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Principal Product Designer

Alex Zapadenko

Product design leader with 15+ years across enterprise platforms, B2B SaaS, and 0→1 products. Currently directing AI-driven design at Banyan Software, shaping both the AI-assisted pipeline and the next-generation experiences it ships across a portfolio of 50+ vertical SaaS products. Recently led the design for re-platforming Intuit Mailchimp Transactional — a developer-focused email API — into the unified Mailchimp experience. Earlier, scaled TheoremOne's design team from 10 to 50+ and integrated a 200-person global design practice at Monks. Open to select fractional and advisory engagements where I can set strategy, ship complex products, and build the teams behind them.

Get in touchDownload resumeLinkedIn

Years of experience

0

In design leadership

0

Largest team led

0

Designers hired

0

Projects delivered

0

Industries served

0

Projects

Selected case studies

A selection of work spanning enterprise platforms, B2B SaaS, and 0→1 products.

Intuit Mailchimp

Mailchimp Transactional

Unifying two Mailchimp products built and run as separate apps

A 0→1 marketplace for fine-mineral collectors, built on trust

Earthwonders

A 0→1 marketplace for fine-mineral collectors, built on trust

Modernizing an enterprise platform that can never stop running

BlackLine

Modernizing an enterprise platform that can never stop running

Redacting confidential documents locally before AI ever sees them

DocRobot

Redacting confidential documents locally before AI ever sees them

A member portal, and the system that lets it keep growing

The Osage Nation

A member portal, and the system that lets it keep growing

One watchlist and one feed across every streaming service

WatchWorthy

One watchlist and one feed across every streaming service

A UX audit that became the team's build roadmap

Navigate

A UX audit that became the team's build roadmap

Vibe-code

Experiments

Apps I've vibe-coded to chase an idea or try out a new tool — quick experiments built fast with AI.

A Pathfinder 2e character builder with AI portraits that restyle every time you re-equip

Pathfinder

A Pathfinder 2e character builder with AI portraits that restyle every time you re-equip

React + AIImage genTTRPG
A voice-first AI assistant for teachers — lesson plans, parent notes, quizzes

Poppy

A voice-first AI assistant for teachers — lesson plans, parent notes, quizzes

Next.js + GPTVoiceEdTech
A social marketplace for rock & mineral collectors

RockStore

A social marketplace for rock & mineral collectors

Next.jsMarketplaceMaps + Search
A live fleet-tracking map with AI-generated telemetry, streamed from Postgres

Motive

A live fleet-tracking map with AI-generated telemetry, streamed from Postgres

Next.jsRealtimeGeospatial

Assorted

Other client work

Resume

The path so far

Download resume

  1. Banyan Software

    1. Principal Architect, AI Product Design

      May 2026 – Present · 3 mos

      Direct AI-driven design for an internal Software Modernization Factory retooling a portfolio of 50+ vertical SaaS products across the group. Shape both the AI-assisted pipeline that does the work and the next generation of experiences it ships — embedding intelligent workflows into products where legacy interfaces stood.

  2. Product Inc.

    1. Principal Product Designer

      Dec 2022 – Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

      Run a fractional design practice for early-stage founders, from product strategy through launch. Anchor ongoing engagements at EarthWonders (e-commerce) and Edvo (B2C SaaS), and ship 0→1 concepts, marketing sites, and investor materials for Cracken AGI, Journify, UnboxAI, and other emerging startups.

  3. Intuit Mailchimp

    1. Product Designer (Contract)

      April 2026

      Set the design vision for collapsing Mailchimp Transactional into the core Mailchimp product — a re-platform that unifies two separate apps into a single workspace for marketers and developers. Made the case for swapping an incremental UI refresh for a full platform integration, and shaped the roadmap that followed.

Work together

Find the mode that fits

Three modes depending on where your team is. Currently taking on fractional work.

Fractional (1–3 days/wk)

Open

Best for: Growing teams that need senior leadership without adding a full headcount.

  • Player-coach support for designers
  • Tighter design/eng handoffs
  • Hands-on design where it matters
Start a conversation

Full-time Director

Not available

Best for: Teams that need a long-term design leader to scale people, systems, and delivery.

  • Org design, hiring, leveling and coaching
  • Design ops and governance
  • Hands-on high-leverage work

Full-time Principal

Not available

Best for: Hands-on execution in complex areas where an expert IC leads by doing.

  • Ownership of critical product surfaces
  • Deep discovery, design and prototyping
  • Close pairing with engineering and PM