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I'm Surya Pillai, a UX and UI Designer with 11 years of experience crafting digital products across web and mobile that balance user needs with business goals. I blend aesthetics and storytelling with a research-driven, iterative process—participating in strategy, user research, prototyping, and optimization to drive conversions and impact. I'm currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Design at Hogeschool van Amsterdam (from 2024-09-01 to 2025-07-01). Based in Almere, I lead cross-functional teams, contribute to design systems, mentor designers, and focus on creating products that improve real-world outcomes.…I'm Surya Pillai, a UX and UI Designer with 11 years of experience crafting digital products across web and mobile that balance user needs with business goals. I blend aesthetics and storytelling with a research-driven, iterative process—participating in strategy, user research, prototyping, and optimization to drive conversions and impact. I'm currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Design at Hogeschool van Amsterdam (from 2024-09-01 to 2025-07-01). Based in Almere, I lead cross-functional teams, contribute to design systems, mentor designers, and focus on creating products that improve real-world outcomes.

Surya Pillai

UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer, +2

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I'm Surya Pillai, a UX and UI Designer with 11 years of experience crafting digital products across web and mobile that balance user needs with business goals. I blend aesthetics and storytelling with a research-driven, iterative process—participating in strategy, user research, prototyping, and optimization to drive conversions and impact. I'm currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Design at Hogeschool van Amsterdam (from 2024-09-01 to 2025-07-01). Based in Almere, I lead cross-functional teams, contribute to design systems, mentor designers, and focus on creating products that improve real-world outcomes.…I'm Surya Pillai, a UX and UI Designer with 11 years of experience crafting digital products across web and mobile that balance user needs with business goals. I blend aesthetics and storytelling with a research-driven, iterative process—participating in strategy, user research, prototyping, and optimization to drive conversions and impact. I'm currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Design at Hogeschool van Amsterdam (from 2024-09-01 to 2025-07-01). Based in Almere, I lead cross-functional teams, contribute to design systems, mentor designers, and focus on creating products that improve real-world outcomes.

Available to hire

I’m Surya Pillai, a UX and UI Designer with 11 years of experience crafting digital products across web and mobile that balance user needs with business goals. I blend aesthetics and storytelling with a research-driven, iterative process—participating in strategy, user research, prototyping, and optimization to drive conversions and impact.

I’m currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Design at Hogeschool van Amsterdam (from 2024-09-01 to 2025-07-01). Based in Almere, I lead cross-functional teams, contribute to design systems, mentor designers, and focus on creating products that improve real-world outcomes.

Skills

Product Design

Web Design

Experience Level

Product Design

Expert

Web Design

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

Dutch

Beginner

Hindi

Fluent

Work Experience

Designer - Product and Visual Design (Freelance) at Freelance

December 31, 2013 - October 1, 2025

Designed a 360° product demo for Surf Excel across South Asian regions; conducted research, user interviews, and cross-functional workshops; created UX flows, closely collaborating with R&D and product marketing teams; assisted marketing with a communication solution for Axe Deodorant to showcase benefits.

UI and Visual Design Intern at Deadline Advertising

July 31, 2013 - October 1, 2025

Involved in ideation and execution of brand identity and UI projects for B2C Healthcare and Wellness clients; supported design team with branding and UI work.

Design Researcher at Hindustan Unilever Limited

June 30, 2014 - October 1, 2025

Contributed to design research initiatives for FMCG products and packaging, supporting design strategy and consumer insights.

UX Designer at Carwale (India’s largest Automotive E-comm. Solution)

June 30, 2016 - October 1, 2025

- Led 30+ B2B and B2C design projects across Health Tech, E-Commerce, Fintech, Climate Tech, and more; owned end-to-end UX for mobile app and web; drove strategy, research, wireframing, testing, and design systems to high-fidelity UI delivery. - Conducted UX audits and led data-driven redesigns to improve usability, conversion, and engagement metrics. - Collaborated with cross-functional teams (developers, product managers, data scientists, and product marketing), delivering SEO-friendly digital products in an Agile setup. - Managed and mentored a 7-member product team across design and front-end. Key Projects: Veera Health App (0 to 1 design) driving 300% MoM growth in paid customers within 3 months and Y Combinator incubation; UNIDO project to fund low-carbon tech startups in India (simplified the application process, reducing processing time from 2 hours to 30 minutes).

Director - Product Design and UX at Semly Pro

July 31, 2024 - October 1, 2025

Led product design and UX for Semly Pro, a design and performance marketing agency; oversaw UI and visual design, guided cross-functional teams, and contributed to branding and client-facing design strategies.

UI and Visual Design Intern at Deadline Advertising

July 31, 2013 - October 1, 2025

Involved in the ideation and execution of brand identity and UI projects that included logo design, brand collateral, and web design for B2C Healthcare and Wellness clients.