Saroj
Currently · Design Architect & Manager, Leapfrog Technology

Design leadership that ships.

Product designer and design leader with 15+ years. I design, lead a team of designers, and leverage AI to ship complex solutions.

Years in design
15+
Projects shipped
60+
Designers mentored
100+
Companies
6+

Work, process, and highlights

Practice

I build the systems I lead — design, people, and direction.

  • Architect

    The Work

    I design and architect enterprise SaaS platforms — using Generative AI to ship solutions faster. I build the systems I lead.

  • Manager

    The People

    I lead 20+ designers at Leapfrog. Practitioner-first: I mentor from active experience, remove bottlenecks, and grow careers.

  • Strategist

    The Direction

    I advise on design strategy and AI-augmented workflows — then speak on both at ADPList and community events.

Principles

Four operating notes from my working notebook. Held close, refined often.

  1. Lead with evidence, not claims.

    Every section, deliverable, and meeting should prove capability rather than assert it. Show the work; let the work do the convincing.

  2. Outcomes over output.

    Shipped behaviour change beats pixel volume. I measure design teams on the decisions they unlock, not the artifacts they produce.

  3. Practitioner-first management.

    I lead the way I wish I had been led — direct, kind, and accountable to the work. Strategy and craft read as one system, not two departments.

  4. AI accelerates, judgement decides.

    Generative tools compress the cost of exploration. Taste, ethics, and the choice of what to ship stay firmly human.

Process

Human-led product design, accelerated by AI where it helps.

The phases below follow design thinking — judgment and craft stay human.

  1. Empathize

    Listen first, then map the field

    Interviews and observation to surface what people actually need.

    • Interviews
    • Journey maps
    • Field notes
  2. Define

    Frame the problem, name the win

    Pin down scope, success criteria, and who we're solving for.

    • Problem statement
    • Success metrics
    • Alignment doc
  3. Ideate

    Generate widely, decide deliberately

    Explore directions under shared constraints, then commit to the strongest.

    • Concept sketches
    • Trade-off matrix
    • Decision rationale
  4. Prototype

    Build to feel, not to finish

    From quick probes to production-ready flows, at the fidelity the moment needs.

    • Wireframes
    • Interactive flows
    • Spec hand-off
  5. Test

    Learn fast, adjust faster

    Gather evidence, synthesize, and decide the next move with confidence.

    • Usability findings
    • Synthesis
    • Next-step plan

    If evidence points elsewhere, loop back to Ideate.

  • Design Operations (DesignOps)
  • Cross-functional Leadership
  • Team Building
  • Agile Management
  • Stakeholder Strategy
  • Product Strategy
  • UX Strategy
  • Design Mentoring
  • Design Systems
  • Information Architecture
  • Interaction Design
  • Complex Prototyping
  • Accessibility (WCAG)
  • Visual Design
  • Enterprise SaaS
  • User Research
  • Usability Testing
  • Generative AI Workflows
  • AI-Driven UX
  • Large Language Models (LLMs) for Research
  • Human-AI Collaboration
  • Data-driven Design
  • Component Libraries
  • Brand Integrations
  • Design Critique
  • Figma (Advanced)
  • Framer
  • Miro
  • Atlassian Tools
  • Adobe Creative Suite

Career

Roles I've held and the work that shipped.

Dec 2017 – Present

Design Architect & Design Manager

Leapfrog Technology, Inc.

Led a 20+ designer team to shape product strategy and ship complex client solutions.

Apr 2017 – Nov 2017

Graphic Web Designer Consultant

Alpha Lion Holdings, Inc

Delivered remote web and brand design for major e-commerce platforms, improving UI quality and engagement.

May 2016 – Nov 2017

Senior UI/UX Designer

Introcept Nepal

Led end-to-end design for an agency-management SaaS product through alpha launch with close cross-functional collaboration.

Feb 2016 – Apr 2016

Creative Designer

View 9

Designed UI/UX for web and mobile products, ensuring smooth developer handoff and consistent brand systems.

Aug 2011 – Jan 2016

Web Designer

Gambit IT Group

Led end-to-end creative for e-commerce clients, from web and branding to HTML/CSS and print execution.

Voices

What collaborators say about working together.

Articles

Recent thoughts on design, leadership, and AI.

A man sitting at a desk with a computer, displaying a lightbulb and cloud icon, against a backdrop of stylized clouds and futuristic buildings.

What AI is Really Teaching Designers About Being Human

AI isn't just a tool; it's a teacher. Learn how its conversational patterns—like asking questions and patience—can make you a more human and effective designer.

A manager sits at his desk, visibly stressed, surrounded by crumpled papers, while two employees argue in the background

Why Some Managers Are Afraid to Be the 'Bad Guy', and It Hurts the Team

Many managers avoid being the “bad guy” to stay likable, but this fear of conflict often leads to unclear expectations, low accountability, and declining team performance. True leadership requires honest conversations and courageous clarity.

Astronaut taking an interview

Getting Hired as a Designer: A Hiring Manager’s Perspective

Hiring managers look for designers who stand out by crafting compelling portfolios, preparing thoroughly for interviews, and showcasing problem-solving skills along with a strong understanding of user experience.

Read all articles