Vandana ThotaProduct designer · Los Angeles

I turn research◇ Research into products, and design the systems that keep them simple.

Selected work ↓ Research · 0→1 · Design systems

Selected work

3 case studies

Enterprise SaaS · Under NDA

From sign-up to first value: fixing why new customers churned after onboarding

New companies signed up and didn’t know what to do next. I found out why, and redesigned the first experience around AI recommendations people can trust.

Read the case study

B2B enterprise · Under NDA

One system for multiple products, built for people and AI agents

Every designer solved the same problem a different way. I led one shared design system for several products, built for designers, engineers and AI agents.

Read the case study

UX research · Mobile app

Redesigning wealth management for first‑time investors

Users were uninstalling the app because they couldn’t understand it. I led the research and rebuilt the core flows around how savers think about money.

13K+customers reached as Sortika scaled
6.5×growth from its first 2,000 customers
~25%fewer app-related support requests
Read the case study
Strengths

What I bring to a team

Research that shapes priorities

I plan and run interviews, usability tests and surveys, then turn what I learn into clear priorities the team can act on.

0→1 product design

I take products from unclear requirements to launch, and work closely with engineering so the details hold up in build.

Design systems

I build token-based systems in Figma and Storybook that keep products consistent and make new features faster to design and build.

AI-assisted prototyping

I use Figma MCP, Claude and Figma AI with the component library, so prototypes use real components from the start.

About

Hi, I’m Vandana.

7+years in product design
and UX research

I’m a product designer in Los Angeles. I help teams work out what to build and why, then design it through to launch.

Research is where I start. I talk to users, watch them work, and look for the gap between what they expect and what the product does. I turn what I find into clear priorities, so the team can agree on what to fix first.

From there I design end to end, from early flows to the details engineers need, and I build design systems so products stay consistent as they grow. I’m comfortable with new domains, unclear requirements and tight timelines.

Most recently I was a product designer at Eccalon, where I led design on B2B enterprise products and their shared design system. I have a master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from ASU, and I’m looking for my next product design role, especially on AI products.

SaaSAI0→1B2BB2CFintech
References

What it’s like to work with me

Kind words from people I’ve worked with, in their own words. You can find more on my LinkedIn.

Vandana did an excellent job establishing and evolving a design system for a complex product. She managed the core component libraries, created a clear and scalable naming convention, and continued to expand the system as new use cases emerged. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in creating a consistent user experience and enabling teams to design and build more efficiently. Vandana brought the structure, attention to detail, and ongoing stewardship needed to make the design system successful.
J
Joel FisherDirector, Experience Design, Eccalon
Vandana brought a thoughtful, user-centered approach to her work and helped translate complex requirements into clear, intuitive experiences. She was a collaborative teammate. I enjoyed working with Vandana and wish her continued success in her next opportunity.
R
Ryan KellyUser Experience, Eccalon
Vandana is a very skilled and insightful UX designer who helped implement analytics dashboards to measure AI/ML marketing performance for Red Hat management. Her "can do" attitude and persistent drive allowed her to work through several challenges to get the work done. And on top of this, she is a real pleasure to work with.
W
Will McGrathSr. Principal Product Marketing Manager, Red Hat
I got exposure to Vandana’s work at Red Hat when she proactively reached across teams to contribute her skills to our UX Research team. She assisted with several studies on our team during her time. Vandana has a passion for UX Research and would make a fantastic addition to any UX Research team.
L
Leslie HinsonHead of UX Research, Red Hat
I had the opportunity to collaborate with Vandana on a data driven persona development project. Vandana brought her expertise and incisive questions to the team, pushing us to think more critically. Her curiosity and can-do attitude enabled the project to delve deeper into user behaviors and trends.
N
Nicholas JayantyCollaborator, Red Hat
Vandana was always willing to jump into work, even if she had never done a task before. She assisted in our research efforts by tagging and uncovering key insights from user interviews. She was also great at asking questions and "knowing what she doesn’t know". Vandana has a great attitude and is pleasant to work with.
M
Mike FrankeUX & AI Leadership, Red Hat
Experience

Teams I’ve designed for

7 companies & organizations

Eccalon
Human Factors InternationalHuman Factors International
Red Hat
Wolters Kluwer
Arizona State University
sortika
Stoica
Contact

Have a role or project in mind?

Open to Product Designer roles · Los Angeles · US remote

↗
© 2026 Vandana ThotaBased in Los Angeles, CA