Neil Whitehead
Product Owner & Designer in Cape Town, South Africa
Work Experience
• Leadership and Team Management: Lead a team of Product Designers and a UX Writer, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. Established robust working relationships with Product Directors and Fleet Leaders to enhance product strategy alignment and execution.
• Strategic Design Initiatives: Spearheaded the integration of the HEART Framework into the design process to align product design efforts more closely with business outcomes. Initiated the use of Product Design for JIRA, significantly improving project transparency and cross-team collaboration.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Built strong alliances with the Head of Brand and Creative Director to ensure that product design and marketing initiatives are synergistically aligned. Actively engaged in discussions and strategy sessions that influence the broader product direction.
• Innovation and Advocacy: Presented thought-provoking insights on the impact of AI on product design, championing the adoption of advanced technologies to enhance design efficacy and team productivity.
• Commercial Acumen: Developed and implemented simple frameworks for designers to effectively synthesize and utilise key performance metrics, driving designs that are not only user-centered but also commercially viable.
• Professional Development: Fostered a culture of continuous learning and improvement, encouraging team members to engage with the latest design tools and methodologies to remain at the forefront of industry trends.
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As a foundational member of Olarm, I played a pivotal role in the company’s journey from startup to winning the title of "Security Integrator of the Year" at the OSPAs.
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As Product Owner, I spearheaded the Olarm Command Centre project from conception to rollout. By addressing specific user needs, we positioned Olarm as a market leader in the South African and global smart security arena.
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Leveraging my diverse skill set in UI/UX Design, Digital Advertising, Website Design & Development, and Leadership, I simplified complex problems into market-leading solutions. Additionally, my contributions extended to team mentorship, marketing initiatives, and enhancing customer relationships.
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Led brand development, conducted extensive market & customer research, designed & developed web applications, and steered business development and strategy.
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Actively involved in content creation, copywriting, SEO, and website development using Framer. Directed Art, Graphic Design, and UI/UX, while handling low & high fidelity prototyping and product marketing.
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Jumpstarter's mission is to foster a new way for individuals, charities, and businesses to fund their creative projects.
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As a Co-founder and Design Director, I played a pivotal role in crafting the brand identity and managing the product for one of South Africa's first crowdfunding platforms.
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My role encompassed overseeing UX/UI design, establishing a vibrant brand identity, and ensuring our platform was user-friendly and effective.
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Collaborating with co-founders and the development team, we successfully transformed numerous creative ideas into tangible projects through community support and funding.
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As the co-founder and creative director of Jungle Corner, I led a cross-functional team of designers and developers, shaping and growing a collaborative culture and creative vision.
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As a point of contact for strategic partnerships, I managed key stakeholder relationships for significant clients including MTN Foundation, Lufthansa InTouch, and Robben Island Museum.
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Through my guidance and leadership, we crafted custom design and development solutions that transformed the digital presence of our clients, earning global recognition for projects such as the Robben Island Museum's website and app development.
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Our commitment to balancing aesthetic vision and practical application established Jungle Corner as a trusted partner for diverse digital design projects.
Projects
Led digital brand refresh and custom Framer website development to re-position Olarm as a premium offering in the smart security market.
Awards
- The Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) recognise and reward companies and individuals across the security sector. The OSPAs are designed to be both independent and inclusive, providing an opportunity for outstanding performers, whether buyers or suppliers, to be recognised and their success to be celebrated.
CSSDA is an international web design and development award platform that honors and showcases freelance designers, studios and agencies for work that pushes the boundaries of UI, UX and innovative development.
Side Projects
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Jumpstarter's mission is to foster a new way for individuals, charities, and businesses to fund their creative projects.
-
As a Co-founder and Design Director, I played a pivotal role in crafting the brand identity and managing the product for one of South Africa's first crowdfunding platforms.
-
My role encompassed overseeing UX/UI design, establishing a vibrant brand identity, and ensuring our platform was user-friendly and effective.
-
Collaborating with co-founders and the development team, we successfully transformed numerous creative ideas into tangible projects through community support and funding.