PRODUCT EXPERIENCE & DESIGN LEADER.
Turning complex digital products into experiences people understand, use, and trust.
With 20+ years across product design, UX, creative direction, and experience leadership, I’ve worked from hands-on product design to leading teams, shaping product strategy, and transforming digital experiences at scale.
Selected Work

Featured Insights
Ideas on product, UX, design leadership, and the changing relationship between technology and people.
From shaping product vision to building scalable experiences, I turn complexity into products that are clearer for people, easier for teams to grow, and more valuable to the business..
Services
( 1 )
Product Strategy & Design
Product Vision & Roadmapping
UX Research & Product Insights
Experience Audits & Optimization
( 1 )
Product Strategy & Design
Product Vision & Roadmapping
UX Research & Product Insights
Experience Audits & Optimization
( 2 )
Experience Architecture
Complex Product & Workflow Design
Design Systems & Scalable Platforms
Cross-Platform Digital Experiences
( 2 )
Experience Architecture
Complex Product & Workflow Design
Design Systems & Scalable Platforms
Cross-Platform Digital Experiences
( 3 )
Innovation & Emerging Tech
AI-Powered Products & Workflows
Digital Transformation & Innovation
Emerging Digital Experiences
( 3 )
Innovation & Emerging Tech
AI-Powered Products & Workflows
Digital Transformation & Innovation
Emerging Digital Experiences
( 4 )
Design & Creative Leadership
Design Vision & Team Direction
Cross-Functional Product Leadership
Executive & Stakeholder Alignment
( 4 )
Design & Creative Leadership
Design Vision & Team Direction
Cross-Functional Product Leadership
Executive & Stakeholder Alignment
( 5 )
Brand & Creative Strategy
Creative Direction & Brand Strategy
Identity Systems & Brand Expression
Integrated Brand Experiences
( 5 )
Brand & Creative Strategy
Creative Direction & Brand Strategy
Identity Systems & Brand Expression
Integrated Brand Experiences








I started in hands-on digital design at Maktoob, then moved into UX and creative leadership at Yahoo!, creative and experience leadership at 7awi Media Group, and today product design leadership at KAITLab. Along the way, my scope has expanded to include shaping product direction, building scalable systems, and leading teams, while remaining hands-on across key product and experience work.
Experience
Oct 2025 – Present
Head of UX & Product Design
KAITLab
Lead UX and product design for an AI-powered mathematics learning platform, shaping product architecture, complex multi-role workflows, design systems, and key experiences across student, teacher, school, and district products.
Oct 2025 – Present
Head of UX & Product Design
KAITLab
Lead UX and product design for an AI-powered mathematics learning platform, shaping product architecture, complex multi-role workflows, design systems, and key experiences across student, teacher, school, and district products.
Oct 2025 – Present
Advisor / Strategic UX & Product Design
7awi Media Group
Advise on product evolution, UX direction, AI-enabled experiences, and design quality across strategic digital initiatives.
Oct 2025 – Present
Advisor / Strategic UX & Product Design
7awi Media Group
Advise on product evolution, UX direction, AI-enabled experiences, and design quality across strategic digital initiatives.
Jan 2023 – Oct 2025
Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
7awi Media Group
Led experience strategy across 7awi’s products and brands, connecting UX, product design, creative direction, and emerging technologies with business and audience needs.
Jan 2023 – Oct 2025
Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
7awi Media Group
Led experience strategy across 7awi’s products and brands, connecting UX, product design, creative direction, and emerging technologies with business and audience needs.
Oct 2012 – Jan 2023
Creative Director
7awi Media Group
Led creative and digital design direction across 7awi’s growing portfolio of brands, products, and client work, while building teams, design standards, and scalable experiences across the group.
Oct 2012 – Jan 2023
Creative Director
7awi Media Group
Led creative and digital design direction across 7awi’s growing portfolio of brands, products, and client work, while building teams, design standards, and scalable experiences across the group.
May 2012 – Oct 2012
Head of Creative
Yahoo!
Led creative direction and cross-functional design teams across regional digital initiatives, connecting global Yahoo! standards with the needs of Middle East audiences and products.
May 2012 – Oct 2012
Head of Creative
Yahoo!
Led creative direction and cross-functional design teams across regional digital initiatives, connecting global Yahoo! standards with the needs of Middle East audiences and products.
Nov 2009 – May 2012
Team Leader, User Experience Design
Yahoo!
Led UX design across regional digital products, establishing user-centered design practices, guiding product experiences, and developing the design team following Yahoo!’s acquisition of Maktoob.
Nov 2009 – May 2012
Team Leader, User Experience Design
Yahoo!
Led UX design across regional digital products, establishing user-centered design practices, guiding product experiences, and developing the design team following Yahoo!’s acquisition of Maktoob.
Oct 2005 – Nov 2009
Designer Team Leader
Maktoob Group
Combined hands-on design with team leadership across Maktoob’s digital products, helping shape user experiences for some of the region’s early large-scale online services.
Oct 2005 – Nov 2009
Designer Team Leader
Maktoob Group
Combined hands-on design with team leadership across Maktoob’s digital products, helping shape user experiences for some of the region’s early large-scale online services.
Strategic Expertise
Experience Architecture & Systems Thinking
Structuring complex products, workflows, and systems so experiences remain clear and consistent as they scale.
Experience Architecture & Systems Thinking
Structuring complex products, workflows, and systems so experiences remain clear and consistent as they scale.
Product & Experience Strategy
Connecting user needs, product direction, and business priorities to shape better products and experience decisions.
Product & Experience Strategy
Connecting user needs, product direction, and business priorities to shape better products and experience decisions.
Hands-on Product Design
Staying hands-on across key product work, from user flows and interaction models to high-fidelity design, prototyping, testing, and refinement.
Hands-on Product Design
Staying hands-on across key product work, from user flows and interaction models to high-fidelity design, prototyping, testing, and refinement.
Research & Product Insights
Combining research, behavioral data, analytics, and product context to understand problems, test assumptions, and guide decisions.
Research & Product Insights
Combining research, behavioral data, analytics, and product context to understand problems, test assumptions, and guide decisions.
AI & Emerging Experiences
Designing AI-enabled products and new interaction models with a focus on clarity, trust, and real user value.
AI & Emerging Experiences
Designing AI-enabled products and new interaction models with a focus on clarity, trust, and real user value.
Design Leadership & Alignment
Leading teams and aligning product, engineering, design, and business around a shared experience direction.
Design Leadership & Alignment
Leading teams and aligning product, engineering, design, and business around a shared experience direction.
Testimonials
500+
Product & Experience Initiatives
75+
Digital Platforms

Shadi Al-Said
CPTO @ Syarah
I highly recommend Tariq as a strategic UX leader who combines creative vision with strong execution. He aligns business objectives with user needs, translating complex challenges into scalable, high-impact experiences. Tariq brings a global perspective, builds and leads strong teams, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and fosters a culture where user-centric thinking drives decisions and results.

Sohaib Thiab
VP of Product and Engineering @ Maqsam
Tariq is a dedicated honest and talented creative director, I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 years on multiple products and Tariq has always over delivered.

Shaza Abuzaid
Client Servicing & Ad Ops Director @ 7awi Group
I had the pleasure of working with Tariq at 7awi Media Group and Yahoo, where he consistently delivered exceptional UX/UI solutions tailored to client needs. He combines strategic insight with creative execution, translating complex requests into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq’s collaborative approach, deep expertise, and focus on delivering results make him a trusted partner for both clients and teams.

Moaath Shalabi
Quality Engineering Director @ Disty
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Tariq at 7awi and Yahoo!, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional vision and expertise in UX/UI design. He has a rare ability to translate complex business and client requirements into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq combines creative thinking with a results-driven approach, and his collaborative style makes him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Tareq Abu Kaff
VP of Engineering @ MealPlanet
I had the privilege of working with Tariq at Yahoo and Maktoob, where he consistently turned complex business and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable UX/UI solutions. His strategic vision, creativity, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Shadi Al-Said
CPTO @ Syarah
I highly recommend Tariq as a strategic UX leader who combines creative vision with strong execution. He aligns business objectives with user needs, translating complex challenges into scalable, high-impact experiences. Tariq brings a global perspective, builds and leads strong teams, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and fosters a culture where user-centric thinking drives decisions and results.

Sohaib Thiab
VP of Product and Engineering @ Maqsam
Tariq is a dedicated honest and talented creative director, I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 years on multiple products and Tariq has always over delivered.

Shaza Abuzaid
Client Servicing & Ad Ops Director @ 7awi Group
I had the pleasure of working with Tariq at 7awi Media Group and Yahoo, where he consistently delivered exceptional UX/UI solutions tailored to client needs. He combines strategic insight with creative execution, translating complex requests into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq’s collaborative approach, deep expertise, and focus on delivering results make him a trusted partner for both clients and teams.

Moaath Shalabi
Quality Engineering Director @ Disty
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Tariq at 7awi and Yahoo!, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional vision and expertise in UX/UI design. He has a rare ability to translate complex business and client requirements into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq combines creative thinking with a results-driven approach, and his collaborative style makes him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Tareq Abu Kaff
VP of Engineering @ MealPlanet
I had the privilege of working with Tariq at Yahoo and Maktoob, where he consistently turned complex business and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable UX/UI solutions. His strategic vision, creativity, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Shadi Al-Said
CPTO @ Syarah
I highly recommend Tariq as a strategic UX leader who combines creative vision with strong execution. He aligns business objectives with user needs, translating complex challenges into scalable, high-impact experiences. Tariq brings a global perspective, builds and leads strong teams, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and fosters a culture where user-centric thinking drives decisions and results.

Sohaib Thiab
VP of Product and Engineering @ Maqsam
Tariq is a dedicated honest and talented creative director, I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 years on multiple products and Tariq has always over delivered.

Shaza Abuzaid
Client Servicing & Ad Ops Director @ 7awi Group
I had the pleasure of working with Tariq at 7awi Media Group and Yahoo, where he consistently delivered exceptional UX/UI solutions tailored to client needs. He combines strategic insight with creative execution, translating complex requests into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq’s collaborative approach, deep expertise, and focus on delivering results make him a trusted partner for both clients and teams.

Moaath Shalabi
Quality Engineering Director @ Disty
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Tariq at 7awi and Yahoo!, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional vision and expertise in UX/UI design. He has a rare ability to translate complex business and client requirements into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq combines creative thinking with a results-driven approach, and his collaborative style makes him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Tareq Abu Kaff
VP of Engineering @ MealPlanet
I had the privilege of working with Tariq at Yahoo and Maktoob, where he consistently turned complex business and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable UX/UI solutions. His strategic vision, creativity, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Shadi Al-Said
CPTO @ Syarah
I highly recommend Tariq as a strategic UX leader who combines creative vision with strong execution. He aligns business objectives with user needs, translating complex challenges into scalable, high-impact experiences. Tariq brings a global perspective, builds and leads strong teams, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and fosters a culture where user-centric thinking drives decisions and results.

Sohaib Thiab
VP of Product and Engineering @ Maqsam
Tariq is a dedicated honest and talented creative director, I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 years on multiple products and Tariq has always over delivered.

Shaza Abuzaid
Client Servicing & Ad Ops Director @ 7awi Group
I had the pleasure of working with Tariq at 7awi Media Group and Yahoo, where he consistently delivered exceptional UX/UI solutions tailored to client needs. He combines strategic insight with creative execution, translating complex requests into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq’s collaborative approach, deep expertise, and focus on delivering results make him a trusted partner for both clients and teams.

Moaath Shalabi
Quality Engineering Director @ Disty
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Tariq at 7awi and Yahoo!, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional vision and expertise in UX/UI design. He has a rare ability to translate complex business and client requirements into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq combines creative thinking with a results-driven approach, and his collaborative style makes him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Tareq Abu Kaff
VP of Engineering @ MealPlanet
I had the privilege of working with Tariq at Yahoo and Maktoob, where he consistently turned complex business and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable UX/UI solutions. His strategic vision, creativity, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Shadi Al-Said
CPTO @ Syarah
I highly recommend Tariq as a strategic UX leader who combines creative vision with strong execution. He aligns business objectives with user needs, translating complex challenges into scalable, high-impact experiences. Tariq brings a global perspective, builds and leads strong teams, collaborates with senior stakeholders, and fosters a culture where user-centric thinking drives decisions and results.

Sohaib Thiab
VP of Product and Engineering @ Maqsam
Tariq is a dedicated honest and talented creative director, I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 years on multiple products and Tariq has always over delivered.

Shaza Abuzaid
Client Servicing & Ad Ops Director @ 7awi Group
I had the pleasure of working with Tariq at 7awi Media Group and Yahoo, where he consistently delivered exceptional UX/UI solutions tailored to client needs. He combines strategic insight with creative execution, translating complex requests into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq’s collaborative approach, deep expertise, and focus on delivering results make him a trusted partner for both clients and teams.

Moaath Shalabi
Quality Engineering Director @ Disty
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Tariq at 7awi and Yahoo!, where he consistently demonstrated exceptional vision and expertise in UX/UI design. He has a rare ability to translate complex business and client requirements into intuitive, scalable experiences. Tariq combines creative thinking with a results-driven approach, and his collaborative style makes him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.

Tareq Abu Kaff
VP of Engineering @ MealPlanet
I had the privilege of working with Tariq at Yahoo and Maktoob, where he consistently turned complex business and technical requirements into intuitive, scalable UX/UI solutions. His strategic vision, creativity, and collaborative approach make him an invaluable partner for teams and stakeholders.
FAQs
I’m open to full-time leadership roles, fractional or part-time engagements, and strategic consulting or advisory work. What matters most is the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to product direction, experience quality, and the teams building it.
I’m most useful when products have unclear journeys, fragmented experiences, growing systems that need to scale, teams that need stronger design direction, or when a business is trying to turn an idea, technology, or service into something people can clearly understand and use.
Yes. Leadership is a major part of my work, but I stay hands-on where it matters, from product flows and experience architecture to interaction design, prototyping, high-fidelity design, testing, and refinement.
I can contribute from early product definition and validation through redesign, optimization, and scale. Sometimes that means shaping the experience before anything is built; other times it means working with an established product that has become too complex, inconsistent, or difficult to grow.
I work as part of the team, not around it. Depending on the situation, I can lead, advise, challenge assumptions, help clarify direction, or get directly involved in solving product and experience problems alongside product, design, engineering, research, marketing, and business stakeholders.
I don’t treat them as separate conversations. Strong product decisions usually come from understanding where user value, business priorities, product strategy, and technical reality intersect. The goal is to find the right balance rather than optimize one at the expense of everything else.
I start with the problem, not the technology. AI, automation, and new interaction models only become valuable when they improve a real user or business outcome. My focus is on making those experiences clear, trustworthy, useful, and appropriate to the context in which people use them.
By creating more than individual screens. I focus on the systems behind them: shared design principles, reusable patterns, design systems, product standards, clear decision-making, and stronger collaboration between design, product, engineering, and business teams.
I’m open to full-time leadership roles, fractional or part-time engagements, and strategic consulting or advisory work. What matters most is the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to product direction, experience quality, and the teams building it.
I’m most useful when products have unclear journeys, fragmented experiences, growing systems that need to scale, teams that need stronger design direction, or when a business is trying to turn an idea, technology, or service into something people can clearly understand and use.
Yes. Leadership is a major part of my work, but I stay hands-on where it matters, from product flows and experience architecture to interaction design, prototyping, high-fidelity design, testing, and refinement.
I can contribute from early product definition and validation through redesign, optimization, and scale. Sometimes that means shaping the experience before anything is built; other times it means working with an established product that has become too complex, inconsistent, or difficult to grow.
I work as part of the team, not around it. Depending on the situation, I can lead, advise, challenge assumptions, help clarify direction, or get directly involved in solving product and experience problems alongside product, design, engineering, research, marketing, and business stakeholders.
I don’t treat them as separate conversations. Strong product decisions usually come from understanding where user value, business priorities, product strategy, and technical reality intersect. The goal is to find the right balance rather than optimize one at the expense of everything else.
I start with the problem, not the technology. AI, automation, and new interaction models only become valuable when they improve a real user or business outcome. My focus is on making those experiences clear, trustworthy, useful, and appropriate to the context in which people use them.
By creating more than individual screens. I focus on the systems behind them: shared design principles, reusable patterns, design systems, product standards, clear decision-making, and stronger collaboration between design, product, engineering, and business teams.
I’m open to full-time leadership roles, fractional or part-time engagements, and strategic consulting or advisory work. What matters most is the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to product direction, experience quality, and the teams building it.
I’m most useful when products have unclear journeys, fragmented experiences, growing systems that need to scale, teams that need stronger design direction, or when a business is trying to turn an idea, technology, or service into something people can clearly understand and use.
Yes. Leadership is a major part of my work, but I stay hands-on where it matters, from product flows and experience architecture to interaction design, prototyping, high-fidelity design, testing, and refinement.
I can contribute from early product definition and validation through redesign, optimization, and scale. Sometimes that means shaping the experience before anything is built; other times it means working with an established product that has become too complex, inconsistent, or difficult to grow.
I work as part of the team, not around it. Depending on the situation, I can lead, advise, challenge assumptions, help clarify direction, or get directly involved in solving product and experience problems alongside product, design, engineering, research, marketing, and business stakeholders.
I don’t treat them as separate conversations. Strong product decisions usually come from understanding where user value, business priorities, product strategy, and technical reality intersect. The goal is to find the right balance rather than optimize one at the expense of everything else.
I start with the problem, not the technology. AI, automation, and new interaction models only become valuable when they improve a real user or business outcome. My focus is on making those experiences clear, trustworthy, useful, and appropriate to the context in which people use them.
By creating more than individual screens. I focus on the systems behind them: shared design principles, reusable patterns, design systems, product standards, clear decision-making, and stronger collaboration between design, product, engineering, and business teams.












