design with strategy and purpose

* and coffee

Introduction

Hello, I’m Steven Hassall, a senior product designer with over a decade of experience helping startups and deep-tech teams turn emerging technology into intuitive, impactful products. From AI platforms to tech for good initiatives, I design solutions that enhance human ability and create lasting value.

I apply human-centred design to make emerging technologies intuitive and impactful, collaborating with customers, business and technical teams whilst leveraging generative AI for user research and rapid prototyping. From product strategy and UX/UI to scalable systems design, I deliver end-to-end design expertise that drives innovation and ensures products succeed in the real world.

As co-founder of Frontier Labs, I led cutting-edge R&D projects with Manchester City FC and Weightmans LLP, raised investment for three AI-powered products and oversaw the sale of InnovateUK funded ‘MatterLab’.

Over my career I have led design on tech for good projects such as co-designing an age-friendly shopping app with over 300 older people, to designing an AI-powered platform for ecological restoration.

This website collects examples of my work while at Dendra, Frontier Labs, AXON Vibe, Red Ninja Studios and design consultancy via design(function).

Steven Hassall - Senior Designer Liverpool

Disciplines

I have helped

  • Alder Hey Children's Hospital
  • ARM
  • Comic Relief
  • Manchester City F.C.
  • Merseytravel
  • Natural Environment Research Council
  • SBB CFF FFS
  • University of Liverpool
  • Weightmans

Blending human-centred design with AI acceleration

Delivering thoughtful, human-centred solutions faster

  • Research

    Explore the problem space with customers, teammates and domain experts, combining user research and AI to challenge assumptions, uncover patterns and identify user needs faster.

  • Strategise

    Distil research into clear objectives, turning problems into opportunities and measurable goals, with AI accelerating insight clustering and exploring alternative strategies.

  • Ideate

    Develop and refine diverse concepts that meet goals, using generative AI to extend divergent ideation while ensuring accessibility is considered.

  • Prototype

    Prototype the smallest testable version, combining design and AI tools for rapid prototyping at the right fidelity for the target audience.

  • Build

    Carry validated concepts into implementation, using AI to define and document interaction, responsiveness and accessibility guidelines for new features at speed, without drifting from established patterns.

  • Learn

    Release and observe how it performs with real people, using AI-assisted analysis to carry what we learn back into the next problem we tackle.