I’m Richard, a Fractional Product Design Director and Design Leader. I help founders and product leaders shape products that feel exceptional, not just finished. After 15+ years building real products used by real people, I've learned one thing above all: structure and craft are not opposites. The best products have both.
I work at exactly that intersection. Strategy, systems, and the kind of attention to detail most teams don't have eyes for. I partner closely with a small number of teams. The ones who know that good enough is not enough, and want someone in their corner who thinks the same way.
In 2024 I had a crazy idea. I love music, I love high-end audio, and I love building brands, so I decided to design and build a luxury speaker from scratch. Not a concept. Not a mood board. A real physical product with a real brand behind it. Audio Monarchy.
I had to put it on hold, but what I learned about designing physical products, luxury market positioning, and brand building from zero was worth every hour. This is what happens when a product designer is left unsupervised.
