Hello
Hello
About me
Alisa Afkhami
[Aa-lee-sa] [Af-kar-me]
I studied design in London and New York and have been designing digital products for 13+ years now.
I help brands and businesses with web and app design, UX/UI design, startup branding, design consultancy, project management and art direction.
If you are looking to launch a startup, build an MVP, or to improve your site’s user experience to boost conversion, then I may just be what you’re looking for.
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Background
Born and raised in London, I found my first client while still at art school. I now design full digital products used by millions of users across the globe. I’ve designed ecommerce experiences that have sold products from £5 to £500,000 (yes it’s true! It was a very sparkly diamond ring) to launching an app to over 82 million users worldwide. (That’s quite a lot of people!)
Who do I work with?
Over 13 years i have worked with all type of clients - startups, entrepreneurs, small businesses, design agencies and big brands, like Google, Coca Cola and Virgin. Clients have been within a wide range of industries including fashion, art, finance, real estate, travel, health, education, software, social and food & beverage.
Approach
Every project and client is different but I start every project with these questions. (i) As a business, what are your objectives (what are you trying to achieve / solve) (ii) Who are your users? (Do you already know who they are or do you need to find out) (iii) What is your budget and timeframe? This allows me to determine the best approach for you and your business and to put forth a design proposal tailored to you.
Education
Chelsea College of Art & Design, London
BA Graphic Design & Communication (2007 - 2010)
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York City
Design Exchange (Aug 08 - Dec 08)
Centre for Nonviolent Communication
Nonviolent Communication Foundation Course
2020
What else do I bring to the table?
Experience, expertise, energy, teamwork, support and empathy.
I have been working with startups, lean and agile methodology and teams for over 13 years now. I have also launched my own startups, built my own MVPs and played around with ideas at hackathons as well as running my own business. So I know first hand the challenges met when creating a product or bringing an idea to life. It’s hard and having the right team and people around you is what makes it possible. I aim to be one of those people. My goal is to help design products that matter and help people make a success of their own business.
Why work with a freelancer?
It’s the most cost effective way of gaining access to someone with specialised skills and expertise. No agency fees and no fancy office so the fees you pay are for my time spent on your project and not for additional overheads. It also means we can form a strong working relationship – I will always be your contact and there through every step of the project.
Why I do what I do
Helping people have access to healthcare; helping people transition to green energy; helping people find support for their mental health; helping people avoid getting into debt. These are just some of the impacts my design work has had. Designing is not just about sitting in front of a laptop creating mockups - it’s about solving problems that can have some effect on people’s lives, whether big or small. I find that empowering.
“Alisa worked with us on a really key piece of digital work as part of a major rebrand project. She is a fantastic designer, very methodical and diligent. We were lucky to have her working on it as she took a complex task and made it simple. We have a very happy client and we owe a lot to Alisa for helping us work through it.”
What it’s like to work with me
“We hired Alisa for a website UX/UI re-design project. Alisa fully understood the brief from day one and completed all work to the highest standard in the time frame given. She is personable, reliable, hard working, easy to communicate with and, most importantly - able to realise the vision of a brief and put it into a design portfolio ready to pushed for development. We will definitely be using Alisa again for any design projects we have in the future.”
Luke Judd
Senior Marketing Manager at Caz Loyd
“Alisa is an outstanding digital creative, one of the few that really gets UI and UX design. I have found her to be dynamic, professional and highly creative. She’s a pleasure to have as part of a team - self-managing, dedicated and good-humoured under pressure. Thoroughly recommended!”
Chris Kinsella
Creative Director at Feref
“Alisa did a really great job designing a web application for a client of ours. She took the time to fully understand what was required and delivered a lovely looking interface. Really impressed with the standard of her work and her professionalism while working remotely and we wouldn't hesitate to use her again.”
Iggy Hammick
Founding Partner at Dark Blue
“I always found Alisa an absolute pleasure to work with. Ego-free, willing to adapt, quick to find a solution and brimming with ideas. I can’t commend her highly enough.”
Richard Bence
Editor at Couturelab