Design consulting for complex digital products
Product strategy, user research and design for teams building enterprise tools, B2B/B2G platforms, SaaS products and public services. 15 years of product design experience. I work alongside digital directors, product leadership and engineering teams, at the intersection of strategy, methodology and execution.
You may recognize these situations
Each phase of a digital product carries specific challenges where design and user research change the outcome. The symptoms are often visible, the structural causes less so.
Development is progressing but the client keeps requesting changes. Each delivery triggers a new round of adjustments. The team works hard, yet the product does not converge.
There is no upstream product framing. User journeys are not arbitrated, feature scope is not validated, and the team builds on assumptions rather than evidence.
Rework accumulates. Delivery timelines slip. The engineering team loses velocity, and the client loses confidence in the process.
The platform is live. It works. But usage remains flat. The onboarding flow is technically functional, yet new users drop off before completing their first meaningful action.
There is no formalized acquisition strategy. The onboarding does not guide users toward the core value. Landing pages do not speak the language of the people they are trying to reach.
The development investment does not translate into adoption. The gap between the tool as conceived and the tool as experienced generates frustration on both sides.
The platform generates traffic. Users browse, search, explore. But the key actions that drive value (contact, booking, transaction) remain consistently low.
The user journey contains friction points that were never mapped or tested. Calls to action do not match user intent. The interface pushes features rather than guiding toward outcomes.
Acquisition spend is not recovered. Users leave before generating value. The product team invests in new features while the existing funnel leaks.
Users come once and do not return. The platform acquires new users each month, but the active user base does not grow. Revenue stagnates despite continuous investment.
There is no compelling reason to return. The experience does not evolve with usage. Notifications are generic. The value that brought users in the first time is not reinforced over time.
Customer acquisition cost is not amortized. Revenue growth requires a constant flow of new users rather than deepening existing relationships. The business model does not compound.
These situations are addressable. Here is how I approach them.
How an engagement works
A clear process, from the first conversation to autonomous continuation. Each phase produces concrete deliverables that your team can act on immediately.
Diagnostic
I audit the current product, user flows, and decision-making processes. I interview stakeholders and end users to map the gaps between business intent and user reality.
Diagnosis document with prioritized opportunities, risk mapping, and a recommended action plan.
Framing
We align on the problem perimeter, success criteria and constraints. I facilitate workshops with your team to build shared understanding and define what the first cycle will produce.
Scoping document with validated hypotheses, success metrics, and a detailed execution plan.
Execution
Short, iterative cycles. Each cycle produces a testable artifact: a prototype, a tested flow, a design system foundation. I work embedded with your product and engineering teams.
Functional prototypes, tested user flows, documented design decisions, implementation-ready specifications.
Handoff
I document everything produced, train your team on new processes, and establish the rituals and tools for autonomous continuation.
Complete project documentation, team training materials, and a follow-up recommendations memo.
Service offerings
Five formats that can be combined according to your context, your phase, and your budget.
Product Diagnostic
Duration: 1 to 2 weeksAudit of the existing product, user behavior analysis, stakeholder interviews, and structured restitution. The diagnostic reveals the root causes of visible problems and produces a prioritized action plan.
- Illustrated diagnosis report
- Structured hypotheses and risk mapping
- Prioritized backlog with recommendations
- Stakeholder presentation
Prototype Sprint
Duration: 2 to 3 weeksRapid design of interactive prototypes to test hypotheses with real users before committing to development. Functional HTML prototypes that stakeholders can experience directly, not static mockups.
- Functional HTML prototypes (5 to 15 screens)
- User test report (5 sessions)
- Functional specifications
- Implementation backlog
User Research
Duration: 3 to 6 weeksQualitative interviews, usability tests, or combined methodology. Protocol adapted to context: moderated or unmoderated, remote or in-person, panel recruited for purpose. The synthesis produces actionable data to inform product decisions.
- Research brief and interview guides
- Individual session syntheses
- Consolidated report with insight matrix
- Prioritized recommendations and backlog
Ongoing UX Partnership
Duration: 3 to 12 monthsRegular support alongside the product team: sprint reviews, UX arbitration, intermediate testing, mockup evolutions. A flexible format adapted to your sprint rhythm, providing senior design input without the overhead of a full-time hire.
- Evolving mockups and design iterations
- Sprint reviews and UX arbitration
- Intermediate user tests
- Continuous design adjustments
Lead Experience
Duration: 3 to 6 monthsSenior positioning in direct contact with the product director or executive committee. Conceptualization, design project structuring, framing, and execution planning. For organizations that need strategic design leadership without hiring a full-time Head of Design.
- Execution plan and experience roadmap
- Product practice structuring
- Stakeholder alignment (C-Level, PM, Engineering)
- Individual coaching and team mentoring
Indicative daily rate: 700 EUR excl. VAT. Adjusted based on format, duration, and scope.
Each engagement is scoped individually. These indications reflect typical project ranges.
Concrete engagement scenarios
Three realistic situations, from the first conversation to measurable outcomes. Based on actual project experience.
First collaboration: from diagnostic to tested prototype
A digital director at a public institution manages a platform connecting local actors with funding programs. The product is live, technically functional, but adoption is flat. Before committing to a full redesign, the team needs to understand what is actually blocking users and to see what an improved experience could look like.
Product diagnostic: audit existing flows, analyze behavioral data, conduct 5 user interviews.
Framing workshop with the product team: restitution of findings, alignment on 3 priority improvements.
Prototype sprint: redesign 3 key user flows, build a functional clickable prototype.
User testing with 5 end users. Synthesis, prioritized backlog, and recommendations.
A tested prototype demonstrating the improvement potential. A prioritized backlog the product team can execute on. Factual evidence to secure the budget for the next phase.
Reference clients
Organizations I have worked with, the scope of the engagement, and what it produced.
Search engine redesign and conversion optimization across two marketplace platforms (Aquagir, Numérique360).
Conversion funnel redesigned with 27+ tested HTML prototypes. 70+ days of downstream development generated.
User research for the MonEmploiDirect mobile app launch. Moderated and unmoderated usability tests with employers and employees.
Research methodology established. 18 user test sessions conducted. Prioritized improvement backlog integrated into sprints.
6-year product transformation. From Android launcher to 7-app SaaS suite. Design team built from 0 to 5 designers. Executive committee member.
SaaS suite serving 500,000 students across 465 schools. Design system reducing production time by 60%.
Redesign of B2B publisher tools. Design system, upload flows, live dashboard, player manager. Coordination across Paris, Marseille, New York.
Livestream setup time cut by 50%. Clip creation time cut by 75%. Partner NPS increased by 34 points.
End-to-end product design from 0 to 1. Three major releases in 12 months: funding prototype, enriched V2, mobile-first V3.
2,000 paying customers in 24 months. Series A raised November 2025. Task access time halved.
Lead Product Designer for the national VAE simplification platform. User research, design thinking workshops, product ops restructuring.
AI prototype deployed in one week. Enterprise journey operational. Product workflows restructured.
Delivery modes
Three formats to match the way your organization works and the nature of the engagement.
Focused Mission
1 to 12 weeksA defined scope with a start, a delivery, and an end. The most direct format for diagnostics, prototyping sprints, and research programs. Clear deliverables, clear timeline.
- Clear brief with a limited perimeter
- Hypothesis to validate before engaging development
- Budget to defend with tangible deliverables
Embedded Partnership
1 to 6 monthsI join your product team for a defined period. Daily collaboration with PM, engineering, and stakeholders. Full integration into your processes, tools, and rituals.
- New product launch needing structured design from day one
- Team missing a senior design resource
- Complex organization requiring embedded presence
Ongoing Advisory
3 to 12 monthsPart-time, recurring engagement. Weekly or biweekly sessions. Design reviews, mentoring, strategic input. The right format for teams that need ongoing expertise without the commitment of a full-time hire.
- Product in production needing regular UX input
- Growing team needing mentoring and structure
- Long-term projects requiring strategic continuity
Let’s talk about your product challenges
Whether you have a defined scope or are still exploring, a 30-minute conversation is the best way to determine if my approach fits your context. No commitment, no pitch deck.
Or write to me directly: victorsoussan@gmail.com