United States

UX Design

Service Design

Product Design

Customer Experience (CX)

UX Testing

UX Research

Hardware Design

AW#29

Certificate

Diploma

Associate's degree

✊🏿🏳️‍🌈 Diversity & Inclusion

Yan Grinshtein

Co-Founder & CEO

Instagram

Usability Testing

Quantitative research

Product strategy

Qualitative research

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Time management

Empathy

Leadership

Accessibility

Branding

Human computer interaction

Information architecture

Budget management

User research

Product roadmap

ChatGPT

Crazy Egg

Figma

InVision

Adobe Creative Suite

- Providing strategic advice and insights on emerging technologies and ethical AI implementations.
- Engaging in high-level discussions on market trends, business strategy, and technology.
- Collaborating on initiatives to create value for BlackCube members and the community.

Cepien AI is a patent-pending AI-native clarity and execution system that transforms unstructured data into crystal-clear insights, recommendations, and autonomous action — all aligned with business, product, and usability goals.

We’re building the world’s first collective neural network for organizations — where intelligence doesn’t just analyze, it thinks and acts.

- Member of the executive decision making team
- Oversaw the entire product design development lifecycle, from ideation to feature implementation, leveraging extensive research and user data.
- Identified crucial product needs and stayed ahead of future trends, maximizing feature opportunities.
- Led and mentored a multidisciplinary design team
- Implemented the Data Triangle System, significantly improving the decision-making process for the product roadmap.
- Oversaw research roadmap planning, tool-stack optimization, and collaboration strategies.
- Led the design evolution of the macOS App and drove planning for Augment Mobile AI.
- Led major innovations such as Unintrusive Contextual AI Interactions, Innovative Permissions Level Guided Onboarding Experience, and contextually aware Predictive AI Experiences.
- Helped Position the organization at the forefront of Personalized AI Experiences.
- My invention of the Augment Dot, became the subject of copying by other AI tools.
- Increased User Satisfaction
- Increased Investor Interest
- Product selected for IxDA 2023 Interaction Awards Shortlist alongside IBM and Google

- Collaborated closely with the CEO and COO/Head of Product to spearhead the development of a robust product roadmap.
- Orchestrated seamless execution from ideation to shipping.
- Identified product needs, anticipated future trends, and built a high-performing design team.
- Implemented the Data Triangle System to revolutionize product roadmap decision-making, enhancing the development process through constant research, testing, and iteration.
- Optimized team dynamics by identifying strengths and talents, successfully transitioning a field researcher into a UX Researcher role.
- Reshaped roles and team structure to align with company growth goals, expanding the design team to include UX Writing, UX Design, Product Design, and Visual Design.
- Introduced an Education Fund for continuous team growth and development, elevating team morale and fostering a unified vision, high job satisfaction, and enhanced leadership trust.
- Led the design team to orchestrate a complete redesign of the flagship mobile app in just 6 months.
- Achieved a remarkable 500% user acquisition growth within the first 3 months post-relaunch, underscoring the success of strategic efforts despite minimal marketing endeavors.

Building the future of Productivity

Born inside the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) Incubator, we’re currently in stealth mode and recently closed our seed funding at the start of 2022. Our founding team came together based on a strong shared belief that all our devices and apps should be working together to do so much more for us.

Working together with other design leaders from some of the world's largest brands to research, understand and design best practices in Passwordless Consumer Authentication.

Mentoring and coaching young and aspiring designers, helping and educating people through career changes and career transitioning into the design industry.

Drastically improved Product Development Process in collaboration with the Head of Product:
Improved cross-team collaboration, leading to increased productivity and visibility into ongoing design and development efforts
Successfully prioritized features, laying the groundwork for company-wide adoption of the User-Centered Design (UCD) approach

Established Accessibility Compliance within the organization:
Developed and implemented a clear plan with roadmaps and guidelines for each product to achieve Accessibility Compliance within 12-18 months
Integrated Accessibility as a guiding principle in future product development

Pioneered the Company's First Design System (HUDS):
Streamlined collaboration between Design, Engineering, and Marketing & PR
Enhanced efficiency in the design team's workflow, asset management, and asset delivery to both engineering and marketing teams

Developed and implemented new Decision-Making Framework - The Data Triangle System:
Concentrated efforts on the right functionality and features for planning and development
Collected and analyzed data from three key corners of the business:
- Outside: Conducted research, testing, and studies from end-users and competitors
- Inside: Gathered input from stakeholders, engineers, and other departments
- Customers: Collaborated with the Customer Success Team, Sales Team, and Product Advisory Board to understand buyer needs and pain points

Initiated and Launched a Product Advisory Board with the CTO:
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather valuable insights for informed decision-making
Demonstrated a commitment to aligning product development with diverse perspectives and business objectives

Promoted a Learning Culture and Redefined Product Development Flow:
Championed the integration of User Research, Persona Creation, and Prototyping with Usability Tests as essential components of product development
Designed a Product Development Flow emphasizing the validation or invalidation of ideas, features, and new product developments

Collaborated with Engineering Leadership to Elevate the Value of UX:
Worked closely with engineering leadership and engineers to emphasize the significance of UX and research
Assisted product managers in crafting refined user stories, incorporating engineering input at every stage

Engaged Fortune 500 Customers in Biometric Modality Preferability Research:
Developed a Biometric Modality Preferability Research Methodology for customers, facilitating discovery of preferred biometric modalities
Enhanced product deployment and user experience, reducing confusion for Fortune 500 customers

Planned and Executed Diverse Research Initiatives:
Conducted a wide range of research and studies leading to continuous refinement of products
Positioned the company as a leader in passwordless authentication systems within the Global 1000 companies, fostering innovation and sustained growth

Established a Robust UX Culture and Conducted Dozens of Studies Annually:
Built a pervasive UX culture, conducting numerous studies with hundreds of users across various industries
Spearheaded the creation of an End-of-Year UX Report, enhancing transparency and showcasing the company's commitment to user-centric innovation

Redesigned and Enhanced Special Education Web Application:
Led the redesign of the company's special education web-based application, focusing on improving user experience, workflows, and UI design

Balanced User Needs with Business Goals:
Enhanced usability and functionality for end-users while aligning with business goals and requirements

In-Depth Understanding of Regulatory Landscape and User Needs:
Conducted extensive learning and discovery of state regulations, school district requirements, and special education teachers/providers needs

Comprehensive User Research and Data Analysis:
Executed user research, interviews, and data analysis, cross-referencing insights with Help Desk and Training Departments for a holistic understanding

Usability Enhancement through Information Architecture and Prototyping:
Improved usability through strategic information architecture, user flows, and high-fidelity designs
Utilized rapid prototyping and high-fidelity functional prototypes, followed by user testing to validate product features

Oversaw UI Design Implementation:
Supervised the implementation of UI design by the technology department to ensure consistency and fidelity to the intended user experience

Advocated for Mobile-First Approach and Agile Methodologies:
Championed a Mobile-First mindset, emphasizing the importance of user experience on mobile devices
Advocated for the adoption of Agile methodologies and Lean UX principles in the product development process

Revamped User Experience for Flagship Product IEP Direct:
Applied UX design, user research, and usability testing expertise to redesign IEP Direct, a web-based special education application

Enhanced Workflow and Collaboration Between Departments:
Improved workflow and communication across multiple departments for increased efficiency

Trained Product Managers in UX Processes:
Effectively trained product managers in UX processes and methodologies to promote a user-centric approach

Identified and Addressed Regulatory and User Needs:
Identified state regulations, school district requirements, and specific needs of special education teachers and providers

Conducted Comprehensive User Research and Analysis:
Executed user research, interviews, and data analysis, collaborating with help desk and training departments for holistic insights

Oversaw UI Implementation by Engineering:
Ensured seamless integration of UX design by overseeing the UI implementation carried out by the engineering team

Improved Usability Through Strategic Design Measures:
Enhanced usability through information architecture, streamlined user flows, and high-fidelity designs
Led the creation of rapid prototypes and functional prototypes followed by thorough user testing

Advocated for Mobile-First and Adopted Agile Methodologies:
Advocated for a mobile-centric approach and implemented Agile methodologies and Lean UX principles
Fostered a more collaborative team environment to enhance overall product development

Successfully Redesigned IEP Maintenance Screen:
Completed a complex redesign of the IEP maintenance screen, reducing user complaints by eliminating extraneous elements, including 275 links

Directed redesign of company’s visual aesthetic, user experience, brand, and all visual assets by managing company’s complete rebrand with new concepts and redesign of corporate and marketing materials with new color scheme, product packaging, website, logo, and signage, enhancing user experience by redesigning online store, and maintaining new brand standards across social media, blog, events, vendor-based marketing projects, and cross promotions. Compiled concept-driven presentations for internal marketing purposes and promotion of new concepts to future investors. 

Created user experience for mobile app and software. Designed UX for end-to-end ecosystem. 

Developed low- and high-fidelity wireframes for online store, community site, software UI, and mobile app UI.

Helped plan pre-sale marketing campaign, including social media strategy, as well as advising on color palette and copywriting for new products, driving more than $600K in pre-sales.

Designed digital product development process incorporating user testing and analysis requirements.

Increased online sales 7.5% by redesigning the online store.

Responsible for all creative aspect in the company.

Client Meetings and Interviews

Project Analysis

Web and Mobile UX/UI

Research and Discovery 

Visual Design

Design Client Consultations

Lead visual designer across all company divisions, encompassing design of the corporate brand, marketing materials and website. 

Advised CEO on overall visual approach to company brand and related initiatives

Managed multiple projects simultaneously, creating wireframes, site-maps and designs for each division and corresponding client base

Directed web and mobile app designs

Drove all UI/GUI related projects

Analyzed color response through human psychology research and analysis

Managing the company's visual aspect, and brand presentation.

Branding

UX/UI Design

Visual Design

Managed design of GPS navigation UI and Maps, marketing, promo and advertising campaigns.

Ensured company brand was used properly by all retailers selling company products

Sourced and conducted meetings with potential retail clients in Israel and Ukraine

Analyzed new user trends in GPS navigation

Managed branding for advertisements and campaigns

Oversaw day-to-day operations of 15-person team and act as the direct liaison to core company clients.

Created conceptual design ideas and presented to a select group of clients

Negotiated and mitigated various challenges with clients such as Volkswagen, Tana Water (later acquired by Strauss Group), Microsoft and BlackBerry

Restructured team work flow by establishing a more structured approach including weekly work meetings, clear project deadlines and delivery schedules which increased the quality of work and resulted boosting the company’s reputation, client satisfaction and business growth

Managed web, mobile and branding projects direction, design and layout 

Directed company re-branding, design, and visual direction

Charged with the design and development of the brand for new company venture, PointClickEat.com.

Created all visual assets and build out of corporate identity 

Website design and layout

Developed advertising & print content

Designed UI of online ordering system

Responsible for reinventing the design of 4 online stores for a major online electronics retailer.

Performed client needs analysis for each store

Researched and analyzed comparable markets to inform restructure, rebranding, and redesign of stores

Increased sales by approximately 7% within the first quarter

Designed navigation systems

Managed UI design, website design and layout

Led all project management associated with rebrand

Designed advertisements for small and local business in the greater Toronto area.

Managed all client consultations regarding their catalog advertisements

Solved issues pertaining to ad space maximization

Created design and layout for advertisements and designed catalog page layout

Client relationship manager responsible for meeting management, conducting interviews, and facilitating questionnaires to better understand 
client needs.

Created clear wireframes of web pages for design needs 

Designed banner ads, and print advertising, and promotional material

Web site design and layout

Branding, Web Design, Corporate Identity, Web & Mobile Applications Design, UI/GUI/UX, Advertising Design, and much more...

Consulted clients and conducted analysis of client’s websites to provide recommendations and solutions for enhancing their web presence.

Conducted project analysis

Managed tight deadline constraints and limited budgets

Oversaw website design and layout, navigation design and layout

R Sloan

Owner & Principal Designer

Oleg Shilin

Design Director

Habib A. Noor

Senior Product Manager

Jessie Han

UX student

Mayan Ami

Creative Director

Saleem Noorali

UX/UI Designer

Mentorship Session

From Pixel Pusher to Creative Director of Machines The rise of generative AI hasn't killed the design career—it just radically redefined it. The manual craft of pushing pixels, writing basic code, or layout generation is being automated away in seconds. The future belongs to the Strategic Designer: the one who curates, directs, and leverages AI to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This personalized, 1-on-1 coaching session is designed to help you stop worrying about AI replacing you, and start using it to 10x your output, strategy, and market value.

Yan Grinshtein🇺🇸

About Yan Grinshtein

Expertise

Sessions with Yan Grinshtein

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