I help product companies get to their next stage of growth, with design.

I’m a product design lead who uses the tools of design and systems thinking, design research, behavior change, critical thinking, and computation to craft purpose-driven and inclusive digital experiences.

👋 Let’s connect on LinkedIn

AI design systems for time awareness

design systems ux for ML/AI

See: laurel.ai

Designing intervention for end-of-life preparedness

end-to-end strategy ux mixed methods research

See: Award | life-kit.us | Design process →

Designing for data-informed sustainability behaviour change

end-to-end strategy ux research

See: CoGo on Forbes →

Designing for network visibility for collaborative communities

feature design ux review and strategy marketing website

Designing a social app for parents with kids with disability

feature design ux strategy product alignment

Designing interactive documentary for refugee stories

end-to-end narrative design interactive strategy

See: Award →

Kia ora, I’m Nanz (Nandini Nair) – a Product Designer with a track record spanning over a decade across diverse company stages (from seed to Series C). My expertise centers on designing powerful and accessible productivity and community tools, with a deep focus on the EdTech and AI sectors. I am dedicated to increasing design maturity within organizations and shaping product strategies that drive scalable growth and prioritize inclusive and user-centered experiences. I believe in the power of robust collaboration with engineering and data science to ground design decisions in data and maximize impact.

My current passion lies at the intersection of product design and education technology. Through my role at Kami and engagement with the international EdTech community—attending ISTE (US), BETT (UK), Edutech Asia, Edutech Australia, and contributing to the Stanford EdTech Remix, and school visits across New Zealand, Asia and UK—I've developed a clear perspective. I believe that amidst the transformative potential of AI and new technologies, our core mission must be to serve students. This means championing design that enhances learner agency through intuitive, accessible, and safe experiences.

Here is a testimonial from my coworker:

Nanz has made a remarkable impact and played a pivotal role in shaping the new world of Kami and beyond. Her product thinking is exceptional — she excels at identifying core problems and tackling ambiguous challenges with clarity and precision. Despite juggling numerous responsibilities, she remains incredibly efficient, effectively managing priorities and ensuring seamless coordination across cross-functional teams. Her insights are invaluable, and her thoughtful feedback continuously elevates the quality of our work. In addition to her exceptional design skills, Nanz is highly proactive in fostering collaboration and communication. Humble and open-minded, she consistently strives for improvement, always seeking opportunities to learn and grow. Her dedication to excellence and ability to inspire others makes her a top performer without question. — Anonymous performance reviewer, Kami

Nandini is a high-value Product Design addition to any team looking for immediate impact. With a diverse skillset that ranges from research, journey mapping to design systems, Nanz demonstrated that she is a strong fit for a team in ANY stage of a product build. — Michael Mizono, Head of Design

She was instrumental in working with my engineering team during the delivery of a completely new flagship product for our company. She was professional, friendly, and provided meaningful insight and contribution on a daily basis. Would definitely work with her again. — Michael Tobias, Lead Developer

Nandini is a great sense-maker who not only asks provocative questions but also leads the way to bring clarity and meaning to ambiguity. She is a proactive learner who always grounds her work in theory and research. I would love to work with her again. — Michelle Chou, Product Designer

I would hire Nanz again in an instant! She is incredibly creative, a hard worker, and a real team player. Lucky you if she's applying for a job with you! — Ben Gleisner, CEO

She connects people from across the organisation by participating in high level product strategy discussions and decisions, and turning out detailed designs, and working directly with software developers to ensure excellent UX… — Gardner Bickford, Developer Lead

As a startup founder I am always looking for that perfect designer who can convert a vulnerable little idea into life on the page, creating a new brand, or nailing that look and feel. I have entrusted this process to Nanz on more than half a dozen organisation… — Linc Gasking, Serial Entrepreneur