Profile
As a seasoned Design Leader with 16 years of experience, I specialise in transforming complex business challenges into strategic, and intelligent design solutions that fosters unity and impact. Guided by intentionality and authentic collaborations, I’m passionate about elevating businesses and brands through immersive digital experiences and service offerings.
At Aesop, I lead teams across research, craft and technology to execute digital products and services that enrich peoples lives. With insight and imagination at the centre of everything I do, my expertise lies in distilling complex product strategy into understandable concepts to create a shared vision and impactful outcomes.
At the heart of my interactions, is a transparent, iterative and collaborative approach that sets the stage for a successful cross functional partnerships. You can learn more about my approach to leading highly effective design teams here.
Capabilities
Design leadership Product, UX, UI & interaction designCustomer experience strategyService DesignStrategic researchWeb development
Aesop RMITMelbourne CentralACMIAustralia Post
Select experience & collabs
Approach
At the heart of my way of working is a transparent, iterative and collaborative approach to set the stage for a successful cross functional partnership.
You can read more about my thinking here.
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Insights and data informed
The Innovation Team were engaged to develop an inclusive design thinking process to pull together the key challenges, feedback, and ideas from Aesopians all around the world. This included 27 interviews and 7 workshops with 2.5% of Aesopians from across all regions. Online and retail post-purchase survey from 18 markets. Collaborative workshops from the Digital Team.
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Synthesis and prioritisation
Stakeholder workshops helped to synthesis priority areas of focused. Five key themes were identified throughout the research and design thinking process.
Recognitions
D&AD Awards 2021
Webby Awards 2021
Awwwards - site of the day
FWA
UX Collective
The Design Blacklist
Certain magazine
Klikkentheke.com
ACMI Labs
Print Media Archive
MADA Now 2014
AGDA National Biennial Awards 2006 Melbourne Advertising Directors Club 2006
D&AD Awards - Wood Pencil
2021
Aesop present: Aromatique Candles
Awwwards - Site of the day
2021
Aesop present: Aromatique Candles
Webby Awards - Webby Winner
2021
Aesop present: Aromatique Candles
Webby Awards - Webby People's Voice Winner
2021
Aesop present: Aromatique Candles
The FWA - FWA of the day
2021
Aesop present: Aromatique Candles
Publications & Talks
'Agile UX' in UX Collective 2021
'How writing can help your design practice' in UX Collective
2019
Whole of Discipline lecture series, RMIT 2019
ACMI X Talks 2017
UX Bootcamp - contributor
2021
Agile UX
UX Collective - contributor
2019
How writing can help your design practice
RMIT - Whole of Discipline lecture series
2019
Career pathways for designers
Contact
For consulting enquiries
james@j-r.design
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Recognition
Recognise our customers for their loyalty to create a unique and deep relationship with them.