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About — Johannesburg, South Africa — working globally

A senior practice,quietly held.

Bio

I'mAlcott—anindependentproductdesignerworkingacrossstrategy,systems,andinterfaces.Thethrough-lineofmyworkisrestraint:decidingwhatnottodesign,whattoremove,andwheretheseamsshouldsit.

MostrecentlyIleddesignontheAmTrustMobileplatform—aregulatedfinancialservicesproductwheretheworkwastomakecomplexunderwritingandclaimsfeelroutine.BeforethatIdesignedandshippedGraduin,astudent-financemarketplaceconnectingSouthAfricanlearnerswithfundersandinstitutions.

AlongsideproductworkIrunaparallelpracticeininteractivebroadcastdesign—currentlydesigningreal-timeanimatedTwitchoverlaysandtournamentmotiongraphicsfortheWarhammer40,000community,wheretheconstraintismakinginformationdense,legible,andtheatricalatthesametime.

Iworkdirectlywithfoundersandseniorproductteams.Noagencylayer,nojuniorhand-off.Theworkisshipped,notdeliverables.

Download CV (PDF) ↓LinkedIn ↗

Principles

  • 01

    Restraint over reach

    Decide what not to design. The interface should disappear into the act of using it.

  • 02

    Systems before screens

    A coherent product is a coherent system. Tokens, components, patterns — then pages.

  • 03

    Ship the thinking

    Every artifact exists to move a decision forward, not to decorate.

  • 04

    Respect the user's attention

    Performance, clarity, and quiet motion are not polish. They are the product.

Experience

  1. 2023 — Present

    Independent Product Designer

    Alcott Studio · Remote

    Fractional design lead and product design partner to founders. Strategy, design systems, and shipped product across fintech, healthtech, and consumer.

    • →Embedded with leadership teams across three growth-stage startups
    • →Built and maintained two design systems used by 20+ engineers
    • →Operate as the only designer in the room — strategy through shipped UI

  2. 2021 — 2023

    Senior Product Designer

    AmTrust Mobile Solutions · Johannesburg

    Led design on regulated financial services products — device insurance, claims, and underwriting tools — for retail and enterprise partners across Africa.

    • →Owned end-to-end design for the claims platform redesign
    • →Established the first formal design system used across mobile and web
    • →Partnered directly with engineering on a measurable drop in claim-abandonment

  3. 2019 — 2021

    Product Designer

    Graduin · Johannesburg

    Founding designer on a student-finance marketplace connecting learners, funders, and tertiary institutions in South Africa.

    • →Designed the original applicant and funder journeys end to end
    • →Built the visual identity, design system, and marketing site alongside the product
    • →Reduced application drop-off by simplifying a multi-step financial form into one progressive flow

  4. 2022 — Present

    Designer & Motion Lead — Warhammer 40K Broadcast

    Independent · Remote

    Interactive Twitch overlays, tournament HUDs, and animated lower-thirds for the Warhammer 40,000 competitive scene. Dense information made theatrical without sacrificing legibility.

    • →Real-time data-bound overlays for live tournaments
    • →Custom typographic and motion system inspired by 40K's grim heraldry
    • →Trusted by community casters and event organisers

Toolkit

Practice

  • Product strategy
  • Design systems
  • Interaction design
  • Information architecture
  • Design leadership
  • Prototyping

Craft

  • Figma
  • Framer
  • Webflow
  • After Effects
  • GSAP
  • Three.js / R3F
  • Spline

Code

  • HTML & CSS
  • TypeScript (working level)
  • Tailwind
  • React

Want to work together?

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