Research
Before I arrived Fold had conducted some usability research. I grew the practice into a regular cadence, book-ending each major feature development and release with usability reviews and/or serveys.
Design Systemization
When I started, Fold operated on a handful of Figma files containing all the patterns used to design the app. I cleaned up the files and implemented a headless design system.
Leadership
Within the first year of my employment with Fold, I was left to lead the department on my own. My boss quit. Moreover, we were in the midst of the worst startup bear market in recent history. There were no resources to hire a replacement. Luckily, the efficiency upgrades I had implemented — the design system and research methodologies — allowed us to continue to ship features without loosing fidelity. Over the next two years, I was instrumental in bringing Fold to the public market without spending a dime more in hiring additional design resources.
