What is fractional product design?

It's senior design thinking embedded in your team, without the full-time hire. Instead of bringing on a permanent designer, you get me, focused, embedded, and working on whatever matters most to your product that month. It's become an increasingly common model for early-stage teams who need senior expertise but aren't ready to commit to a full-time salary.

Do you take on many clients at once?

No. I typically work with up to two clients at a time, intentionally. It means the businesses I work with get real focus and attention, not a sliver of my week. Spots are limited, so if you're thinking about working together, reach out so we can get your spot locked in.

How it works

Q: Why not just hire a full-time designer?

At seed and Series A, you rarely need senior design full-time. Once the core decisions are made and the foundations are set, the day-to-day design load doesn't justify the overhead. Fractional gives you expertise when it matters most, without the salary, super, and management overhead of a permanent hire.

Q: Do you work across more than just product design?

Yes. I work across the full ecosystem, product, web, onboarding, email, internal tooling, and any other touchpoint that shapes how users experience your brand. Most engagements are anchored in product, but the work rarely stays there.

Q: Do I need a designer if I'm using AI to build?

AI is useful for moving faster on the right problems. It's not useful for figuring out what the right problems are. AI pulls towards the middle, trained on what already exists, which means it tends to produce things that look like everything else. When you're a startup going to market, your product needs to stand out. The strategic thinking, the opinionated decisions, the understanding of your specific users and business — that's not something AI can replicate yet.

Q: Is one month enough?

It depends on the brief. Some enagements are a focused one-month sprint with a clear outcome. Others run longer because the work is bigger or the value of continuity is high. Building full product well typically takes two to three months minimum. We'll figure out what makes sense in our first conversation.

Flexible by design

Wherever you are in your product journey, I'll meet you there — whether the focus is your core product or the customer experience ecosystem around it. We'll work out what'll add the most value for your users, your business, and the team behind it — right now, and as you grow.

Plug in design

Senior design that flexes to fit your month. No lock-in, no notice period.

Mobile appWeb appSaaS platformEcommerceOnline storeEmail commsSocial mediaPitch decks Mobile appWeb appSaaS platformEcommerceOnline storeEmail commsSocial mediaPitch decks

UX strategyDesign systemsConversion flows0 → 1User researchOnboardingDashboardsInternal tools UX strategyDesign systemsConversion flows0 → 1User researchOnboardingDashboardsInternal tools

Web platformsiOS & AndroidCheckout flowsFeature rolloutProduct resetLanding pagesEmail design Web platformsiOS & AndroidCheckout flowsFeature rolloutProduct resetLanding pagesEmail design

Pitch decksSocial contentCustomer journeysDesign auditsWireframesPrototypesStyle guidesMVP design Pitch decksSocial contentCustomer journeysDesign auditsWireframesPrototypesStyle guidesMVP design

Set the focus

What are your priorities right now? We'll map a plan for the month.

UX audit

Design system

MVP

Onboarding

Delivered, your way

Design, strategy, or documentation — delivered in your tools, ready to use.

Frequently asked questions

Working together

Why not just hire a full-time designer?

At seed and early-stage, you rarely need senior design full-time. Once the core decisions are made and the foundations are set, the day-to-day design load rarely justifies the overhead. You get senior expertise when it matters most — without the salary, super, and management overhead of a permanent hire.

Do you work across more than just product design?

Yes. Most engagements are anchored in product, but the work rarely stays there. I work across the full customer experience — product, web, onboarding, email, internal tooling, pitch decks, and any other touchpoint that shapes how people experience your brand.

Do I need a designer if I'm using AI to build?

AI is useful for moving faster on the right problems. It's less useful for figuring out what those problems are. AI pulls towards the middle — trained on what already exists, it tends to produce things that look like everything else. When you're building a product that needs to stand out, the strategic thinking, the opinionated decisions, the understanding of your specific users and business — that's not something AI replaces yet.

What does a typical monthly engagement look like?

It starts with a conversation about where you are and what your product needs most right now. From there we set the focus — that might be an MVP flow, a feature, a conversion problem, or a design system your team needs to move faster. The work follows the priority, not a fixed scope. At the end of the month we review, reset, and decide what comes next. Getting started is straightforward — a quick kick-off call, access to your tools, and we're moving.

Is one month enough?

It depends on the work. Some engagements are a focused month with a clear outcome. Others run longer because the brief is bigger or the value of continuity is high — building a product well typically takes two to three months minimum. We'll work that out in our first conversation.

How do you work with my team?

I plug into whatever tools and rhythms your team already uses — Figma, Notion, Slack, Jira, whatever works. I work with founders across Australia and beyond, mostly remotely with async communication and video calls. If there's an opportunity to work in-person, I'd love it.

Will I get your full attention?

I work with a maximum of two clients at a time — which means you get real focus and attention rather than a sliver of my week. Engagements flex across the month rather than run a concentrated block, giving you breathing room between rounds of work to gather feedback, align your team, and make decisions. Spots are limited — if you're thinking about working together, reach out and we can get your spot locked in.

Why not just hire a full-time designer?

Do you work across more than just product design?

Do I need a designer if I'm using AI to build?

What does a typical monthly engagement look like?

Is one month enough?

How do you work with my team?

Will I get your full attention?

2 spots left in August

2 spots left in August

Your designer, month to month

Helping startups and scaling brands design digital products and the experience ecosystem around them, without the full-time overhead.

How it works

Flexible by design

Plug in design

Set the focus

Delivered, your way

Why Elemental UX?

Early decisions compound

Pricing

One rate, no surprises.

Pause or stop anytime

2 spots left in August

$10,000

/ month

"Kate's design work is elegant, professional, and her UX is so well planned out. I love that I can scribble on a whiteboard and she can bring my vision to life."

"She's a strong, thoughtful collaborator who communicates her ideas clearly and isn't afraid to challenge assumptions in the room when it leads to better outcomes."

Frequently asked questions

Working together

Secure your spot

Start the conversation