Robert Fahy

🚀 Passionate UX Leader | Driving Innovation with AI and Human-Centered Design 🌟

CV / Resume

Robert Fahy

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertfahy/

SUMMARY

Bringing extensive experience in product design and user experience leadership, most recently serving as Director of Product Design & Research. Focus lies in transforming UX strategies for flagship products, fostering collaboration within global teams, and ensuring user advocacy and accessibility. A strong advocate for data-driven designs and the use of tools such as design systems to drive consistency and efficiencies within the design org.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

March 2021 – December 2023
Globalization Partners (G-P)
Director of Product Design & Research

  • Grew product design team from 3 to 14 designers and researchers across Europe and the USA.
  • Promoted design thinking practices within G-P, including running some very successful design sprints, which included C-Suite members and CEO.
  • Provided visionary leadership, nurturing a collaborative, innovative environment while facilitating team growth and goal setting.
  • Collaborated extensively with C-Suite, ELT, Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders to articulate business needs and user requirements.
  • Optimized design workflows, processes, and tools for enhanced efficiency, particularly in users onboarding where we introduced more than 20% efficiency improvement leading to quicker onboarding and reduced support requests.
  • Effectively managed design budget, prioritizing resource allocation for projects.
  • Championed user advocacy, collecting direct user feedback via interviews, testing, polls, and data analysis throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Ensured unwavering focus on user experience in all design decisions.
  • Cultivated and propagated a user-centric design culture within G-P.

February 2015 – March 2021
Avaya
Head of UX – Contact Centre Solutions

  • Spearheaded end-to-end UX strategy for Avaya’s flagship Contact Center product, Avaya Workspaces, from conceptualization to continuous enhancements. Immediately achieved 60% reduction in training time by redesigning the user interface and streamlining user workflows.
  • Managed and coordinated a geographically dispersed team of UX designers, ensuring cohesive and effective collaboration.
  • Contributed significantly to product ideation by leveraging competitive analysis, user research, and on-site customer visits, aiding management in defining precise product requirements.
  • Collaborated closely with development teams to align project scopes within demanding timelines, ensuring feasible and impactful deliverables.
  • Crafted and iterated wireframes while adeptly navigating negotiations on product UI/UX with stakeholders and team members.
  • Championed accessibility, ensuring the product surpassed accessibility standards for a truly inclusive user experience.
  • Acted as the Product Owner for Avaya’s Design System and CSS Framework, fostering a consistent and unified user experience across the organization’s product line. The design system (NEO) increased the efficiency of UI development and adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) across the entire organization.

October 2011 – February 2015
Lumension (HEAT Software)
Senior Product Designer

  • Collaborated within a cross-functional team of product managers, architects, developers, and QA testers to craft UI and interaction designs.
  • Produced UI design prototypes, user scenarios, task flows, and comprehensive design specifications as key deliverables.
  • Conducted feature and competitor research, alongside audience analysis, influencing product direction.
  • Played a pivotal role in pre-release software testing and conducted extensive usability testing.
  • Acted as the primary advocate for the customer’s perspective throughout the design and development phases.
  • Applied user-centered design methodologies to create and iteratively refine UI prototypes based on valuable customer feedback.
  • Developed meticulous, “developer-ready” design specifications for product features, aligning with established business requirements.
  • Provided unwavering support to Engineering sprint teams throughout the development cycle, offering guidance, participating in design meetings, refining UI and requirements, and contributing actively to QA test efforts.

April 2010 – October 2011
Dell
Senior Product Designer

  • Spearheaded multiple pivotal projects within the education sector as a UX Design consultant, facilitating the successful delivery of substantial initiatives.
  • Provided instrumental guidance to a large developer team, overseeing accessibility and UI aspects across various projects.
  • Contributed significantly to the development and implementation of a comprehensive visual learning environment for a UK-based local authority.
  • Conducted prototyping and wireframing of UI elements in alignment with functional specifications.
  • Actively engaged with stakeholders, adeptly incorporating feedback into specifications and UI designs.
  • Collaborated extensively with developers to ensure seamless implementation of UI requirements, fostering a cohesive team environment.
  • Authored comprehensive style guides and UI manuals for projects, aiding offshore teams in post-completion continuity and understanding.
  • Maintained stringent adherence to accessibility standards, guaranteeing compliance throughout project execution.

November 2002 – March 2010
Galway Media
Freelance Designer / Developer

Worked with a wide range of clients in helping them promote themselves both locally and globally by working on branding, print and digital marketing.

Also worked in other design roles between 1994 and 2002. Further information on these placements is available upon request.

CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Leadership & Vision: Orchestrating cohesive teams, nurturing innovation, and aligning design visions with business objectives.
  • Strategic UX Design: Spearheading end-to-end UX strategies, optimizing workflows, and championing user-centricity.
  • Collaboration & Advocacy: Extensive collaboration with stakeholders, driving user advocacy, and cultivating user-centric cultures.
  • Technical Proficiency: Implementation of design solutions, adherence to standards, and end-to-end project management.
  • Individual Contributor: Expert-level experience using design tools for prototyping, including Figma, Adobe XD, Axure, Miro and Lucid. Am comfortable contributing to designs and working with design systems, frequently mentoring and guiding more junior designers.

EDUCATION

2024 | Interaction Design Foundation
Completed Certificate in AI for Designers

2011 | Center for Assistive Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.
Completed Certificate in Web Accessibility

2003-2004 | Enterprise Ireland, Galway
Completed Enterprise Platform Programme.

1994-1995 | Letterkenny Regional Technical College
Studied Computing and Data Communications.