# Willy Lai > AI Product & Experience Design Executive | VP / Head / CDO | Driving Global AI Innovation & Market-Defining Experiences | Former Apple, Samsung, PayPal Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/willylai I lead design vision for AI-native products, building and scaling high-performing, global design organizations that turn emerging technologies into category-defining experiences and measurable business impact. With 30 years at Apple, Samsung, PayPal, Intuit, eBay, and high-growth startups, I partner with executive teams to align design strategy with business goals, emerging AI technologies, and long-term market leadership. My expertise spans shaping visionary AI product strategies, scaling multidisciplinary design teams across global products, and embedding design as a core driver of growth, differentiation, and competitive advantage. I help organizations anticipate market shifts and integrate AI capabilities — including generative AI, agentic workflows, and AR — into forward-looking, human-centered product strategies that unlock new revenue streams and sustainable value. I’ve delivered 60+ keynotes and workshops globally, taught and mentored at Pratt, Parsons, ArtCenter, SAIC, UC Berkeley, Stanford, UC Irvine, and NYU, and served on advisory boards for UC Berkeley Extension, UCLA Extension, UCSC Extension, and General Assembly. My work has earned 70+ international design awards (Webby, Communication Arts, A’Design, Good Design, IDA) and recognition in top industry publications, including being named a “Top UX Influencer” and “UX Design Guru” by multiple global organizations. ## Work Experience ### Design Advisor & Interim Head, AI Product Design @ Prosera Inc Jan 2024 – Present • Serving as design advisor to the CEO and served as interim Head of Design for redesign of BluePilot, an AI-native agentic enterprise platform. • Led the design team, shaping AI-native user experience, product design, and brand strategy. • Conceived BluePilot’s patent-pending “microfiche slider”, a central product innovation. • Managed design processes and deliverables while collaborating with executive leadership to align design strategy with business goals. ### AI Startup Design Advisor & Advisory Boards @ Willy Lai Jan 2022 – Present • Serve as executive design advisor across multiple AI-native startups, providing strategic guidance on product design, user experience, and design-led growth. • Advisory roles include: • Prosera – B2B agentic AI-native platform (BluePilot) • AI Vision Technologies – B2C AI-native DIY & Home Services app (Finderly) ### International Keynote Speaker @ Willy Lai Jan 2013 – Present • Delivered 60+ keynote talks and workshops on user experience and product design for corporations and conferences across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, including the UK, Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, China, Canada, UAE, Egypt, and South Africa. • Inspire product teams, executives, and emerging designers with actionable insights on design strategy, AI product design, and innovation leadership. • Share global perspectives on design, technology, and human-centered innovation, fostering cross-cultural learning and best practices. ### University Lecturer & Advisory Boards @ Willy Lai Jan 2011 – Present • Teach, guest lecture, and mentor students at leading universities and design institutions, including Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, ArtCenter College of Design, SAIC, UC Berkeley, Stanford, NYU, UC Irvine, Academy of Art University, and School of Visual Arts. • Serve on advisory boards for UC Berkeley Extension, UCLA Extension, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, and General Assembly, shaping curriculum and programs in design and product innovation. • Guide the next generation of designers and product leaders through hands-on teaching, mentorship, and strategic program development. ### International Workshop Instructor @ Designing UX with Willy Lai Jan 2016 – Present | International • Lead hands-on UX and product design workshops for cross-functional teams worldwide, emphasizing practical, operational learning. • Complement keynote speaking engagements by providing actionable, learn-by-doing experiences that translate strategy into results. • Delivered workshops globally, including the UK, Germany, Poland, Canada, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and the United States. • https://www.linkedin.com/company/willylai • https://www.facebook.com/UXworkshops ### Chief Design Officer & Design Advisor, AI Product Design @ Finderly AI DIY & Home Services Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 • Led AI product design for Finderly AI DIY & Home Services, an AI-native home repair app from AI Vision Technologies Inc. • Served as Chief Design Officer and advisor to the executive team, shaping the 0-to-1 AI product vision, including patent-pending innovations leveraging generative AI, agentic AI, and augmented reality (AR). • Defined and drove the AI-native product roadmap, features, monetization strategy, user experience, and brand design. • Led the design team through product discovery, product/market fit, and end-to-end design processes for a multimodal AI DIY product supporting voice, image, video, and text interactions. • Established design standards and workflows to scale a high-performing AI product design organization. ### Advisory Board Member @ UC Berkeley Extension Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 • Served on the Advisory Board for UC Berkeley Extension, shaping the Professional Program in User Experience Design. • Provided strategic guidance on curriculum development, program structure, and emerging industry trends to ensure graduates are equipped with skills relevant to AI and product design leadership. • Advised on design pedagogy, experiential learning, and integration of new technologies to strengthen the program’s industry relevance. ### Board Member, Design Standards @ General Assembly Jan 2019 – Jan 2024 • Advised General Assembly on establishing design practice standards for its international product design community. • Co-developed the Design Skills Map, a framework guiding skill development for aspiring designers. • Featured in GA’s inaugural issue of The Index magazine for thought leadership in design education. • Served as UX/product design guest panelist for GA webinars, including “Important Skills to Build Your Design Career.” • Influenced curriculum, community engagement, and best practices for global design education programs. ### Keynote Speaker @ Amazon Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 • Delivered the closing keynote, “Designing for Outcomes,” at Amazon’s inaugural internal design conference for the People Experience Technology (PXT) organization. • Shared strategic insights on UX design, including design outcomes, leveraging research and data, aligning design with business goals, OKRs/KPIs, and stakeholder influence. • Audience included UX designers, content writers, and user researchers within Amazon’s PXT organization. • https://bit.ly/4ac5cbw ### Chief Design Officer & Design Advisor @ Haggleland Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 • Acted as Chief Design Officer and design advisor for on-demand projects at Haggleland, a haggling-based tech startup, leading the design team and shaping the product strategy from concept to launch. • Defined and executed 0-to-1 product strategy, establishing product/market fit across desktop and mobile platforms. • Drove design and product roadmap, delivering innovative user experiences and design solutions. • Implemented Lean UX methodologies and scalable product development processes to optimize design workflows and team performance. • Collaborated with the executive team to align design strategy with business objectives, ensuring measurable impact. ### Guest Lecturer & Workshop Instructor @ Pratt Institute Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 • Delivered a guest lecture on the business value of UX and product design for Pratt’s Information Experience Design (IXD) graduate program. • Led a hands-on workshop on stakeholder management and influence, helping students apply design strategy to real-world scenarios. • Audience included graduate students across Pratt’s IXD, Library & Information Science, Museums & Digital Culture, and Digital Analytics & Visualization programs. • https://bit.ly/48VPJLH ### Vice President, Product Design & User Experience @ Macy's Jan 2017 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco, California • Reported to the Chief Digital & Revenue Officer and led Macy’s digital product design and UX organization, including design, research, content, program management, and operations for the app, website, and in-store digital experiences. • Drove Macy’s digital design transformation during a major culture shift, leveraging Silicon Valley experience to improve brand appeal and usability, contributing to 20% YOY sales growth to $8B in 2020. • Conceived patent-protected gesture-based “customize clothing” innovation and delivered additional design innovations incorporating AI/ML, voice, and augmented reality. • Scaled and expanded a high-performing, multi-disciplinary design organization, overseeing full product lifecycles, operational processes, and strategic roadmaps. • Redefined product development processes to improve product/market fit, quality, and time-to-market, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, and continuous improvement. ### Guest Speaker & Workshop Instructor @ The GrEEK Campus Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Cairo, Egypt • Delivered a guest lecture and led a hands-on UX/product design workshop at a special event hosted by The GrEEK Campus, a growing tech hub in Cairo. • Engaged attendees including designers, startup entrepreneurs, product managers, marketing managers, and developers across multiple industries. • Shared insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and practical UX methods. • https://bit.ly/2RoMYg1 ### Keynote Speaker & Workshop Instructor @ UX Craft South Africa Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Cape Town, South Africa • Served as the opening keynote speaker and workshop instructor at the UX South Africa design conference (UX Craft South Africa). • Delivered the opening keynote, “Designing User Experience for Business Impact,” focused on aligning UX strategy with business outcomes. • Led a limited-enrollment, pre-conference workshop, “UX Strategy, Ideation, and MVP,” on building and validating product concepts. • Audience included designers, content writers, user researchers, product managers, and developers from diverse industries across South Africa. • https://bit.ly/2T0BjDB ### Guest Lecturer @ New York University Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate students across design, engineering, and business programs. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and real-world UX practice. • https://bit.ly/3fZFhIR ### Guest Lecturer @ School of Visual Arts Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate art and design students across multiple disciplines. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and industry best practices. • https://bit.ly/3bNfDDH ### Guest Lecturer @ School of the Art Institute of Chicago Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Chicago, Illinois • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate design students across multiple programs. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and real-world UX practice. • https://bit.ly/3g1gIeG ### Advisory Board Member @ UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Jan 2013 – Jan 2018 | Santa Clara, California • Served on the Advisory Board, advising UCSC Silicon Valley Extension on its UX and product design curriculum. • Helped shape the institution’s overall design program strategy to align with evolving industry needs and best practices. • Provided guidance on curriculum development, pedagogy, and emerging design trends to strengthen program relevance and outcomes. ### Adjunct Faculty @ UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 • Developed and taught User Experience Design Fundamentals (Course 30031), marking the start of my academic teaching career. • Designed and delivered an end-to-end curriculum covering the full UX design lifecycle, including research, ideation, prototyping, and validation. • Led lectures, facilitated in-class group projects, and created individual assignments to reinforce practical, real-world UX skills. • Mentored students and prepared them for industry-ready UX and product design roles. ### Guest Lecturer @ UC Irvine Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Irvine, California • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at UC Irvine. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate students across design, engineering, and business programs. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and real-world UX practice. • https://bit.ly/2LB6HqC ### Guest Lecturer @ Parsons School of Design - The New School Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at Parsons School of Design. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate design students across multiple programs. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and industry best practices. • https://bit.ly/2ydemIu ### Guest Speaker @ iHeartRadio Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest talk at a special design event at iHeartRadio in New York City. • Presented on driving user and business impact through design, bridging UX strategy with business outcomes. • Engaged an audience of designers, product managers, and developers within iHeartRadio’s product organization. • https://bit.ly/3g1YoSF ### Workshop Instructor @ LG Electronics Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Santa Clara, California • Led a UX and product design workshop at LG Labs focused on strategic, user-centered methodologies for designing next-generation products. • Taught practical frameworks and approaches for innovation, product strategy, and human-centered design. • Engaged an audience of designers, product managers, and developers based in Silicon Valley. ### Guest Speaker & Workshop Instructor @ Nickelodeon Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest talk and led a hands-on UX/product design workshop at Nickelodeon headquarters. • Presented on the strategic value of user experience design and its role in driving business outcomes. • Led a workshop on integrating user-centered design into product development processes to improve user and business impact. • Engaged an audience of designers, content program managers, and developers from Viacom-owned brands, including Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central. • bit.ly/2AMiNqz ### Guest Speaker & Workshop Instructor @ Viacom Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | New York, New York • Delivered a guest talk and led a hands-on UX/product design workshop at Nickelodeon headquarters. • Presented on the strategic value of user experience design and its role in driving business outcomes. • Led a workshop on integrating user-centered design into product development processes to improve user and business impact. • Engaged an audience of designers, content program managers, and developers from Viacom-owned brands, including Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central. • bit.ly/2AMiNqz ### Advisory Board Member @ UCLA Extension Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 • Served on the Advisory Board for UCLA Extension, helping establish its inaugural Software Product Management program. • Provided strategic guidance on curriculum development, program structure, and industry alignment. • Advised on integrating product strategy, UX, and business fundamentals to ensure real-world relevance. ### Guest Lecturer @ ArtCenter College of Design Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Pasadena, California • Delivered a guest lecture on UX and product design at ArtCenter’s Hillside Campus. • Engaged graduate and undergraduate design students across multiple programs. • Shared practical insights on human-centered design, product strategy, and industry best practices. • https://bit.ly/2zU79NR ### Guest Speaker & Workshop Instructor @ Google Jan 2017 – Jan 2017 | Warsaw, Poland • Delivered a guest talk and led a hands-on UX/product design workshop at a special event hosted by Google Campus Warsaw. • Presented on strategic user experience design and its role in driving user and business impact. • Engaged a diverse audience of designers, product managers, marketing managers, and developers, spanning individual contributors to executive-level leaders. • Audience included both Google and non-Google professionals across multiple industries in Poland. • https://bit.ly/3egYfsO ### Adjunct Faculty @ UC Berkeley Extension Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco, California • Developed and taught User Experience Design Fundamentals (DESIGN 1000-001) for UC Berkeley Extension. • Designed a comprehensive curriculum covering the end-to-end UX design lifecycle, from research and strategy through interaction design, prototyping, and validation. • Delivered engaging lectures and facilitated in-class, team-based projects to reinforce real-world application of UX methodologies. • Mentored students on applying user-centered design principles to practical product and business challenges. ### Director of User Experience, FileMaker @ Apple Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Santa Clara, CA • Led user experience design, research, and content for FileMaker, Apple’s cross-platform business software division. • Drove new user growth through a first-time-experience redesign, delivering modern, intuitive, and seamless app experiences across mobile, tablet, and desktop. • Brought Apple’s consumer-grade design standards to enterprise software, increasing user adoption, NPS, and product sales, contributing to Apple’s B2B revenue growth. • Defined and delivered design innovations leveraging native device capabilities (e.g., Siri, Touch Bar) across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. • Elevated UX craft and creative standards across the organization through mentorship and design leadership. • Strengthened product development processes by внедoring Agile and Lean UX methodologies, improving quality, speed, and operational efficiency. ### Design Mentor @ Stanford University Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 | Palo Alto, California • Selected as a mentor in Stanford’s Design Mentorship Program, guiding students pursuing careers in UX and product design. • Provided 1:1 coaching on career development, portfolios, and design practice across the full product design lifecycle. • Advised mentees on industry expectations, design craft, and strategic thinking during the academic year. • Supported students’ transition from academia to professional roles in technology and design. ### Keynote Speaker @ Alibaba Group Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | Hangzhou, China • Delivered a keynote address at Alibaba’s internal UCAN Design Conference at Alibaba Headquarters. • Presented on the business impact of user experience design, linking design strategy to measurable business outcomes. • Addressed an audience of UX designers and product managers across Alibaba’s global product organization. • Recognized as an external thought leader contributing to Alibaba’s internal design excellence initiative. ### Workshop Instructor @ Citrix Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | Santa Clara, California • Led a UX / product design workshop for Citrix’s Marketing Communications team at Citrix headquarters. • Taught strategic user-centered design methodologies and processes to improve business and user outcomes for Citrix.com. • Worked cross-functionally with creative designers and marketing managers to align design strategy with business goals. • Enabled the team to apply UX best practices to real-world digital product and marketing challenges. ### Director of User Experience, Milk Music @ Samsung Electronics America Jan 2012 – Jan 2015 | Mountain View, CA • Led UX design, research, and content for Milk Music, Samsung’s cross-platform streaming music app across smartphones, PCs, tablets, wearables, smart TVs, and smart appliances. • Conceived Milk Music’s patented “Clock UI”—a haptic-enabled dial interface for mobile-first, hands-free music discovery (e.g., driving, jogging, bicycling), integrating S Voice, motion, and gesture controls. • Drove user growth rates surpassing Pandora and Spotify, contributing to Samsung’s ecosystem growth and 320M smartphones sold in 2015. • Elevated design craft and creativity by leading by example and establishing a consumer-grade design bar across Samsung’s digital products. • Redefined product development processes by внедring Lean UX methodologies, improving speed, quality, and product-market fit. • Expanded team scope beyond execution into product strategy, ideation, design, content, and research. • Managed executive stakeholder communication and cross-regional collaboration between North America and South Korea HQ. ### Guest Speaker @ Aquent Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 • Delivered a guest talk for the AMA Aquent Webcast on “The ROI of User Experience Design.” • Explored how UX strategy drives measurable business outcomes. • Engaged an audience of design, product, and marketing professionals across industries. ### Head of User Experience Design, Platform @ PayPal Jan 2005 – Jan 2012 | San Jose, CA • Led PayPal’s global UX design platform team, establishing design standards for 190+ markets and 25 currencies. • Directed PayPal’s first-ever global redesign, driving over 100M accounts by 2010 and $145B total payment volume by 2012. • Delivered measurable impact on user acquisition, brand loyalty, NPS, conversion rates, and payment volume. • Defined and implemented user-centered, data-informed global design standards across all products, sign-up flows, and payment transactions. • Scaled the platform team to include managers, interaction designers, visual designers, information architects, CMS architects, Flash developers, prototypers, and production designers, responsible for consistent global UX excellence. • Embedded strategic UX practices and processes, aligning design execution with business goals across multiple regions and product lines. ### Principal Designer / User Experience Architect @ Intuit Jan 2001 – Jan 2005 | Mountain View, CA • Led the company-wide redesign of Intuit.com, Payroll.com, and QuickBooks.com, overseeing information architecture, interaction design, and visual design. • Delivered significant improvements in key metrics including Net Promoter Score, conversion rates, and online sales. • Achieved a 40X increase in sales for QuickBooks Point of Sale online through strategic UX and product design innovations. • Aligned redesigns with business goals and user needs, establishing scalable UX standards across Intuit’s digital products. ### Executive Creative Director @ EXP Jan 2000 – Jan 2001 | Menlo Park, CA • Led the redesign and rebranding of EXP.com (consumer services) and EXP Systems (B2B CRM software), improving conversion rates, user engagement, and revenue. • Achieved over 300% increase in service transaction conversions through strategic UX and design initiatives. • Established and scaled EXP’s design team, including visual designers, interaction designers, information architects, and illustrators, creating a high-performing creative organization. • Embedded design as a strategic driver for product growth, customer engagement, and overall brand differentiation. ### Art Director @ eBay Jan 1999 – Jan 2000 | San Jose, CA • Led the initial design and launch of eBay Motors and eBay Great Collections, expanding eBay’s high-end auction offerings. • Directed UX and product design across multiple areas of eBay.com, alongside brand and marketing design for sub-branded logos and campaigns. • Improved key website metrics, including user engagement, listings, and conversion rates, through strategic, user-centered design. • Established design standards and best practices that informed subsequent eBay product and brand launches. ### Art Director @ AOL Jan 1997 – Jan 1999 | San Mateo, CA • Led AOL’s first global redesign and rebrand of AOL.com, establishing a modern, user-centered portal experience. • Built and managed AOL.com’s first dedicated design team, including visual designers, interaction designers, information architects, illustrators, and production designers. • Delivered measurable impact, including a 20× increase in click-through rates for key products. • Defined design standards and processes that set the foundation for AOL’s ongoing product and brand development. ### User Interface Designer @ Investools Jan 1996 – Jan 1997 | Menlo Park, CA • Designed Investools.com, including its online ads and marketing campaigns, establishing a cohesive digital brand presence. • Delivered measurable impact, achieving a 10× increase in click-through rates for key products. • Applied user-centered design principles to financial services web experiences, improving usability and engagement. • Set early standards for digital design and marketing alignment, informing future Investools web initiatives. ### Interactive Product Designer @ Orbit Interaction Jan 1996 – Jan 1996 | Palo Alto, CA • Designed digital interfaces and physical controls for Garmin’s mobile GPS navigation device and Compaq’s television digital video recorder, enhancing usability and user experience across hardware and software. • Created and developed Orbit Interaction’s first website, establishing the company’s initial digital presence. • Applied user-centered design principles to both consumer electronics and web interfaces, bridging physical and digital product experiences. ## Education ### Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in College of Environmental Design University of California, Berkeley ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/willylai - Website: https://www.behance.net/willylai - Website: https://speckyboy.com/ux-influencers/ - Website: https://issuu.com/alarmpress/docs/sep-oct_complete/55 --- Source: https://flows.cv/willylai JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/willylai/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-08