UX & UI Services

Alex The Actualizer

UX & UI Specialist consultant

17 years of experience

Alexander Barnes

Alexander Barnes - UX Designer

📍 Based in San Francisco   |   View LinkedIn

UX Strategist • UI Designer • 3D Modeler

Currently building intuitive AI tools and immersive digital platforms.

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RESUME
 

With over 17 years in UX and UI design, this portfolio highlights the journey — from early breakthroughs to the latest projects. I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies like Samsung, DocuSign, and Wells Fargo, helping shape major products like the Galaxy Phone series and platforms for better customer engagement. More recently, I’ve been designing intuitive interfaces for tools like Scale Up Stream and building AI-driven features that actually help people. My approach is always user-first — creating clean, meaningful experiences that work across different industries.

 

User Experience

User Experience Image
 

User Interface

User Interface Image

 

UX & UI Portfolio

 
Want to know how I design for impact?
MY DESIGN PROCESS
 

Diverse Design

Explore a variety of projects showcasing my versatility in UX & UI design, 3D modeling, and more, highlighting my comprehensive skill set across multiple domains:

HuLoop - Snapclarity - Google UX Design - AmigoCloud - Academy Art University - myDWIHN - VTA Travel - Solder - Gaia TV - San Francisco PUC - Magnifi - Synchronicity Institute - Phantasy Star Online pitch - Tripwire KF - Enemy Spawn Server - Reign - Colony Redux - The Amaranth Chronicles

 

Contact Info

Email: alextheactualizer@gmail.com
Phone: (510) 943-8575
Address: San Francisco, CA

 
 

 Services Experience


Principal Product Designer - UX & UI

With years of hands-on experience, I’ve helped bring modern, intuitive designs to life for a wide range of clients—from emerging startups to public institutions. Recent work includes platform design for Scale Up Stream, project collaboration with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and product design contributions for SnapClarity, Magnifi, and more. I've also tackled challenges like the Google Design Challenge, and led design systems for platforms like Amigocloud’s GIS and Shell Catch’s distribution tool, plus streaming interfaces for Gaia TV.


AgreeYa - Principal UX & UI designer

At AgreeYa, a global systems integrator, I led UX & UI design efforts across enterprise-scale projects. Working closely with agile teams, I helped shape digital solutions for organizations of all sizes—from Fortune 100 companies to smaller, fast-moving businesses—while staying grounded in user-first design principles.


Wells Fargo – Lead UX Designer

During my time at Wells Fargo, I focused on improving the experience within secure, authenticated sessions. My work helped streamline digital customer service interactions and reduce call volume by 7%, which translated to daily cost savings of over $17 million. Security, simplicity, and scale were the name of the game.

Enemy Spawn - UX & UI

At Enemy Spawn, I managed a 17-person design team and led multiple successful projects. That included revamping Amigocloud’s GIS system, building Shell Catch’s wholesale tools, and improving overall user engagement through detailed user studies and interviews. I also oversaw design ops and user testing frameworks.

UX & UI Educator - Academy of Art

As a design educator at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, I built and delivered course content on UX and UI principles. I focused on teaching students the tools, mindset, and methods to succeed in real-world design environments—from theory to practice.

DocuSign - Mobile Designer - UX & UI

As one of the original mobile designers at DocuSign, I helped define the product’s direction during a critical growth phase. I collaborated across teams to deliver designs at every stage—prototype to launch—and fostered a culture of mentorship, creativity, and high standards.

Samsung - Original Galaxy UX & UI & 3D Modeler Designer

At Samsung R&D, I played a key role in the early design of the Galaxy S series. I led UX & UI design and 3D modeling efforts, creating intuitive workflows and prototypes that helped define the product’s foundation. I collaborated with engineers, ran user tests, and helped shape the mobile experience that millions of users now recognize.


Tech Know How - UX & UI Designer

At Tech Know How, I wore multiple hats—designing both user interfaces and educational games. As “Alex the Actualizer,” I developed engaging experiences for kids that combined learning with fun, using my background in both UX and video game design to keep them coming back for more.

 

Methodology

I've spent 17 years in UX & UI design, not just chasing trends, but listening closely to what users need, even when they can't put it into words. The best experiences aren't just beautiful or functional, they feel effortless. That’s the balance I aim for. Whether I’m collaborating with devs, leading product strategy, or sketching flows at midnight, my goal is always the same: design that works and makes people feel something.


For me, design isn’t just about ticking boxes on a UX & UI checklist, it’s about building something usable that connects with people and that starts with research. I spend time understanding how users think, what they need, and what frustrates them. Those insights shape everything that comes next. From early concepts to prototypes and user testing, it's a constant back-and-forth: create, test, learn, refine. A product that not only works, but feels right.


UI design is where everything starts to take shape, color, layout, typography, icons, and how users move through it all. It’s not just about making something look good (though that helps); it’s about making sure it feels right. A clean, intuitive interface lets users focus on what they came to do without getting lost or frustrated. That kind of clarity takes real attention to detail, and it’s a big part of what turns a product from usable to genuinely enjoyable.


Good UX and UI design is all about balance making sure things work smoothly and look great while keeping the user’s needs front and center. It’s not just about making something functional or beautiful, it’s about blending the two in a way that feels effortless. That kind of quality doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from listening, testing, tweaking, and constantly improving. The best digital products are never really “done”, they grow alongside the people who use them.


Seventeen years in UX and UI design teaches you a lot but more than anything, it teaches you to listen. Every project is a puzzle made up of people’s needs, habits, frustrations, and hopes. Over the years, I’ve learned how to turn complicated ideas into simple, thoughtful experiences that actually help people. It’s not about chasing trends, it’s about staying curious, evolving with technology, and always thinking a step ahead. That mindset is what drives me and design not just for today’s users, but for the ones who don’t even know what they need yet.


In the realm of UX and UI, exploration is not only encouraged but also essential. Each new project presents an opportunity to test ideas, expand creativity, and discover ways to make technology feel more human. It’s not only about understanding what users want today; it’s about anticipating what they will need in the future and designing solutions that meet those needs. This kind of progress occurs when designers, developers, and creative thinkers collaborate to share ideas and push boundaries. When successful, the outcome is not just a visually appealing interface; it’s a genuine connection between people and the digital world around them.


After years working in UX and UI, you learn how to lead and just as importantly, how to collaborate. Great design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It comes from working with a wide range of people, aligning creative ideas with real business goals. That means shaping products that don’t just look good, but make sense for users and for the companies behind them. The best outcomes happen when design thinking, strategy, and empathy all come together to build something that people genuinely want to use.