Currently working on
AI-assisted onboarding
Designing an experience that uses OCR and LLM to extract and map data from uploaded documents - reducing manual data entry while maintaining trust and keeping users in control of the process.
Currently exploring
Closing the gap between design and code
Using Stitch, Flowstep, Figma Make, Cursor, and Claude to prototype faster - exploring what it means to design when shipping code is within reach.
Latest work
Strategic roadmap influence
As a Product Designer, I took ownership of a complex quantitative research initiative to reduce roadmap risk across Xero's payroll team. The insights helped unlock a funded engineering plan and a new revenue opportunity.
Employee self-onboarding
Employee self-onboarding replaces a fragmented, manual employee onboarding process - spreadsheets, email chains, and re-keyed data - with a guided digital flow that collects personal, bank, tax, and superannuation details in one place. As lead designer, I owned the end-to-end experience across two workstreams and four markets, translating complex regional compliance into conversational forms that are easy for employees to complete.
UK Employment status
Simplifying complex UK payroll legislation by designing a clear, compliant way for businesses to set up employees, workers, and directors in Xero Payroll.
This project involved leading a design sprint, user testing, and cross-team collaboration to deliver a scalable global model for employment data.
Leave units
The Leave Units initiative was a major project in the New Zealand Payroll product to bring Xero in line with the Holidays Act 2003, which requires annual leave to be tracked in weeks and other types of leave (such as sick, bereavement, and alternative holidays) to be tracked in days.
Native app guidelines and fundamentals
In April, 2022 I conducted an expert review of the Xero Me app with the aim of recognising inconsistencies and making foundational recommendations going forward.
The aim of this work was to create guidelines that will help create a consistent user experience, speed up the design process, reduce frustration and increase team confidence.
Digital experience app design
I was tasked with creating a Digital Experience that would not only showcase the history of the Circular Quay area, and in particular the Aboriginal Cultural significance, but to also create a lasting positive experience and way of building community within the precinct and office building.
Enhancing user engagement
Enhancing the user engagement of the Communiteer platform using gamification techniques.
The overarching goal was to drive repeat use, retention and engagement.
Customer feedback research
IKEA had four main areas to focus on: finding new ways of gathering ad-hoc qualitative feedback; promoting an open and transparent communication channel and long-term relationship building with customers; researching IKEA customers and their behaviours, needs and motivations towards providing feedback; and to provide recommendations that advises IKEA on what approach to take to achieve their ad-hoc feedback goals.
Brand and website refresh
Agilyx had five regional websites, inconsistent branding, and a product offering that was hard to understand. I led the redesign - consolidating everything into one clear, cohesive experience.
Creative background
Graphic design, web, brand, video, and digital marketing work from across my career, before and alongside product design.
About me
How I think, how I work, and what I bring to the teams I'm part of, including how AI is changing the way I design.
Let's connect
I love talking about inclusive design, creative technology, and the future of AI-assisted workflows.
Send me a message, or feel free to call on 022 627 5852 and let's chat.
Ben Hart
UX / UI / Product Designer
Wellington & Wairarapa, NZ
Turning complex problems into experiences that feel simple.
