Jeff White

Stepladder

Our work focuses on improving outcomes for medical technology companies and the patients and healthcare professionals they serve.

Healthcare brands we've worked with:

Baxter
Hillrom
McClurg Healthcare Advisors
Premier
Trially.ai


Before specializing in healthcare, Stepladder provided UX and visual design services to clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to seed stage startups in a variety of industries.

Clients included:

Amazon
Microsoft
Motorola
Citrix
Remitly
BabelBark
Cvent
Trupanion
Bamboo Learning
Code.org
Panopto
Woot!

Founder and Head of Design

Rebls

Design & Product Management Executive for seed stage startup.

•  Developed overall product vision, brand, visual language, and
product requirements for a v1 responsive web app
•  Designed all aspects of UX, directed visual designers through
development of visual language and brand
•  Translated market insights into product requirements
•  Managed engineering team including CTO
•  Involved in all aspects of business from recruiting to fundraising

Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer

Creative Director

Designer

Amazon

Lead a team that designed & delivered 27 applications for
the Amazon Fire Phone.

•  Managed a team of 6 UX Designers
•  Established and communicated application design processes
vertically and horizontally across many Amazon teams
•  Created and evangelized OS and application-level patterns
•  Presented to executives including CEO

Interaction Design Manager, Fire Phone

Designed applications and OS experiences for the Amazon Fire
Phone.

•  Designed Phone, SMS, Email, Calendar, and Contacts
applications
•  Established process and documentation standards adopted by all
application teams
•  Created patent-pending application design frameworks

Sr. User Experience Design Lead, Fire Phone

Design Lead, Kindle for iPhone and iPad.

•  Collaborated with stakeholders to define requirements for
cross-platform experiences
•  Lead team of internal and external visual and UX designers to
deliver Kindle for iPad and several versions of Kindle for iPhone

Sr. User Experience Designer, Kindle for iOS

Designer of Kindle for iPhone v1.0 - 2.7 and Kindle for BlackBerry.

•  Designed the UI architecture, interface, and interaction flow of
applications and experiences
•  Developed conceptual diagrams, wireframes, visual mockups,
click-throughs, and prototypes
•  Designed and conducted usability tests
•  Contributed the first mobile design pattern to Amazon’s existing
pattern library
•  Presented design to the UX team, product team, and executives

User Experience Designer, Amazon Kindle

Jewelry TV

Design lead for multiple teams building enterprise web applications.

•  Guided overall product development for several internal web
applications
•  Responsible for interface and interaction design of rich internet
applications
•  Developed methodology for conducting agile user-centered
design
•  Conducted usability tests, interviews, and contextual inquiry

UI Engineer (Interaction Designer)

Premier, Inc

Business Analyst

Web Specialist

Web Content Consultant

Improving Medtech software ➤ Advancing UX careers with storytelling @ uxstorytelling.io/course ➤ UX Consultant ➤ UX Designer & Educator

In 20 years as a UX/UI designer I've shipped hundreds of apps, websites, and features for big tech companies like Amazon and Motorola all the way down to tiny startups being run from a garage. 

5 years into my career I co-published an article about Agile UX work a colleague and I were doing at a broadcast retail company.

That led to several speaking engagements, and 1.5 years later I was in Seattle presenting the design for Kindle for iPhone 1.0 to Jeff Bezos.

I worked at Amazon for 6 years where I:

→ Designed and shipped dozens of Kindle reading apps used by millions
→ Got promoted 3 times
→ Managed and lead teams
→ Worked on highly visible "special projects"
→ Presented to Jeff Bezos and other execs more times than I can remember
 
And then I got burned out. 

So to recover I co-founded a tech startup. This is not a joke. This is also probably not advice I would give to anyone. 

The startup fizzled out quickly but it was my first exposure to entrepreneurship and I was hooked.

I didn't know what to do, I just knew I wanted to continue being out on my own.

With the help of others I started contracting. Over time that grew into a 7 figure design firm called Stepladder. 

Things about Stepladder that I'm proud of:

→ Short but impressive list of long time clients. We form partnerships.
→ 100% referral based
→ 100% of clients are repeat clients
→ Experienced designers come here to have more freedom in their life
→ Younger designers come here to get started and learn

I never dreamed that I would speak at conferences, work at a big tech name, or start companies. Yet here I am 20 years later incredibly fortunate, full of gratitude, sometimes a bit tired, and having learned:

→ You can't do it alone
→ Helping people is the best part of this job

I share what I've learned over the years here on LinkedIn and work with clients at www.stepladderUX.com.

Thanks for reading.

Wedbush

I currently work at Wedbush, designing the new trading platform for financial advisors and clients.

Wedbush is a financial services firm founded in 1955 and based in Los Angeles. It's a major investment bank, broker-dealer and wealth management company. They provide services like securities brokerage, investment banking, equity research, private client services and asset management.

Product Designer

Repocket

I joined Repocket to help users have a better experience with their apps and website:

• Built a new design language across web and mobile, so users felt at home.
• Fixed important parts to improve conversion rates and keep users coming back.
• Improved the website by making it more clear for new visitors to understand Repocket's value.

Working with Repocket showed me how important it is to look at design from all angles - from someone's first visit to the website to becoming a regular user. I found that when things work simply and make sense, people naturally want to come back.

Senior Product Designer

Climate Savers

I joined Climate Savers to guide their product development and shape new features:

• Helped define clear goals and priorities for both web and mobile platforms.
• Created intuitive ways for users to track and reduce their environmental impact.
• Built an MVP mobile app for consumers to help make climate-friendly choices in their daily lives.

Balint Studio

Working with different companies and cultures taught me to be flexible while staying focused on what matters - solving real problems for real people. 

Every project added a new perspective to my design approach, showing me there's always more than one way to tackle a challenge. It's been rewarding to see how thoughtful design can help businesses grow, no matter where they're based.

Freelance

Plytrix Analytics

At Plytrix, I served as the sole designer, leading design efforts across all products and shaping the user experience for both customers and internal teams.

Key contributions:

• Designed the core web app platform: Turned complex data into clear insights for customers.
• Established an internal design system: Ensured consistency and efficiency across all products.
• Built the marketing website: Defined the company’s brand identity and communicated its value.

This work laid the foundation for Plytrix’s visual direction and user experience as the company moved into its next stage of growth.

Olyn

At Olyn, I helped bridge the gap between business needs and user goals to guide product development.

• Translated stakeholder needs into clear, actionable user stories to keep projects focused.
• Applied design principles to support product development and improve usability.
• Drove product vision and strategy to align teams and priorities for the long term.

Working at Olyn showed me how important it is to get everyone talking and working together, while always thinking about what users really need.

Abra

I joined Abra to help shape and build new features for their crypto app serving over 1 million users.
‍
• Built a robust design system that enabled everyone to work faster and keep designs consistent.
• Designed full experience of Market Order & Limit Order.
• Created new features for the Institutional Businesses platform.
• Contributed to several products like  Borrow, Earn, Fund and DeFi.

My time at Abra taught me what it's really like to work closely with a product team - seeing how small design changes could make a big difference in how people used the app.

Inbound FinTech

I joined Inbound FinTech Agency to help fintech companies grow and reach more customers by working alongside our marketing, design, and engineering teams:
‍
• Designed marketing websites and improved conversion rates.
• Created animations for products, presentations, social posts, and interfaces.
• Contributed to the development of several websites.

I learned that good work comes from really listening to everyone - marketers need to tell good stories, developers need practical solutions, and customers need things that just work.

UX/UI Designer

Startupz.com

As the company's sole designer, I managed all aspects of design for startups including web design, product design and marketing assets.
‍
• I redesigned all marketing websites by improving their look and experience.
• Improved user experience on the web applications to make the product easier for new users.
• Created animations and illustrations to give users a better understanding of the product.
• Designed sales decks and guides for investors.

Being the only designer was challenging but rewarding. I learned to spot what needed fixing first and how to make the biggest impact with limited time.

Rainfall Branding

Graphic Designer

Rainfall was my ever first experience working in a marketing agency, they gave me opportunity to experience what it's like to work in a professional team at a very young age.
‍
• Learned how websites work and how to code them.
• Delivered design marketing assets for clients.
• Contributed with feedback and improvements of small projects.

Frontend Developer

Product Designer in Fintech & SaaS | Webflow Developer | Author of The Psychology Behind Design | Product Owner at Olyn

Hey there 👋 thanks for stopping by my profile!

In a nutshell:

I'm a Product Designer with expertise in Fintech and SaaS — who believes in the power of simplicity and psychology.

I’ve spent 6 years turning complex ideas into user-friendly designs, leading to at least a 30% increase in user satisfaction for people I worked with.

What I do:

- Make products easier to use
- Improve conversion & retention rate
- Help customers understand the product’s value

I care about these things, good work and making things better.

Balint Bogdan

I quietly shipped a new version of the Brisk landing page  🎉

The old one was okay. This one is honest.

What I let go of:

- Corporate “all-in-one platform” talk
- Long paragraphs nobody reads
- Outdated dashboard mockups
- Too many features at once

What I added:

- One clear value proposition
- One giant button that does the thing
- Real screenshots from the actual MVP
- Words from the 25 freelancers I talked to

Beta waitlist is now open for the first 100 freelancers. 
Phase 1 drops late December.

Check it out here - https://staybrisk.com

P.S. If you’ve ever sent an invoice and then spent the next few days wondering “did they even see it?”, just reply “same” and I’ll save you a beta spot.

I design products that look great and feel just right for users | Senior Product Designer in Fintech & SaaS | Webflow Developer | Author of "The Psychology Behind Design" 🧠

The moment that almost broke me:

"Why would I switch from Excel?"

Week 8 of user interviews. 

Talking to a freelance consultant who's been using the same spreadsheet for 6 years for his clients.

6 years. Same formulas. Same workflow.

I showed him Brisk's dashboard. 

Clean interface. Automated reminders. Real-time updates.

He looked at it for a minute and said "My Excel works fine. Why would I change?"

Went for a walk that night questioning everything. 

Maybe people don't actually want better tools. Maybe "good enough" wins. Maybe I'm solving a problem that doesn't exist.

Then I replayed the conversation. 

Earlier he'd said: "I spend every Sunday updating my spreadsheet. Hate it. But it's what I know."

And the thing is... he doesn't love Excel. 

He fears change more than he hates Sunday admin work. 

That reframed everything for me: 

People aren't resisting better solutions, they're resisting disruption to what already works.

So instead of selling "this is better", focus on "this is familiar, just faster".

Import their existing setup.
Keep what works.
Only automate the painful parts.

Building Brisk with this in mind now.

Beta coming soon: https://staybrisk.com

I've been sharing design psychology tips for 2 years.

But here's what I never talked about:

I'm a freelancer too.

Last year I almost lost €2500.

Not because a client refused to pay.

Because I forgot to follow up.

(I eventually got it, but only after an awkward conversation)

I realized: I can share design principles all day.

But if I can't run my own business without losing money to basic admin?

What's the point?

So I started building systems.

Then I started building a tool.

Here's what's changing:

I'm still sharing design insights.

But I'm also sharing the stuff nobody wants to deal with:

→ How to get paid without the awkwardness
→ Systems that keep you organized
→ Templates you can steal

Less theory. More "do this today."

First up: Payment reminder templates.

Chasing payments is the worst part of freelancing.

Not because clients are evil.

Most just forget.

But sending that reminder? Awkward.

"Am I being pushy?" 
"Should I wait a few more days?" 
"How do I say this without sounding desperate?"

I've sent hundreds of payment reminders.

These 3 templates work most of the time.

Copy them. Save them. Use them next time a client "forgets."

3 Payment reminders that don't feel generic

I used to think user psychology was all about clever tricks, nudges, colors, microcopy that gets people to click.

But the longer I work in product design, the more I realize it’s about respect.

Respect for people’s time. Their attention. Their trust.

It’s easy to get caught up in conversion rates and engagement metrics. I’ve done it. I still do, sometimes. But the best experiences I’ve built didn’t come from optimizing a funnel. They came from actually listening to what people needed, even if it wasn’t what I expected.

Sometimes that means making things simpler, not flashier. Sometimes it means saying no to a feature that looks good on paper but just adds noise.

I don’t always get it right. But I’m trying to get better at asking, "What would make this feel good for the person using it?" Not just, "What would make them click?"

It’s a small shift. But it changes everything.

Client ghosting is the worst.

You send a proposal. They love it. "Let's do this!"

Then... nothing.

You follow up. Crickets.

You follow up again. Still nothing.

Did they hate it? 
Did something happen? 
Are they just busy?

You'll never know.

Here's what I learned after being ghosted dozens of times:

It's rarely about you, but it's always preventable.

Why Clients Ghost & What to Do About It

Why does asking for money feel so weird?

You did the work. 
You delivered value. 
They agreed to your rate.

But when it's time to actually talk about payment?

Your stomach tightens. 
You rewrite the email 5 times. 
You add "sorry to bother you" without thinking.

The awkwardness isn't about the money.
It's about what the money represents to your brain.

Here is what to do about it...

The Awkwardness of Asking for Money

I caught myself yesterday doing the thing I hate: checking LinkedIn reactions every ten minutes like a teenager waiting for a text. 

A bunch of followers and I still feel like the kid yelling in the hallway that nobody hears.

Brisk is almost ready and part of me is terrified it’ll launch to the sound of crickets. 

The other half remembers exactly why I started.

It was never about building in public or content points. 

It was 1 am, day 48 overdue and I was writing yet another “just following up :)” email.

I don’t want anyone else to feel that small.

So yes, Brisk sends reminders that don’t make you cringe. 
Yes, invoices finally look decent and take 2 minutes to create. 
Yes, everything to manage your clients lives in one calm place.

But mostly it just… works in the background so you can stop thinking about money you’re already owed.

If that sounds like something you’d use, say anything below or DM me.

I’ll save you a spot in the first tiny batch.

taplio

The Battle

Jeff White

Balint Bogdan

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The Battle

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Balint Bogdan

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Balint Bogdan's LinkedIn Performance

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