About Me
I'm Riya Patel, a Product Designer based in Ontario, Canada, with a strong foundation in Interaction Design, UX Research, and User-Centered Design.
With 6+ years of experience designing digital products across SaaS, CRM, e-commerce, B2B, B2C, and startup environments, I focus on creating simple, intuitive experiences for complex workflows.
My work brings together research, UX strategy, interaction design, prototyping, usability testing, and cross-functional collaboration to help users complete tasks with less friction and help businesses build clearer, more efficient digital products.
How I Approach Design
I start by understanding the customer problem, the business context, and the constraints before moving into solutions. I like to look at how people move through a product, where they get stuck, and what needs to feel simpler or clearer.
I focus on simplifying complex workflows, balancing user needs with business goals, and using research, usability testing, and data to guide design decisions.
I also believe product design works best when it's collaborative. I enjoy working closely with product managers, engineers, stakeholders, and customers to understand trade-offs, shape better systems, and create experiences that are useful, scalable, and measurable.
What I Enjoy Designing
I'm most energized by products that solve operational problems and simplify complex workflows. I enjoy designing onboarding experiences, product discovery, CRM workflows, fintech products, and business tools where small design decisions can have a meaningful impact on both customers and the business.
Outside of design, I enjoy painting and exploring new places. Both help me stay curious, observant, and open to different ways of seeing problems.
Design Philosophy
For me, good design is about making complex things feel simple. Before jumping into solutions, I like to understand the real problem, the people I'm designing for, and the business goals behind the product.
Understand before designing
The best solutions come from understanding the customer, the context, and the challenges we're trying to solve—not just the features we're building.
Keep it simple
I believe reducing unnecessary complexity helps people feel more confident and accomplish their goals with less effort.
Design is a team effort
The best products come from close collaboration between design, product, engineering, and the people who use them.
Learn and improve
Design is never really finished. I use research, usability testing, and data to learn what's working, uncover opportunities, and continuously improve the experience.