Shadman Ahmed

Shadman Ahmed

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  • Frameworks I Use

  • Frameworks I Use

  • Building
    Design Teams

  • Running Product
    Workshops

  • Leading Research

  • Creating
    Alignment

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Hello there!

Portfolio 2026

I believe good products earn trust not through persuasion, but through clarity, honesty, and thoughtful decisions.

I believe good products earn trust not through persuasion, but through clarity, honesty, and thoughtful decisions.

I help organizations identify the right product problems, challenge assumptions, align teams around evidence, and build products customers trust.

I help organizations identify the right product problems, challenge assumptions, align teams around evidence, and build products customers trust.

After twenty years across startups and global companies, I've learned that the hardest problems aren't solved by pretty design or opinions. They require better questions, better evidence, and better decisions.

After twenty years across startups and global companies, I've learned that the hardest problems aren't solved by pretty design or opinions. They require better questions, better evidence, and better decisions.

Two decades in design has taken me across print, publishing, web, spatial design and running my own design studio. Last 12 years have focused on building 0→1 consumer products and redefining products through growth and maturity, across payments, travel, talent, beauty, marketplaces and agencies.

That range has taught me to look beyond design, to understand people, evidence and decisions that shape a product.
Root cause before redesign.
Quant + Qual: The what and why.
Comfort zones don't make great products.
The experience doesn't end at acquisition.

Download Resumé

When a support problem revealed a broken journey.

When a support problem revealed a broken journey.

Product Strategy

Research

Product Transformation

→

Over 33% of Zoomcar bookings were generating support calls for information. I investigated the journey across pickup, driving, drop-off and payment, and found that users didn't need more features, they needed clarity at the right moment. Trip Buddy turned those fragmented moments into a contextual companion, reducing fee-related calls by 75% and location-related issues by 60%.

Over 33% of Zoomcar bookings were generating support calls for information. I investigated the journey across pickup, driving, drop-off and payment, and found that users didn't need more features, they needed clarity at the right moment. Trip Buddy turned those fragmented moments into a contextual companion, reducing fee-related calls by 75% and location-related issues by 60%.

What happens when the obvious path is no longer possible?

What happens when the obvious path is no longer possible?

Product Strategy

Research

Product Transformation

→

I started by exploring how PayPal could build a differentiated P2P experience for India. When RBI requirements made the original UPI path unviable, I had to rethink the product rather than the interface, exploring a first-of-its-kind debit-card P2P model. The work ultimately ended when PayPal exited domestic payments in India.

I started by exploring how PayPal could build a differentiated P2P experience for India. When RBI requirements made the original UPI path unviable, I had to rethink the product rather than the interface, exploring a first-of-its-kind debit-card P2P model. The work ultimately ended when PayPal exited domestic payments in India.

When a conversion problem turned into a confidence problem.

When a conversion problem turned into a confidence problem.

Product Strategy

Research

Product Transformation

→

Nearly 60% of returning users weren't completing their purchases. I investigated the journey and found the problem wasn't a lack of cashback education, it was a lack of confidence. That reframing led to a contextual Store experience built around customer intent, reducing support calls by 37% and improving First Contact Resolution from 42% to 61%.

Nearly 60% of returning users weren't completing their purchases. I investigated the journey and found the problem wasn't a lack of cashback education, it was a lack of confidence. That reframing led to a contextual Store experience built around customer intent, reducing support calls by 37% and improving First Contact Resolution from 42% to 61%.

Nearly 60% of returning users weren't completing their purchases. I investigated the journey and found the problem wasn't a lack of cashback education, it was a lack of confidence. That reframing led to a contextual Store experience built around customer intent, reducing support calls by 37% and improving First Contact Resolution from 42% to 61%.

View all projects →

View all projects →

How I Investivate Problems

How I Investivate Problems

Instead starting with a screen design, I start by understanding what is actually happening across customer behaviour, business data and the people closest to the problem.

Read how I investigate →

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How I Make
Decisions

How I Make
Decisions

Good design isn't a collection of good ideas. It's knowing what to pursue, what to challenge, and what to leave out, especially when the evidence disagrees with you.

Read how I make decisions →

Read more→

Terrible Ideas (Coming soon)

Terrible Ideas (Coming soon)

What if products were a little more honest?

What if products were a little more honest?

A few small ideas about how products could be more useful, honest and human.

Explore my terrible ideas →

Read more →

Notes from the field (Coming soon)

Notes from the field (Coming soon)

Things I've learned from designing products, building teams, and being wrong about both.

Things I've learned from designing products, building teams, and being wrong about both.

Read the notes →

Read more →

Feel free to drop a mail to

Feel free to drop a mail to

Feel free to drop a mail to

sayhello@shadmanahmed.com

sayhello@shadmanahmed.com

or find me on

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