About

I've always loved creating digital things. One of my earliest memories is creating wallpapers on my dad's Windows 3.1 Toshiba laptop. In my teenage years, I created flash websites, video game mods and 3D animations.

I graduated with a masters degree in Architecture + Civil Engineering. I managed public construction projects at my first job, but I kept creating infographics, websites and comics as passion projects in my free time.

I got laid off in the aftermath of the 2008 recession, and my Inception infographic went viral shortly after. I decided to switch careers.

I got my foot in the UX door at Publicis.Sapient, where I worked initially as a visual designer creating data visualizations for the world's biggest financial companies.

At E*TRADE, I continued to hone my skills: leading design on the Stock Plan platform and supporting its acquisition by Morgan Stanley.

I currently lead the design practice at Focused, helping clients increase revenue and efficiency by designing better AI agent experiences.

Aside from design, I enjoy playing board games and staying physically active. My current dream is to visit all the US National Parks.

Shahed Syed, Product Designer

My Design Principles

Four principles that guide my design and leadership decisions.

Do it. Do it right. Do it better.

It's easier to edit than to create.

Get out of the comfort zone

Do things that help you grow. Functional perfectionism is a silent killer.

Outcomes over outputs

Design to change human behavior that drives business results.

Systems > Goals

Intensity impresses, consistency transforms.