Patrick Schlafer

I'm a cross-functional product designer with diverse finance, retail, and education expertise.

From streamlining advisor tools at Northwestern Mutual to crafting user-friendly apps for Barnes & Noble, I excel in creating enjoyable experiences. As an ADPList mentor, I empower aspiring designers through mentorship and continuous learning.

Equipped with product design, research, prototyping, and testing skills, I have the broad and flexible toolkit to deliver an impactful experience.

I'm currently open to new roles, so let's chat! Reach out on LinkedIn or emailCopy email.

These days, most of my entertainment and exercise comes from chasing my two year old but I try to do some baking when possible.

My Process (4 Tenets)

Design processes are a dime a dozen, and I don't hold any particular one dear. Instead, I believe it’s crucial to recognize that each company, team, and project is unique and requires an accommodating approach. Embedding these four tenets, regardless of the process, will drive success.

1. Research

   Design and research are deeply connected, making it essential to engage with users throughout the process and identify the riskiest assumptions early on.

2. Iteration

   Generating a wide range of ideas ensures thorough exploration of possibilities, and continuous improvement after the initial delivery helps refine the final product.

3. Flexibility

   Change happens. Being adaptable to new discoveries keeps us aligned with user and business needs, allowing us to evolve designs effectively, even on ongoing and past projects.

4. Transparency

   Maintaining an open, honest, and transparent process fosters trust with stakeholders and partners, which is key to ongoing improvement and successful outcomes.

My Experience

1. Northwestern Mutual

   2021-2024
   • Led a remote team of 2 designers to reimagine the advisor compensation platform.
   • Focused on mentoring team and improving craft through training workshops for Figma, Heap data analytics, and AI/LLMs.

2. Barnes & Noble

   2018-2021
   • Led design and delivery of a new retail mobile app.
   • Integrated audiobooks into Nook app and device experience, a major new product category.

3. McKinsey & Co.

   2017-2018
   • Renovated the entire online network application serving 34,000 alumni worldwide.
   • Extended brand style into fully interactive, responsive design system.

4. Owen Software

   2015-2017
   • Grow feature design process of college and career planning tools for 250,000+ students.
   • Innovated the pathway from college to career selection to secure patent US 15/348,943.