Experience

I lead with empathy, think in systems, and never lose sight of the human on the other side of the screen. With 25+ years in product design and UX research, I’ve built and scaled design teams, driven strategy across data-heavy platforms, and helped complex organizations deliver experiences that actually make sense to the people using them.
As a leader,

I encourage the exploration of new ideas, emphasize progress over perfection and continuously aim to lead by example.

As a designer,

I’m fueled by empathy for the end user, prioritize usability and thrive in the dynamic atmosphere of the creative process.

As a researcher,

I’m inquisitive. I ask big questions that unearth user need while balancing pragmatism and impartiality.

As a team member,

I foster collaboration and encourage transparent communication throughout the product development life cycle.

The Greatest Hits (so far)

I've had the privilege of shaping design teams, untangling complex challenges, and delivering real impact at incredible companies. From scaling UX practices to launching game-changing products, each stop along the way has been a masterclass in design, leadership, and collaboration.
Head of
Product Design

www.akava.io

January 2024 - present

Akava is a technology consultancy that delivers cloud, web, and mobile products at scale, helping enterprises and startups create bespoke solutions with modern open-source technologies.
Leading UX strategy for startups and pre-commercial businesses in the Web3 space by designing scalable, user-centric digital solutions that align creativity, technology, and market need.
Define market-ready strategies for startups, turning concepts into scalable digital solutions.
Lead stakeholder workshops to transform ideas into user-centered solutions.
Develop product roadmaps to evolve MVPs into adoption-ready solutions.
Create intuitive prototypes and scalable design systems, ensuring accessibility and seamless engineering handoff.
Leverage Web3 innovation, integrating AI-enhanced UX, smart contracts and token-gated experiences.
Sr. Manager of
Product Design

www.definitivehealthcare.com

August 2021 - January 2024

Definitive Healthcare offers comprehensive healthcare data and analytics, empowering organizations to find the right markets, target key decision-makers, and accelerate growth.
I shaped the strategic vision for user-centered healthcare analytics solutions, driving innovation and accessibility across a comprehensive SaaS product suite.
Scaled a global product design team, building the structure, staffing, and processes for research, design, and content.
Launched four new products, including mobile apps, a sales pipeline tool, and a procedures dashboard.
Developed UX talent, driving user-driven decision-making and aligning cross-functional teams on design rationale.
Optimized UX research strategy, cutting feature development time through early-stage validation.
Forged strong engineering and product partnerships, embeddingUX best practices into Agile workflows for faster, higher-quality delivery.
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Head of
Product Design

www.unlimitedsystems.com

March 2016 - July 2021

Unlimited Systems offers a comprehensive practice management platform designed to automate complex billing processes, accelerating cash flow for healthcare providers.
Developed the product design strategy and voice of customer program for a SaaS-based healthtech provider.
Modernized a flagship financial platform, leading the shift from on-prem to a scalable SaaS solution.
Aligned UX, engineering, and product teams, driving collaboration for a seamless user experience.
Launched a VOC program with a 72% participation rate, driving data-informed product development decisions.
Designed healthcare systems that processed $54B+ in medical claims for 2.5M+ patients annually.
UX Architect

www.zurich.com

March 2016 - July 2021

Zurich Insurance Group is a global insurer offering property, casualty, and life insurance to individuals and businesses in over 200 countries.
Led information architecture initiatives to simplify insurance claims processing and enhance workflow efficiency.
Streamlined workflows by assessing and cataloging content and processes, eliminating redundancies.
Standardized design practices for Salesforce and Pegasystems; leading training sessions for adoption.
Provided strategic UX guidance on resource planning and technology refactoring across the organization.
Led workshops on accessibility and inclusive design, driving awareness and implementation.
Lead UX Designer

www.jenzabar.com

January 2013 - March 2015

Jenzabar provides enterprise software solutions to higher education institutions. They serve over 1,400 campuses worldwide.
Ideate new financial tools, analytics dashboards and social platforms for a SaaS-based edtech provider.
Introduced a user-centered design process withina growing software development environment.
Established a client design partnership program whose feedback influenced feature development and prioritization.
Conducted user research. Translate findings into wireframes, user stories, journey maps, and high-fidelity prototypes.
Purcell Associates

June 1998 - December 2012

Purcell Associates specialized in custom development for sales training, pipeline management, and process consulting, serving enterprise clients in healthech and finance.
Creating user-centered design solutions for enterprise clients across healthtech, fintech, and insurance sectors.
Ran high-impact workshops, aligning stakeholders, uncovering insights, and driving strategic decisions.
Led research and design for complex ecosystems, delivering solutions aligned with client goals and user needs.
Built a scalable design QA process, ensuring consistency and compliance with WCAG and financial standards.
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What's next?

That's the tour - so far. If you're thinking, "this should like someone I need to talk to," connect with me on LinkedIn or message me using the form below.

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A key strength of mine is partnering with industry leaders to integrate their features and services into the products I build. Here are a few of the top companies I’ve collaborated with:

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Crafted by Michael Boyer, © 2025
Last updated March, 2025