Testimonials
"Ferdia just gets us and our brand, and everything we want to achieve. He's the best designer I've ever worked with."
Confidential client with $100+ million ARR
Testimonials
"Ferdia just gets us and our brand, and everything we want to achieve. He's the best designer I've ever worked with."
Confidential client with $100+ million ARR
I don't just push pixels.
I don't just push pixels.
I don't just push pixels.
I move the needle.
I move the needle.
I move the needle.
By the numbers…
In 18+ months as the Lead Designer at thoughtbot's LARGEST client:
79K
orders processed per day by the system I designed (up from 500).
1m+
app downloads.
4.8
star app store rating, increased from 2.9 stars.
4.92
current daily average rating, 0.26 above the peer median.
Featured Case Study
Featured Case Study
emagineer
An AI-powered LEGO® startup.
After 4 years in the development doldrums, as Product Manager and Lead Designer I lead the emagineer team from discovery to paying customers in 6 months (with a $2 million raise along the way).
2024
FULL STACK DESIGN
STARTUP
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
AsiaXPAT
A complete overhaul of a website and business model to breathe new life into a company focusing on expats moving to Hong Kong.
2026
STRATEGY
UI REDESIGN
Milesme
Branding work for a friendly running companion, rather than performance coach, in your pocket.
2026
BRANDING
STRATEGY
FrontRow MD
A new, AI-powered B2B e-commerce feature from a successful scale-up to help shoppers make informed decisions while purchasing medical products.
2025
PRODUCT DESIGN
UX DESIGN
The Signal Group
An AI-powered B2B shipping management platform.
2025
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
Darts Atlas
Giving a face lift to the UI and UX of the a successful darts management website.
2025
UI REDESIGN
HTML/CSS
Zinia Tech
A new, AI-powered B2B financial brokerage platform for the agricultural financial sector.
2025
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
TrimUp
A new B2B and B2C mobile app aimed at connecting barbers with prospective customers.
2025
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
BeeOdiversity
A green-tech, B2B scale up with a web app designed to help measure the impact of industrial sites by analysing samples collected by bees.
2024
UI REDESIGN
DESIGN AUDIT
AlbaCore Capital
A complex, internal investment management platform used by AlbaCore financial analysts.
2023
PRODUCT DESIGN
UX DESIGN
Adrienne Allen
A new B2B and B2C mobile app providing mental health relief to those struggling to find a therapist.
2023
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
Confidential Client
18+ months building the technology systems and applications for a restaurant chain with over one hundred million dollars in annual recurring revenue.
2022
FULL STACK DESIGN
Contractuali
A B2B startup web app designed to streamline property leasing contracts.
2022
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
BeSophro
A B2C startup mobile app based around the a mind-body practice of sophrology.
2021
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
Title
A new, AI-powered B2B e-commerce feature from a successful scale-up to help shoppers make informed decisions while purchasing medical products.
2025
PRODUCT DESIGN
STRATEGY
STARTUP
More than just a designer…
I also founded two award-winning startups and have sold products on 3 continents.
I also founded two award-winning startups and have sold products on 3 continents.
Placemate
My first award-winning startup.
We joined a funded accelerator, won ~$25,000 in grants and prizes, and led our team to launch. We landed Fortune 500 customers like Northern Trust and raised a pre-seed round in Silicon Valley.
2017 - 2020
FULL STACK DESIGN
STARTUP
100 Tree Furniture
Planting thousands of trees, selling globally.
Thousands of trees, global sales.
I founded a Net Carbon Negative furniture company that plants trees from profits with tens of thousands planted so far. Starting with scrap wood in my shed, we now sell across 3 continents.
2020 - PRESENT
FULL STACK DESIGN
STARTUP
Resources & Ideas
Career Highlights
Major Milestones
Lead Designer on thoughtbot’s largest client for 18+ months.
Improved their app rating from 2.9 to 4.8 stars with 1+ million downloads.
Increased order volume from 500 per day to 80,000 per day through the app.
Mentored 3 apprentice designers to full promotions & have been employed to mentor client design teams.
Most viewed thoughtbot designer on YouTube with 25,000+ views.
My startup, 100 Tree Furniture, sold products on 3 continents.
Surpassed 20,000 trees planted with profits from 100 Tree Furniture.
Raised pre-seed funding in Silicon Valley for my first startup; Placemate.
Signed a Fortune 500 company client for Placemate.
Listed in the Sunday Business Post “Hot 100 Startups” 2019.
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur regional runner-up 2019.
Skills
Product Design
UI Design
UX Design
Figma
Prototyping
User Research
Market Research
User Testing
Facilitation
HTML
CSS
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
Visual Design
Interaction design
Mentor
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Italian A2 - B1
About me
I have a degree in Architecture and a professional Diploma in "AI for Business", both from UCD. I co-founded an award-winning tech startup at 22. My background means I am uniquely positioned to do more than UI/UX, but to focus on product strategy and business objectives.
I have a successful track record working with clients in Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. I have helped early stage startups raise millions of dollars and assisted established enterprises launch new products. I have worked across industries, from banking and maritime shipping applications to cutting edge A.I. startups.
I am fluent in English and Irish and have conversational fluency in Italian. I'm passionate about sport, fitness and the environment.