About me.

Hello, I’m Akshay, I’m really glad you’re here!

Based here in Seattle, my path into product design has been shaped by a few key experiences, my journey into product design has been a bit like looking at the world through a couple of different lenses. First, there was the academic lens of Human-Centered Design and Engineering, which taught me to really think about people and their needs. Then came the lens of Ernst & Young, where I got to see how big businesses operate and the challenges they face. Currently, I'm getting a fascinating look at the world of content creation, working with the YouTube Shorts team and how generative AI can help without taking away the creative control.

What ties it all together for me is this idea of creating things that actually work for people, in the real world. I’m particularly drawn to making sure those things work for everyone. Growing up with a background that wasn't always the easiest financially, it kind of gives you a different perspective on why inclusivity in design isn't just a nice-to-have, it's essential. Ultimately, I want what I create to not only be functional but to feel right for anyone who interacts with it, no matter where they’re coming from.

People who've worked with me might say I’m someone who pays attention to the details, always looking for a fresh way to solve a problem, and generally tries to operate with a sense of fairness. I’m naturally curious, and I believe in being upfront and honest in how I approach things. As I keep learning and growing in this field, my aim is to be the kind of design leader who’s approachable and keeps that focus on creating user experiences that truly make a difference for a wide range of people.

Trophy Shelf.

Awards.

Individual Contributor
2023
Kudos Award
Ernst and Young LLP
Digital Transformation Leader
2022
I AM Exceptional Award
Ernst and Young LLP
Digital Transformation Leader
2021
I AM Exceptional Award
Ernst and Young LLP

Companies I've worked with.

What people say about me.

*some of the testimonials were curated during a personal branding exercise to reflect authentic perspectives.

Raghav Sharma

Product Design Intern, Intuit

"I’m often impressed by his capacity to pull from various contexts of his previous work across enterprise and starting-up, allowing him to add value in design rooms beyond a unilateral design mindset. Mixed with his good dash of humor, anyone would want him on their team."

Akanksha Vaish

Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“A 'Genuine expert' is the phrase that pops into my mind when I think about Akshay.Akshay is the best kind of teammate: exceptional, active listener and learner, creative, empathetic, and of course analytical...”

Ruchi Khetan

Senior Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“I got to work with Akshay in 2-3 projects and can attest to his management and experiences which i am positive will add great value to employers, internal and external customers.

Akshay’s communication is excellent, and he effectively align the interests of his stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes.

Akshay is quick learner and easy to work with. He is always ready to provide out of box ideas in order to tackle the issues.”

Shikha Pardasani

Wellbeing Lead, Wellx.ai

“Akshay's creativity is born from his desire to forge his own path. He demonstrates remarkable patience and a non-judgmental approach that respects every individual's story. His ever-learning, ever-evolving mindset ensures that his conversations are meaningful and his time well spent.”

Tanmay Gupta

Supply Chain Specialist, Checkpoint

“Akshay's hobbies, like gaming and film, reflect the depth of his character. He demonstrates a balance between professional commitment and personal enjoyment, with an approachable communication style and a forward-thinking mindset.”

Raghav Sharma

Product Design Intern, Intuit

"I’m often impressed by his capacity to pull from various contexts of his previous work across enterprise and starting-up, allowing him to add value in design rooms beyond a unilateral design mindset. Mixed with his good dash of humor, anyone would want him on their team."

Akanksha Vaish

Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“A 'Genuine expert' is the phrase that pops into my mind when I think about Akshay.Akshay is the best kind of teammate: exceptional, active listener and learner, creative, empathetic, and of course analytical...”

Ruchi Khetan

Senior Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“I got to work with Akshay in 2-3 projects and can attest to his management and experiences which i am positive will add great value to employers, internal and external customers.

Akshay’s communication is excellent, and he effectively align the interests of his stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes.

Akshay is quick learner and easy to work with. He is always ready to provide out of box ideas in order to tackle the issues.”

Shikha Pardasani

Wellbeing Lead, Wellx.ai

“Akshay's creativity is born from his desire to forge his own path. He demonstrates remarkable patience and a non-judgmental approach that respects every individual's story. His ever-learning, ever-evolving mindset ensures that his conversations are meaningful and his time well spent.”

Tanmay Gupta

Supply Chain Specialist, Checkpoint

“Akshay's hobbies, like gaming and film, reflect the depth of his character. He demonstrates a balance between professional commitment and personal enjoyment, with an approachable communication style and a forward-thinking mindset.”

Yung-Jan Chang

Student, University of Washington

"...Akshay has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of how to organize and clean data efficiently. His insights into information and data were always valuable, and he often had unique perspectives that enriched our project discussions. As a designer, Akshay is creative and intuitive, particularly passionate about interaction design. He invests significant time and effort into thinking and testing user interactions to ensure the products he designs are user-friendly and effective.

One of Akshay's standout qualities is his willingness to share knowledge and support his peers. He frequently offered me valuable suggestions on prioritizing conflicting situations and ensured that our documents were error-free..."

Rachna Vyas

Assistant Manager, Deloitte

“Akshay's passion for UX/UI design shines brightly in his work. He's a true perfectionist, with each presentation reflecting his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering honesty. His experimental nature and willingness to take risks are tempered by a strong self-awareness, making him stand out as an innovative and hardworking professional who's always eager to grow.”

Nikita Vyas

Senior Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“...He demonstrates a genuine passion for learning and staying up-to-date with the latest developments, striving to learn more each day.

Irrespective of the intricacies inherent in projects, Akshay would consistently exhibit remarkable patience and determination in ensuring the delivery of work of the utmost quality. His strong work ethic and reliability have contributed significantly to the success of numerous projects he has been involved in...”

M. Aazib

Consultant, Infosys

“Akshay places great emphasis on his career progression and self-improvement, valuing his relationships with family and colleagues highly. His disciplined and creative approach to his work earns him the trust and respect of those around him.”

Mrugen Munshi

Senior Consultant, Mastek

“Akshay's curiosity in finance and technology is matched by his capabilities in people management and networking. His creativity is directed by a thoughtful consideration of others, making him a well-rounded and approachable professional.”

Yung-Jan Chang

Student, University of Washington

"...Akshay has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of how to organize and clean data efficiently. His insights into information and data were always valuable, and he often had unique perspectives that enriched our project discussions. As a designer, Akshay is creative and intuitive, particularly passionate about interaction design. He invests significant time and effort into thinking and testing user interactions to ensure the products he designs are user-friendly and effective.

One of Akshay's standout qualities is his willingness to share knowledge and support his peers. He frequently offered me valuable suggestions on prioritizing conflicting situations and ensured that our documents were error-free..."

Rachna Vyas

Assistant Manager, Deloitte

“Akshay's passion for UX/UI design shines brightly in his work. He's a true perfectionist, with each presentation reflecting his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering honesty. His experimental nature and willingness to take risks are tempered by a strong self-awareness, making him stand out as an innovative and hardworking professional who's always eager to grow.”

Nikita Vyas

Senior Consultant, Ernst and Young LLP

“...He demonstrates a genuine passion for learning and staying up-to-date with the latest developments, striving to learn more each day.

Irrespective of the intricacies inherent in projects, Akshay would consistently exhibit remarkable patience and determination in ensuring the delivery of work of the utmost quality. His strong work ethic and reliability have contributed significantly to the success of numerous projects he has been involved in...”

M. Aazib

Consultant, Infosys

“Akshay places great emphasis on his career progression and self-improvement, valuing his relationships with family and colleagues highly. His disciplined and creative approach to his work earns him the trust and respect of those around him.”

Mrugen Munshi

Senior Consultant, Mastek

“Akshay's curiosity in finance and technology is matched by his capabilities in people management and networking. His creativity is directed by a thoughtful consideration of others, making him a well-rounded and approachable professional.”

Alekhya Yadavalli

Lead Product Designer, Pingle.ai

“Akshay has a very lively personality and is always the person who makes everyone feel comfortable in the group by breaking the ice. He has great social skills and is skilled in leading teams without being in a position of authority. Akshay brought many strengths to the group that I appreciated. He has a keen sense of attention to detail which I respect in a designer. He is also a great contributor of ideas during brainstorming/ ideation. Akshay also goes above and beyond to maintain a high quality of work and refuses to sacrifice on even small elements of design. This increased the integrity, practicality, and usability of our final solution. He was an indispensable member of the group and someone I would love to work with again.”

Chirag Lakhanpal

Data Engineer, Tata Consultancy Services

“Whether he's strategizing in a video game or managing his personal finances, Akshay brings the same level of dedication and attention to detail. His honesty is apparent in his communication, and he upholds professionalism with a confidence that makes him a standout in any setting.”

Devanshi Parekh

Unilever, Junior Brand Manager

"Akshay stands out with his articulate and calm demeanor. His ability to grasp complex concepts and present them clearly is exceptional. He's not just knowledgeable, but also brings humor and precision to his work."

Nusrat Supediwala

Founder, Amplio Solutions

“...Throughout our time working together, he consistently demonstrated an outstanding approach to getting things done efficiently and effectively. Akshay's problem-solving skills are second to none, making him the perfect example of someone who can swiftly and adeptly find solutions to challenges.

...No matter the complexity of the project, I have witnessed Akshay tackle it with enthusiasm and professionalism, completing tasks within the given timeframe and consistently exceeding expectations...”

Alekhya Yadavalli

Lead Product Designer, Pingle.ai

“Akshay has a very lively personality and is always the person who makes everyone feel comfortable in the group by breaking the ice. He has great social skills and is skilled in leading teams without being in a position of authority. Akshay brought many strengths to the group that I appreciated. He has a keen sense of attention to detail which I respect in a designer. He is also a great contributor of ideas during brainstorming/ ideation. Akshay also goes above and beyond to maintain a high quality of work and refuses to sacrifice on even small elements of design. This increased the integrity, practicality, and usability of our final solution. He was an indispensable member of the group and someone I would love to work with again.”

Chirag Lakhanpal

Data Engineer, Tata Consultancy Services

“Whether he's strategizing in a video game or managing his personal finances, Akshay brings the same level of dedication and attention to detail. His honesty is apparent in his communication, and he upholds professionalism with a confidence that makes him a standout in any setting.”

Devanshi Parekh

Unilever, Junior Brand Manager

"Akshay stands out with his articulate and calm demeanor. His ability to grasp complex concepts and present them clearly is exceptional. He's not just knowledgeable, but also brings humor and precision to his work."

Nusrat Supediwala

Founder, Amplio Solutions

“...Throughout our time working together, he consistently demonstrated an outstanding approach to getting things done efficiently and effectively. Akshay's problem-solving skills are second to none, making him the perfect example of someone who can swiftly and adeptly find solutions to challenges.

...No matter the complexity of the project, I have witnessed Akshay tackle it with enthusiasm and professionalism, completing tasks within the given timeframe and consistently exceeding expectations...”