ app subscriptions for external developers.
- Led the development as a product manager and UX designer for an enterprise platform enabling A/B testing, multipage, and multivariate testing with user-friendly interfaces.
- Developed UX and product requirements for eBay platforms and tools, streamlining the process for engineers to requisition middleware and cloud infrastructure within minutes instead of weeks.
- Devised eBay's off-site widget strategy, boosting inbound organic search traffic and affiliate referral links and resulting in a net positive impact on SEO.
Technologies: InVision, Sketch, Adobe CC, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, eCommerce, UX Design, Mobile Web, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, A/B Testing, Jira, Databases, CSS, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Agile Product Management
Senior Product Manager | Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories
2008 - 2010
eBay Inc.
- Assisted in building a top-notch tailored shopping experience for fashion buyers and sellers.
- Executed key tracks within eBay's fashion category.
- Managed end-to-end product lifecycle, from vision to financial projections and feature prioritization.
- Collaborated with engineering teams in agile environments.
- Awarded a patent on behalf of the company for integrating eCommerce features into social networking platforms.
Technologies: InVision, Adobe CC, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Mobile Web, Sketch, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, A/B Testing, Jira, Databases, Microsoft Word, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Agile Product Management
Director of Product and Engineering
2007 - 2008
GMG Entertainment
- Recruited, hired, and managed the engineering team and outside vendors.
- Oversaw the product delivery, writing specifications, and creating interaction designs.
- Implemented Agile development with one-week release cycles.
- Launched the CareerHigh app on Facebook as a viral component.
- Developed specifications and designs for an analytics and reporting system.
- Created and launched a pop culture trivia game on Facebook.
- Designed CMS for the trivia game, enabling producers to create dynamic content with ease.
Technologies: InVision, Adobe CC, Microsoft Project, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Technical Project Management, UX Design, Sketch, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, GitHub, Databases, Microsoft Word, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, Product Design, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Startups
Senior Product Manager | Brand Integration
2007 - 2007
NextMedium, Inc.
- Launched a leading brand integration platform, embed, for managing $5+ billion in product placement opportunities.
- Gathered high-level business requirements from customers, translating them into detailed market requirements.
- Developed end-to-end product roadmap for three distinct applications.
- Researched product placement space and the television advertising industry.
- Utilized Scrum and Agile development processes, collaborating with executive and engineering teams.
- Executed corporate and product blog strategy, positioning NextMedium as a thought leader in brand and product integration.
Technologies: Microsoft Project, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Sketch, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, Product Design, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Startups, Agile Product Management
Senior Product Manager | Search
2005 - 2007
eBay Inc.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to develop a new search experience for eBay's ticket vertical.
- Improved key business and product metrics across eBay stores and ticket verticals.
- Coordinated with product managers to define eBay's next-gen search product roadmap.
- Advocated for eBay search technologies internally and externally.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to document product requirements.
- Recognized and promoted the needs of the eBay Tickets user community for an improved search experience.
Technologies: Microsoft Office, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Sketch, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, User Stories, A/B Testing, Jira, Databases, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Go-to-market Strategy, Agile Product Management
Product Manager | Online Classifieds
2004 - 2005
Knight Ridder Digital
- Managed Project Catalyst, Knight Ridder's core classified ad application across 28 national markets.
- Oversaw vendor relationships for payment processing and image hosting.
- Coordinated payment and refund reconciliation via a call center.
- Established detailed product specifications for projects.
- Engaged in continuous process improvement and post-mortem evaluations.
- Conducted usability testing sessions, including setup, moderation, and observation.
Technologies: Microsoft Office, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, eCommerce, UX Design, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, User Interviews, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps
Product Manager
2002 - 2004
Travidia, Inc.
- Crafted interaction designs (UX) for Travidia's next-gen product line.
- Developed and wrote comprehensive product requirements documents, outlining detailed specifications, features, and functionality to guide the development process effectively.
- Managed partner deployments and post-deployment technical contacts.
- Conducted requirements and business process analysis, coordinating with the development team.
- Created market requirements documents and mini-specs for site deployments and redesigns.
- Collaborated with CTO to prioritize and manage development department workload and projects.
Technologies: HTML, Visio, Microsoft Office, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Technical Project Management, Project Management, eCommerce, UX Design, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Management, Microsoft Word, B2B, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UX Architecture, Agile, User Interviews, Product Design, Product Strategy, Product Roadmaps, Startups, Agile Product Management
Usability and Interaction Designer
1999 - 2001
Propel Software Corporation
- Moderated closed usability sessions skillfully, ensuring productive feedback and analysis.
- Designed paper prototypes for use in laboratory settings, enabling tangible evaluation of user experience.
- Acted as a scribe during closed usability sessions, diligently documenting insights and observations.
- Recruited test participants, specializing in eCommerce user experience usability testing to gather valuable input.
- Developed high-fidelity prototypes for laboratory settings, enhancing the accuracy and detail of user experience evaluations.
Technologies: HTML, Visio, A/B Testing, Usability Analysis, Usability Testing, Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture (IA), Agile Software Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Project Management, eCommerce, User Research, UX Design, Product Management, User Stories, User Testing, CSS, Graphic Design, Document Design, Microsoft Word, Communication, Product Discovery, Collaboration, UI Design, User Interviews, Product Design, UX Research, Startups
Education
1995 - 1999
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Management Information Systems
California State University, Chico - Chico, California, USA
Certifications
NOVEMBER 2023 - DECEMBER 2025
HubSpot Sales Enablement certified
HubSpot
AUGUST 2023 - SEPTEMBER 2025
HubSpot Content Marketing certified
HubSpot
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