Hey, I'm Alex
Senior Product Designer at GitLab. I design developer tools and enterprise platforms. Currently working on knowledge management features for distributed teams.
I've been designing products for 15+ years. I specialize in taking messy, unclear problems and turning them into working solutions that engineering can build and users can understand. Most of my work happens in the gaps between what product wants, what engineering can do, and what users actually need.
Current work
GitLab
Product Designer — Plan: Knowledge
I design tools for documenting and sharing knowledge in distributed teams. I work with product managers, engineers, and researchers to ship features that help teams work better together.
Experience
Before GitLab, I was a Principal Product Designer at Hireup, Australia's largest disability support platform, where I led mobile design initiatives and contributed to a +12% increase in booking rates through user-centred changes.
Earlier in my career, I designed web and mobile products for Qantas, Vodafone, Woolworths, and NAB in Australia.
I've been the first designer at several startups, where I built design systems, defined product direction, and occasionally wrote code alongside engineers.
How I work
I do my best work on problems that are:
- unclear or under-defined
- shared across multiple teams
- constrained by legacy systems or organisational complexity
I prefer written, async collaboration for day-to-day work, and use synchronous conversations when alignment, ambiguity, or feedback quality really matters.
Beyond product work
I've also mentored junior designers through CareerFoundry and Springboard, helping them build their portfolios and advance their careers.
Selected work
Design case studies focused on product impact, decision-making, and outcomes.
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Changing Booking Behaviour Through Worker Status Visibility
Reducing uncertainty in a two-sided marketplace and increasing successful bookings by 12%. -
Reducing Friction in Government Visa Applications
Automating data entry to improve completion and reduce user effort in a high-stakes service. -
Driving Engagement Through a Unified Entertainment Experience
Reimagining in-flight entertainment as a cohesive product ecosystem. -
Increasing App Adoption by Integrating Entertainment Services
Using entertainment features to drive a 70% increase in app downloads.
Working with Alex
"Alex consistently demonstrated strong design leadership and strategic thinking. He translated complex technical constraints into clear, user-centred direction that directly shaped product decisions."
"Alex brings a rare mix of big-picture perspective and grounded execution. He consistently raises the quality of thinking across the team and creates space for others to grow."