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Best UX Design Consultants in Seattle
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Best Seattle UX Design Consultants
Seattle has established itself as a major center for technology, innovation, healthcare, aerospace, and digital business, making thoughtful UX design increasingly important for organizations competing in a digital-first marketplace.
From global technology companies and SaaS businesses to startups, healthcare providers, and emerging brands, organizations across the Seattle metropolitan area are investing in UX consultants who can create intuitive experiences, solve complex user problems, and build stronger digital products.
At Digital Reference, we believe great UX design is driven not only by sophisticated tools, but by talented people with strong design thinking and user-centered approaches.
We researched and evaluated UX design consultants across the Seattle region to identify professionals demonstrating design expertise, strategic thinking, innovation, and measurable client impact.
The UX consultants featured here include independent professionals, studio founders, agency leaders, and solo practitioners who bring distinctive perspectives to solving real-world digital challenges.
🛸 Our Methodology: How We Built This List of Top Seattle UX Design Consultants
This list reflects extensive research into UX design consultants operating throughout the Seattle metropolitan area. Rather than simply highlighting recognizable names, we focused on professionals demonstrating strong UX methodology, creative excellence, strategic leadership, and meaningful client outcomes.
Our evaluation included:
🌐 Review of consultant and agency websites, UX portfolios, case studies, and design capabilities
🧠 Research into UX leaders, founders, creative directors, and senior designers through LinkedIn and public professional profiles
🎨 Evaluation of user research, UX strategy, interaction design, usability, product design, and digital experience expertise
📊 Assessment of client industries, project diversity, notable brands, product outcomes, and demonstrated business impact
🤝 Consideration of each consultant's collaboration style, communication, discovery process, and strategic consulting capabilities
🚀 Focus on UX professionals helping organizations create human-centered, accessible, intuitive, and scalable digital experiences built for long-term growth
Seattle's UX design ecosystem continues to grow alongside its influential technology and innovation sectors. Today's leading UX consultants combine research, strategy, interaction design, product thinking, accessibility, and technology to help organizations create digital experiences that are useful, engaging, and commercially effective. The consultants featured below represent some of Seattle's standout UX design talent, each bringing a distinctive approach to solving user problems and helping organizations build better products and experiences.
🌟 Digital Reference's List of the Best UX Design Consultants in Seattle
🟢 Matt Heilman
Founding UX Designer @ Upbound
Matt Heilman has made a career out of making the complex feel intuitive—and even enjoyable. As the founding UX designer at Upbound, Matt has spent over five years building cloud-native tools that empower organizations to scale across public and private clouds. But don’t let the technical context fool you; Matt's designs are filled with warmth and clarity.
Why he stands out:
✨ Spearheaded design and user testing for Upbound's Kubernetes-based control planes
✨ Known for balancing data-heavy UX with friendly, branded visuals (mascot design included!)
✨ Brings deep experience in mobile app design, responsive systems, and SaaS ecosystems
✨ Actively works in agile, scrappy teams, bridging design and engineering
Matt's personal mission? "Make traditionally unexciting tasks more delightful" through clean, user-first interaction patterns. This perspective shows up in every click, hover state, and dashboard detail.
🟢 Nick Finck
UX & Product Design Executive & Founder @ Craft & Rigor
A true heavyweight in the design world, Nick Finck has done it all: led teams at Amazon Web Services, Facebook, Ubermind, projekt202, and more. Today, as founder of Craft & Rigor, he offers a level of UX strategy that can redefinean organization.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Optimized design operations for Fortune 100 teams
🔹 Mentored countless designers in career transitions
🔹 Delivered over 100 public talks across 10 countries
🔹 Published Digital Web Magazine, one of the first digital pubs for UX pros
Nick is who companies call when they need more than a great designer—they need a systems thinker who can level-up an entire org. From design systems to hiring pipelines, his consulting work is deeply embedded in the people and processes that support sustainable UX success.
🟢 Jeff White
Founder @ Stepladder UX
If you’ve ever used a Kindle app, you’ve probably interacted with Jeff White’s work. After six intense years at Amazon (and more presentations to Jeff Bezos than he can count), Jeff co-founded Stepladder, a design studio with a focus on healthcare and high-stakes systems.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Designed and launched dozens of Kindle products
🔹 Built Stepladder into a 7-figure design firm that’s 100% referral-based
🔹 97% client return rate, thanks to strong relationship building
🔹 Focus on medical technologies and patient-centered design
Jeff’s philosophy: "You can't do it alone." It’s a humble but powerful reminder of why Stepladder succeeds—great design is always a team sport.
🟢 Corey Gutch
Co-Founder & Principal @ Civilization
Corey Gutch brings design activism into the spotlight. As co-founder of Civilization, he leads work that spans climate action, LGBTQ+ history, immigration rights, and beyond. With a career that began at Adobe and a teaching background at UW, Corey is deeply rooted in design excellence and civic engagement.
Why he stands out:
🌟 Winner of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award
🌟 Webby winner for Best Activism Website
🌟 Led design workshops globally, from Hong Kong to Seattle
🌟 Clients include: Smithsonian, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Shout Your Abortion
Corey’s work shows how UX can be a form of advocacy. With every project, Civilization proves that design can change hearts, policies, and lives.
🟢 Kevin Decker
Co-founder and Head of Research and Strategy @ Dupla Studios
Kevin Decker brings nearly a decade of experience across UX research, strategy, and systems thinking. His background includes research leadership at Microsoft and AWS, along with work supporting organizations ranging from nonprofits to global technology companies.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Former UX research strategy lead at Microsoft and AWS
🔹 Conducted 1,000+ global interviews and brings 9+ years of studio leadership experience
🔹 Skilled at turning complex workflows and ambiguous challenges into clear, intuitive experiences
🔹 Applies inclusive research across AI, education, healthcare, and sustainability
Kevin’s strength lies in transforming research into clear strategic direction, helping teams challenge assumptions and create more thoughtful digital experiences.
🟢 Hayley Higgins
Founder & President @ Allovus Design Inc
Hayley Higgins brings a people-centered approach to UX talent, design leadership, and team development. Her work focuses on helping organizations build strong design teams while creating more inclusive and sustainable creative environments.
Why she stands out:
🔹 Experienced in UX staffing, hiring, and design team development
🔹 Advocates for diverse and equitable design communities
🔹 Leads with empathy, mentorship, and long-term team growth
Hayley’s strength lies in connecting talented designers with organizations while helping build design cultures that support lasting success.
🟢 Suzanne Boyd
Founder & CEO @ Anthro-Tech, Inc.
Founder and CEO of Anthro-Tech, Inc., Suzanne Boyd brings more than 25 years of experience in UX research and human-centered design. Her consultancy focuses on helping public sector, nonprofit, and mission-driven organizations create digital experiences that are accessible, effective, and responsive to real user needs.
Why she stands out:
🔹 Brings 25+ years of UX research and usability experience
🔹 Trusted by government and social impact organizations
🔹 Applies rigorous usability and research practices to complex, high-stakes projects
Suzanne’s strength lies in combining research rigor with a deep commitment to creating better experiences for communities and the public.
🟢 Rob Girling
Co-Founder @ Artefact
Rob Girling brings a strategic and forward-thinking perspective to design, technology, and innovation. His work combines product strategy, systems thinking, and responsible design to help organizations navigate complex challenges and create more meaningful digital experiences.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Leads one of Seattle’s established design strategy firms
🔹 Explores the intersection of equity, artificial intelligence, and public policy
🔹 Advocates for responsible technology and sustainable design approaches
Rob’s strength lies in connecting design strategy with values to help organizations build technology with purpose and long-term impact.
🟢 Khaiersta Flowers English
Founder & Product Design Lead @ Flower Press
Khaiersta Flowers English brings decades of experience in product design and UX across a wide range of industries. Her work combines thoughtful research, purposeful design, and development to create digital products that are both clear and impactful.
Why she stands out:
🔹 Experience working with brands including Visa, Adobe, SurveyMonkey, Nike, and Time Inc.
🔹 Specializes in products supporting health, environmental, and educational initiatives
🔹 Leads projects from research and strategy through development and launch
Khaiersta’s strength lies in bringing end-to-end product thinking and compassion to every digital experience she creates.
🟢 Aaron Shurts
Founder & Principal @ Mentor Creative Group
Aaron Shurts brings a strong combination of creative leadership, team development, and human-centered design. Since founding the studio in 2014, he has helped grow it from a solo practice into a bicoastal agency serving clients across Seattle and Miami, while maintaining a collaborative and high-touch approach to design.
Why he stands out:
🔹Founder-led creative with scale: Aaron transformed Mentor from a solo venture into a full-service design studio with offices in Seattle and Miami—proving that quality, craft, and culture don’t have to be sacrificed for growth.
🔹Human-centered leadership: Aaron sees team development as inseparable from project success. He fosters an environment where personal growth drives business impact, and mentorship is baked into the day-to-day.
🔹Trusted advisor, not just vendor: Clients don’t just come to Mentor for execution—they stay for strategy. Aaron brings a consultative approach that helps clients build long-term capabilities, not just one-off solutions.
🔹Design that serves the whole ecosystem: From enterprise platforms to creative campaigns, Aaron’s work is grounded in aligning user needs, business goals, and team aspirations—because when those are in sync, innovation follows.
Aaron’s strength lies in building trust and creating design environments where people, products, and businesses can thrive.
🟢 Josh Kornfeld
Founder and Principal @ Tactile
Josh Kornfeld leads Tactile, a UX and product design consultancy that crafts delightful, durable experiences across industries. Think industrial, medical, and consumer tech—but with heart.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Design philosophy focused on functional beauty
🔹 Long-term partnerships with brands like Microsoft, GE, and Disney
🔹 Emphasizes collaboration between engineers and designers
Josh is passionate about designing products that actually make life better. Not just for show. Not just for launch day.
🟢 Matt Cibelli
Founder @ UX Animal
Matt Cibelli brings more than 15 years of UX leadership experience, including work with major technology companies such as Amazon and Apple. His consulting approach focuses on connecting design strategy, team alignment, and effective product execution.
Why he stands out:
🔹 Skilled in team consensus building and stakeholder alignment
🔹 Expert in launching high-quality products on deadline
🔹 Known for motivating teams through clear communication and inspiration
Matt’s strength lies in turning complex challenges and ambiguity into clear direction and aligned action.
☕ Using Digital Reference to Find the Best Seattle-Based UX Design Consultants For Your Needs
Finding the right Seattle-based UX design consultant means looking beyond portfolios to consider experience, methodology, industry knowledge, and measurable results. Seattle’s diverse UX community includes specialists working across technology, SaaS, healthcare, aerospace, startups, and digital products, making it important to find a consultant whose expertise matches your goals.
👇 Continue exploring our latest research here:
- Best Fractional Chief Product Officers in Seattle
- Best UX Design Consultants in Chicago
- Best UX Design Consultants in the USA
At Digital Reference, we make that search easier by highlighting UX professionals with strong design expertise, strategic thinking, human-centered approaches, and proven impact.
Whether you need support with UX research, product design, usability, accessibility, or digital strategy, our curated list can help you find Seattle-based consultants who align with your project and business needs.
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