Hello, I'm Ashkan,

I am a Human Experience Design/Strategist who works at the intersection of curiosity, evidence, and feasibility. I naturally approach problems by looking at them from multiple angles, using both qualitative and quantitative research to understand what is really going on before jumping to solutions. I don’t start with answers — I start by unpacking the problem itself: where it comes from, who it affects, what assumptions are baked into it, and what constraints and opportunities exist in the real world.

My work begins at the very beginning: framing the problem, exploring it through research, generating and testing ideas, prototyping, and building alignment across domains and disciplines to turn insight into something that actually works. I’m particularly strong at collaborating across design, engineering, product, and business to map the feasibility landscape and evolve solutions that respond to genuine human needs, not just internal priorities.

At the core of my practice is reframing. I surface blind spots — in thinking, in systems, and in organisations — by challenging inherited narratives and exposing the hidden tensions, unmet needs, and quiet signals in how people experience products and services. I don’t just try to “fix” things; I question whether we’re even solving the right problem.

Over time, I’ve developed a practice focused on:

  • Revealing hidden friction in user journeys by decoding emotional and cognitive dissonance, not just usability issues
  • Aligning engineers, product managers, and stakeholders around why problems persist, not just how to ship around them
  • Designing for cognitive diversity and equity, because most exclusion is a failure of perspective, not intention

I don’t chase novelty for its own sake. I care about building solutions that are meaningful, feasible, and responsible — grounded in real human experience, tested in reality, and strong enough to survive contact with the world.

My eMail | My LinkedIn

My Education

  • Master of Creative Intelligence and Strategic Innovation, University of Technology Sydney
  • Bachelor in Graphic Design
  • Diploma in Visual Communication

My Credentials

MIT Mastering Design Thinking
Mastering Design Thinking
IDEO Foundation Design Thinking
Foundation Design Thinking
IDEO Advanced Design Thinking
Advanced Design Thinking
IDEO From Ideas To Action
From Ideas To Action
IDEO Unlocking Creativity Storytelling For Influence
Storytelling For Influence
IDEO Unlocking Creativity
Unlocking Creativity
IDEO Human-Centered Service Design
Human-Centered Service Design
IDEO Insights For Innovation
Insights For Innovation
Coursera Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner
Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner
IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator
Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator
Academy Xi  Product Management
Product Management
Coursera ChatGPT Playground
ChatGPT Playground
Intraction Design Foundation AI For Designers
AI For Designers
2023 Intraction Design Foundation | Perception and Memory in HCI and UX
Perception and Memory in HCI and UX
2023 Intraction Design Foundation | Human-Computer Interaction: The Foundations of UX Design
Human-Computer Interaction: The Foundations of UX Design
2023 Intraction Design Foundation | Design For The 21st Century
Design For The 21st Century
2022 Intraction Design Foundation | Conducting Usability Testing
Conducting Usability Testing
2023 Intraction Design Foundation | Get Your Product Used Adoption And Appropriation
Get Your Product Used Adoption And Appropriation
2022 Intraction Design Foundation | Mobile User Experience Design
Mobile User Experience Design
2022 Intraction Design Foundation | Data Driven Design Quantitative Research For UX
Data Driven Design Quantitative Research For UX
2022 Intraction Design Foundation | Journey Mapping
Journey Mapping
Interaction Design Foundation Emotional Design: How To Make Products People Will Love
Emotional Design How To Make Products People Will Love
Interaction Design Foundation User Research Methods And Best Practices
User Research Methods And Best Practices
Interaction Design Foundation Creativity Methods To Design Better Products And Services
Creativity Methods To Design Better Products And Services
Interaction Design Foundation User Experience The Beginners Guide
User Experience The Beginners Guide
Interaction Design Foundation UX Management Strategy And Tactics
UX Management Strategy And Tactics
Interaction Design Foundation Design Thinking The Beginners Guide
Design Thinking The Beginners Guide
Interaction Design Foundation Human Computer Interaction-HCI
Human Computer Interaction-HCI
Interaction Design Foundation Become a UX Design From Scratch
Become a UX Design From Scratch
Interaction Design Foundation Psychology Of E-Commerce: How To Sell Online
Psychology Of E-Commerce: How To Sell Online

My Professional Experience

  • Venture Scaling
    • X15 Venture
  • Financial Institute:
    • CommSec
    • CBA Business Banking
  • Government agencies
    • NSW Department of Communities and Justice
  • Creative Agencies
    • DDB Group
    • Leo Burnett
Gold-Quote-54 1

You never learn by doing something right because you already know how to do it. You only learn from making mistakes and correcting them.

–– Russell Ackoff ––