Fractional design
for platforms that can't afford confusion
Meganne Ohata
Get targeted design solutions for complex tools with high technical and usability demands—without the full-time hire.
Working 14+ years at growing tech agencies has made adapting second nature. I work strategically and autonomously in fast-paced environments with agile teams to untangle complexity and deliver value in high-trust domains like medtech, fintech, and cybersecurity.
What I Do
I work on complex, data-heavy platforms that often don’t have a dedicated designer in-house. Some examples are:
An accounting platform for forecasting, planning requisitions, and managing headcount
A platform that monitors identity fraud on the dark web and maps behavioural patterns of threat actors and related data breaches
An ML-powered tool that helps financial analysts sort through multiple data points to target investment opportunities
A lot of times, agile teams are able to use design libraries to put basic MVPs together to hit the ground running. Over time, complexities and architectural patchwork add up and small usability issues end up snowballing and becoming deeply embedded in the workflow and platform architecture. At that point, it becomes critical to untangle the usability issues so that users don't leave for a more intuitive platform.That's where I come in.
For Existing Platform Designs
Usability Audit
Get a report that identifies design and usability issues that critically impact conversion, engagement, and retention.
3 to 6 weeks depending on needs and platform complexity
Identify UX and architectural weaknesses
User tests and research inform recommendations
Executive report and summary
For Flexible Design Needs
Quarterly Bucket
Spend design efforts where you need them, when you need them. This bucket of hours can be used within a single quarter based on your needs.
Purchase a block of hours to be used in the next 3 months
You get flexibility while maintaining your budget
Offering buckets of +6 hours with rollover
My Values
Integrity
Being honest and accountable, building technology for good
Growth
Taking on new challenges and learning from the experience
Kindness
Giving back to the community, extending grace to others as humans
My Work Style
Collaboration
Working and winning as a team, where ego has no place
Action
Taking initiative, speaking up, and being proactive rather than reactive
Strategy
Thinking before acting, the opposite of "move fast, break things"
Case Studies
Legacy Suite + Audit + UX System
A surprise twist on an audit and design system for a legacy HR Suite whose UX has blocked them from scaling.
The solutions created after difficult conversations let us pivot part-way through the contract, ultimately culminating in a powerful UX system that changed the organization’s entire design culture and production lifecycle.
⭐️ Expedited product lifecycle by 50% for 2 products
⭐️ Eliminated 6 months of production time
⭐️ 267% adoption across 3 portfolios and 9 teams
Architectural Audit + Implementation
Re-architecting an enrolment flow for 55k students amidst a chaotic environment with +14 stakeholders.
Comprehensive user research formed the backbone of this project, laying the foundation for data-backed design decisions that aligned stakeholders. Wireframes, prototyping, UI and workshops led to long-term impact.
⭐️ 30+ interviews and tests across 5 segments
⭐️ Led 10 design foundation workshops across 12 departments
⭐️ Consolidated multiple silos, lasting organizational impact
Fintech + Permissions
Designing sensitive permissions for a growing fintech platform with a priority on shipping complex features quickly.
This case study is a great example of how I work tightly with PM and devs, create comprehensive documentation to guide future growth, and how enterprise design builds on backend clarity to create seamless front-end experiences.
⭐️ Saved 5+ weeks of downstream dev efforts
⭐️ MVP shipped within 3 weeks
⭐️ Documentation guided growth +12 months after contract
We might be a good match if...
You value design, usability, and strategic insights
Want to de-risk your brand and product while elevating trust and credibility through design
Are looking for expertise and delivery that adapts to your constraints and timeline
We might NOT be a match if...
You want someone who just executes without providing strategic expertise and input
Are looking for the cheapest option available
Prioritize cost reduction as the North Star for roadmap and business decisions
Ready to work together?
Usability Audit
Why Get It
This report de-risks assumptions and identifies the greatest UX blockers
Whether your platform solves pain points, or creates more confusion
Where bottlenecks and loss of trust might occur
How to prioritize your efforts
I identify and map out potential solutions to help move your product forward.
What You Get
Walk away with clarity
Identify usability weaknesses and pain points
Get the breakdown analysis of each issue, what users say about it, and what to do
Comprehensive, actionable strategies and solutions for next steps
Contextualize quick wins against critical growth blockers
Data-backed insights to strengthen and inform your dev and product roadmap
Process
Onboarding and knowledge transfer
Platform investigation
5 to 8 user tests and walkthroughs
Aggregation of data and pattern analysis
Full report and presentation
Availability
Booking now for Spring / Summer 2026. Get in touch!
* Special offer for security related platforms—let's talk!
Quarterly Bucket
Why Get It
Get an experienced enterprise designer on a flexible basis
Prevent costly design debt on your platform
Avoid spending countless hours on AI or interns that aren't quite there yet
Maintain brand excellence on marketing and presentations
What You Get
Targeted design support that prioritizes clarity of data and intuitive user experience
A lightweight option that brings in design muscle when it matters—without the overhead of a permanent hire
Receive guidance and documentation that provides strategies on growth and scaling designs, even long after the retainer has ended
Deliver updates that make sense to your clients, increase trust, and strengthen their confidence in your product and brand
Process
Discussion of goals and priorities
Make a plan together
I design around your needs—whether that's a quick sprint all at once, or ad hoc tweaks as things come up is to be determined together
Availability
Booking now for Spring / Summer 2026. Get in touch!
* Special offer for security related platforms—let's talk!
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Onboarding |
| 2 | User Testing |
| 3 | Analysis and Report |
Onboarding
This case study is a great example of how I work tightly with PM and devs, create comprehensive documentation to guide future growth, and how enterprise design builds on backend clarity to create seamless front-end experiences.
