I am Jonathan Plews, a Senior UI/UX Designer & Product Manager with 15+ years’ experience leading the strategy, discovery and delivery of user-centered SaaS platforms and digital products. I’m passionate about turning customer insights into practical roadmaps that balance user value, business outcomes and technical feasibility. I excel at cross-functional leadership across engineering, design, architecture, legal and security in regulated environments, grounding product decisions in user research, accessibility and usability while focusing on measurable value, performance and stakeholder alignment.

Jonathan Plews

I am Jonathan Plews, a Senior UI/UX Designer & Product Manager with 15+ years’ experience leading the strategy, discovery and delivery of user-centered SaaS platforms and digital products. I’m passionate about turning customer insights into practical roadmaps that balance user value, business outcomes and technical feasibility. I excel at cross-functional leadership across engineering, design, architecture, legal and security in regulated environments, grounding product decisions in user research, accessibility and usability while focusing on measurable value, performance and stakeholder alignment.

Available to hire

I am Jonathan Plews, a Senior UI/UX Designer & Product Manager with 15+ years’ experience leading the strategy, discovery and delivery of user-centered SaaS platforms and digital products. I’m passionate about turning customer insights into practical roadmaps that balance user value, business outcomes and technical feasibility.

I excel at cross-functional leadership across engineering, design, architecture, legal and security in regulated environments, grounding product decisions in user research, accessibility and usability while focusing on measurable value, performance and stakeholder alignment.

See more

Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior UI/UX Designer & Product Manager at Wema UK
January 1, 2023 - Present
Own the end-to-end product lifecycle, from discovery and strategy through launch, iteration and optimisation. Define and communicate a clear product vision and roadmap, balancing customer value, commercial impact and technical feasibility. Lead structured customer and partner discovery, translating insights into prioritised initiatives and actionable requirements. Partner closely with engineering, design and architecture to deliver high-quality features on time and to agreed outcomes. Drive alignment across stakeholders, ensuring clarity on priorities, trade-offs and delivery expectations. Ensure compliance with UK & EU data residency, security and sovereignty requirements in collaboration with legal and security teams. Key Achievement: Successfully integrated Wema’s custom inventory and shipping management platform with CRM systems and led the launch of customer-facing shop and support applications, enabling improved operational efficiency and customer experience.
Senior UI/UX Designer & Product Manager at GSJP Limited
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2023
Led product strategy, discovery and delivery for multiple SaaS platforms, owning outcomes from concept through scale. Defined product requirements, user journeys and success metrics, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Built and maintained scalable design systems and reusable components to support efficient, consistent product development. Conducted customer research, usability testing and data-driven iteration to continuously improve engagement and adoption. Worked closely with engineering teams to ensure feasibility, quality and timely delivery. Key Achievement: Product Manager and UX Lead for DigEplan, now the global market leader and adopted by over 75% of U.S. town councils, demonstrating strong product-market fit and sustained value delivery.
Founding Designer & Product Owner at Actual Experience PLC
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2017
Owned product and design direction for enterprise SaaS platforms, mobile applications (iOS & Android) and web products. Acted as the primary product owner, aligning business strategy, customer needs and delivery teams. Led cross-functional collaboration with developers, commercial teams and senior stakeholders. Ensured consistency across brand, product experience and platform capabilities at scale. Key Achievement: Led the design and product direction for a global SaaS platform used by partners including Verizon and Vodafone as a core operational solution for their worldwide customer bases.

Education

MA Graphic Design & Photography at De Montfort University
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2009
MA Fine Art & History of Art (Merit) at University of Edinburgh
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2008
BA Fine Art & History of Art (1st Class) at University of Edinburgh
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2007
FDA Fine Art & Design (Merit) at Leith School of Art
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2004

Qualifications

BA Fine Art & History of Art
September 20, 2004 - June 29, 2007
MA Fine Art & History of Art
September 24, 2007 - July 4, 2008
MA Graphic Design & Photography
October 6, 2008 - June 5, 2009

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Professional Services
    paper Wema UK — Designing a Scalable Stock & Order Management Platform for a Precision Manufacturer

    Executive Summary

    Wema UK is a global manufacturer of precision level sensors supplying major automotive, marine, industrial, and military OEMs. With rapid growth across Europe, Wema needed to scale production and fulfilment without compromising accuracy, compliance or customer trust.

    I designed a centralised stock and order management platform that unified fragmented internal systems and introduced a controlled customer-facing experience. The result was a scalable operational foundation that reduced errors, improved delivery confidence and lowered operational overhead.

    This project demonstrates how I use UX to align complex internal systems with commercial and customer outcomes.

    My Role

    I owned the product experience end to end as the sole UX/UI designer, working directly with leadership, engineering, and operational teams.

    Responsibilities included:

    • Product discovery and user research
    • Workflow and system modelling
    • Stakeholder alignment across departments
    • Interaction design and visual language
    • Prototyping, validation, and launch support

    Final Product

    The platform unified stock, ordering, and fulfilment into a single system supporting both internal teams and customers.

    Key capabilities included:

    • Real-time stock visibility and alerts
    • Automated shipping and customs documentation
    • End-to-end shipment tracking
    • Customer uploads for bespoke orders
    • Flexible scheduling for large-scale projects
    • An AI assistant for general enquiries

    The system was designed to be usable immediately while remaining modular for future expansion.

    paper DigEplan — Redesigning an Enterprise GovTech Platform

    Executive Summary

    DigEplan is an enterprise electronic plan review platform used by municipalities and planning authorities to review and approve development documentation.

    I led the end-to-end UX, UI and product redesign, transforming DigEplan from a beta product with usability issues into a scalable, enterprise-ready SaaS platform. The redesign supported international adoption and contributed directly to DigEplan’s acquisition by Avolve Software in 2022.

    This case study reflects how I design for trust, regulatory risk, and long-term scalability.

    My Role

    I acted as the sole owner of the product experience:

    • Lead UX and UI designer
    • Experience-focused product lead
    • Design decision-maker working directly with engineering, leadership and customers

    I owned the experience from discovery through delivery, including interaction patterns, visual language and system design.

    Final Product

    The redesigned DigEplan significantly reshaped expectations within the plan-review space and set a new benchmark for usability that competitors began to reflect in their own products.

    When I was brought in to lead the end-to-end redesign, DigEplan had only a small number of clients in the UK and the Netherlands. Following the release of the redesigned platform, the product gained strong traction in the US market and within a year became the dominant Electronic Plan Review (EPR) solution used by local authorities on the US West Coast.

    The streamlined plan-review workflow delivered measurable operational improvements for customers, including:

    • A 50% reduction in review time, decreasing from 7–10 days to 3–5 days
    • A 3× increase in throughput, from approximately 30 plans reviewed per month to over 100
    • Annual plan reviews exceeding 500,000 per authority on average

    In 2022, DigEplan was acquired by Avolve Software and has since become a global leader in electronic plan review, with more than 350 government agencies across the United States relying on the platform.

    paper Actual — Designing a Human‑Centric Enterprise Analytics Platform

    Executive Summary

    Actual (formerly Actual Experience) evolved from a supply chain analytics tool into a Digital Workplace Management System (DWMS) used by large enterprises.

    In 2021, I led the design of Actual’s first customer-facing DWMS portal, with a focus on the Human Experience (HX) capability — translating complex IT and operational data into actionable, human-centred insight.

    This case study demonstrates how I design enterprise analytics for decision-making, not dashboards.

    My Role

    I owned the UX and UI end to end:

    • Lead designer and experience owner
    • Design partner to product, engineering, and leadership
    • Responsible for interaction model, visual language, and system architecture

    Final Product

    The final product was well received and adopted at a faster-than-expected pace, driven by a streamlined onboarding experience that allowed users to become productive quickly.

    The focus on a simple, user-friendly interface resulted in significantly fewer support queries compared with Actual’s other products, reducing friction for both customers and internal teams.

    The inclusion of financial metrics also increased adoption among executive stakeholders. By making the financial impact of workplace decisions visible, the DWMS strengthened its value at a leadership level and contributed to reduced revenue loss associated with user frustration and poor system adoption.

    paper Vortex 6 — Repositioning a B2B SaaS Brand for Trust, Clarity and Growth

    Executive Summary

    Vortex 6 (V6) is a B2B SaaS platform operating within the Cisco partner ecosystem, helping organisations manage certification compliance and maximise available rebates through automation and visibility.

    I led a comprehensive brand repositioning to establish V6 as a credible, premium partner rather than a functional compliance tool. The work focused on clarity, trust, and scalability — aligning brand perception with the value of the product.

    My Role

    I acted as the sole brand designer and strategist.

    Responsibilities included:

    • Brand positioning and strategy
    • Logo and identity system design
    • Brand guidelines and rollout
    • Shaping the first post-rebrand marketing campaign

    I worked closely with stakeholders to align brand direction with commercial goals.

    Outcomes & Impact

    The rebrand launched in May 2024 and delivered immediate results:

    • Social media impressions increased by 600%+
    • Website traffic grew from 65 to 342 daily visits
    • Customer leads increased by 132%
    • Conversion rates reached 78%

    The results validated the strategic repositioning, demonstrating the commercial impact of clearer brand positioning.

    paper DigEplan — Designing a Brand System to Support Trust and Enterprise Adoption

    Executive Summary

    DigEplan is an electronic plan review (EPR) platform used by government agencies and planning authorities to review and approve development documentation digitally.

    I led the creation of DigEplan’s brand identity alongside a broader UX and product redesign, repositioning the platform from an early-stage beta into a credible, enterprise-ready GovTech solution. The work aligned brand, product, and usability around a single goal: enabling trust in regulated, high-stakes workflows.

    This case study demonstrates how brand strategy and UX design can work together to support adoption and scale.

    My Role

    I acted as the sole designer, owning both brand and experience.

    Responsibilities included:

    • Brand strategy and identity design
    • End-to-end rebrand and rollout
    • Aligning brand expression with product usability
    • Working directly with leadership and development teams

    Outcomes & Impact

    Following the rebrand and UX redesign:

    • DigEplan achieved rapid adoption, particularly in North America
    • The platform gained a clear, enterprise-ready value proposition
    • Brand and product alignment reinforced trust with public-sector buyers

    In 2022, DigEplan was acquired by Avolve Software and is now the market-leading EPR platform used by 350+ government agencies across the US.

    paper Actual Experience — Designing a Scalable Brand System for an Enterprise SaaS Business

    Executive Summary

    Actual Experience is an enterprise SaaS platform that evolved from a supply chain monitoring tool into a Digital Workplace Management System (DWMS), enabling organisations to understand and improve employee experience, productivity and engagement at scale.

    I led the development and long-term evolution of Actual Experience’s brand strategy and identity, supporting the company’s growth from early-stage startup through to public listing and enterprise adoption. The work focused on building a brand system that could scale alongside a maturing product, support enterprise and investor trust and clearly articulate a complex, data-driven value proposition.

    This case study demonstrates senior brand leadership through sustained stewardship rather than a single rebrand moment.

    My Role

    I acted as Art Director and brand lead, owning the brand end to end over an extended period.

    Responsibilities included:

    • Defining and evolving brand strategy
    • Designing and maintaining the global brand identity
    • Overseeing application across product, marketing, sales, and investor communications
    • Ensuring brand alignment as the company scaled and entered new markets

    I worked directly with founders and leadership to ensure the brand supported both immediate commercial needs and long-term business goals.

    Outcome & Impact

    The brand supported Actual Experience through a period of significant growth:

    • Successful listing on the AIM market
    • Enterprise adoption by Fortune 500 organisations including Verizon, Vodafone, Sky UK and Reuters
    • Establishment of the company as a credible DWMS provider

    The brand became a strategic asset — reinforcing trust, clarity & differentiation across customers, partners and investors.