Hi, I'm Russell.
Thanks for checking out my website. Here’s a little about what I do and how I think.
Based in Melbourne5+ yrs Designing Enterprise ProductsLoves to Code and BuildOpen to New Opportunities
The Journey..
What you build comes from where you’ve been. Here’s a bit of that, and some photos from my time wandering through Asia.
Digital Environments
Much like physical environments, digital environments are a reflection of the people using them. At Oriental Merchant, I've been able to shape how these environments feel and function. I love to set precendent for how things should be done and how they should look, crafting a culture of design that is both functional and beautiful.
My Passion
I'm passionate about design systems that scale, accessibility that's built-in rather than bolted-on, and user research that drives real change in how we build digital experiences. Oh, and I love things that are visually stunning and make you go "wow". Probably explains why I love Japanese design so much.Early Days
My journey in design began with curiosity about how things work, why they're built the way they are, and how design can make technology feel human. Having roots in architectural design, I've always had a facination with the environments humans surround themselves in.
My Approach
My approach combines deep user empathy with strategic thinking, ensuring every design decision serves both user needs and business objectives. With every decision made, the goal is always to create a product that feels just "sweet" for the user. I believe great design isn't always loud or avant-garde. It lives where usability meets personality, where something simply feels right.
My path to enterprise design started with curiosity about how creativity and technology connect. That early mix still influences how I design: practical, human, and quietly expressive.
Whether sketching in Figma or prototyping in code, I believe great design happens at the intersection of craft and strategy.
The result? Interfaces people actually want to use, not just tolerate.
Whether sketching in Figma or prototyping in code, I believe great design happens at the intersection of craft and strategy.
The result? Interfaces people actually want to use, not just tolerate.
Experience
UX Designer
Oriental Merchant
2022 - Present
At Oriental Merchant, leading UX/UI design across enterprise platforms, transforming complex workflows into intuitive interfaces that users actually want to use.
Freelance
Self-Employed
2025
Expanding into freelance work, helping small businesses establish their digital presence and create meaningful connections with their customers through thoughtful design.
Junior Programmer
Oriental Merchant
2021 - 2022
At Oriental Merchant, started as a junior programmer developing foundational skills in software development and learning the fundamentals of building robust digital solutions.
Behind the Interface
UX & Design
Design Thinking
User Research
User Interviews
Personas
A/B Testing
Usability Testing
Wireframing
Journey Mapping
Interaction Design
Prototyping
Design Systems
Accessibility
Visual Design
Design Tools
Figma
Adobe Creative Suite
Canva
Frontend Development
React
Next.js
Angular
JavaScript
TypeScript
CSS
SASS
Framer Motion
Backend Development
Node.js
Python
Development Tools
Git
Bitbucket
Other Tools
QA Testing
Atlassian
About This Site
A deliberately minimal portfolio built with the same principles I apply to production products: performance first, clarity over noise.
Designed, built, and shipped end-to-end.
Google PageSpeed / Lighthouse
Performance
98
Accessibility
100
Best Practices
100
SEO
100
Framework
Next.js 16 (App Router) + React 19
Language
TypeScript
Motion
GSAP (ScrollTrigger/ScrollSmoother), Lenis, Framer Motion
Hosting + analytics
Vercel + Vercel Analytics
Contact
Route Handler + Resend email API
Site metadata
“Russell Saw — UX Portfolio”