UX Design Consultants in the UK to Watch

UX Design Consulting Services in the UK

UK UX Experts to Know in 2025

The UK’s cities are buzzing hubs of innovation and creativity — and at the heart of that buzz lies a thriving UX design community that’s shaping how we interact with digital products every day. Whether in London’s bustling tech scene, Manchester’s growing digital hubs, or Edinburgh’s emerging creative economy, UX consultants in the UK are crafting experiences that drive business success and user delight. This blog unveils the cream of the crop — a curated list of top UK UX design consultants you need to know in 2025.

At Digital Reference, we know that behind every seamless app or intuitive website is a UX professional who has mastered the art and science of design. That’s why we’ve done the deep dive research, combed through portfolios, analyzed client feedback, and vetted expertise to bring you this exclusive showcase of UX pros who are leading the way — from freelance soloists to studio heads and team leaders at firms.

Our Methodology: How We Selected These UX Design Consultants

The UX landscape is vast and varied, and choosing consultants worthy of a spotlight takes more than a quick glance. At Digital Reference, our methodology involved:

• Extensive research: We sifted through LinkedIn profiles, portfolios, client testimonials, and industry awards to understand each consultant’s impact.
• Evaluation of skill sets: We looked for proven mastery in UX research, UI design, prototyping, and user testing, alongside innovative problem-solving skills.
• Client outcomes: Consultants who have demonstrably improved business metrics and user engagement were prioritized.
• Geographic relevance: All consultants are based in the UK or primarily serve the UK market, helping to build a distinctly British UX narrative.
• Diversity of practice: Our list includes freelancers, independent consultants, and those operating within firms, reflecting the rich ecosystem of UX talent in the UK.

Each featured expert or company embodies a commitment to Digital Reference’s core themes: user-centricity, accessibility, innovation, and strategic design thinking. This is why we feel confident highlighting them as top-tier consultants to watch in 2025.

Meet the UK’s Leading UX Design Consultants for 2025

Leo Poll

UX Designer & Founder, Keen Design UK
LinkedIn | Keen Design UK

Leo Poll is a standout figure in the UK UX scene thanks to his sharp focus on delivering data-driven user experiencesthat align with business goals. At Keen Design UK, Leo champions the integration of user research with agile methodologies to create products that not only look good but perform exceptionally in real-world contexts.

✨ What makes Leo shine?

• 🎯 Meticulous in user research that uncovers deep insights and pain points.
• 🎯 Designs interfaces that blend simplicity with powerful functionality, improving conversion rates for clients across fintech and e-commerce sectors.
• 🎯 His consultancy approach encourages continuous user feedback loops to iterate and refine design strategies.
• 🎯 Keen Design UK’s portfolio highlights collaborations with innovative startups and established companies, demonstrating flexibility and scalability.

Leo’s passion for making complex systems intuitive, especially for regulated industries, positions him as a trusted partner for brands looking to innovate responsibly. His strong presence on LinkedIn reveals a commitment to knowledge sharing and mentoring emerging designers.

Harriet Atherton

Founder, Hunch
LinkedIn | Hunch

Harriet Atherton is an exceptional UX strategist and designer whose company Hunch embodies human-centered design at its finest. Harriet’s background in cognitive psychology gives her unique insight into user behavior, helping clients build products that resonate emotionally and function flawlessly.

✨ Why Harriet stands out:

• 🎯 Deep expertise in behavioural research methods, driving designs rooted in real user motivations.
• 🎯 Combines UX design with service design to create holistic digital experiences.
• 🎯 Strong portfolio includes collaborations with healthcare and education sectors, fields where empathy and accessibility are paramount.
• 🎯 Advocates for inclusive design, ensuring accessibility for all users including those with disabilities.
• 🎯 Hunch actively fosters community involvement, running workshops and webinars that educate future UX professionals.

Harriet’s reputation is built on strategic foresight and a commitment to making technology more humane, earning her a respected spot among UK UX leaders.

Joe Russell

Lead UX Designer, Human Interfaces
LinkedIn | Human Interfaces

Joe Russell brings a wealth of experience from working with large-scale public sector projects to disruptive startups, positioning Human Interfaces as a go-to consultancy for complex digital transformation initiatives.

✨ Joe’s key strengths:

• 🎯 Skilled in bridging the gap between technical teams and users, ensuring solutions meet both usability and feasibility criteria.
• 🎯 Expertise in service design and user journey mapping, essential for multi-channel experiences.
• 🎯 Human Interfaces is known for its research-driven workshops that align stakeholders and end users early on.
• 🎯 Joe’s approach emphasizes empathy-driven design balanced with business objectives, which has repeatedly helped clients optimize digital accessibility and satisfaction scores.

Joe has a collaborative style and deep understanding of UX best practices, making him a consultant who delivers both visionary and practical solutions.

Tom Starley

Founder, Tom Starley UX/UI Consultancy
LinkedIn | Tom Starley UX/UI Consultancy

Tom Starley runs a boutique consultancy focused on clean, efficient, and user-first design. His expertise lies in seamlessly blending UX and UI to produce products that feel effortless from onboarding to daily use.

✨ Tom’s signature traits:

• 🎯 Delivers pixel-perfect UI alongside robust UX research, focusing heavily on visual storytelling.
• 🎯 Has a knack for crafting highly intuitive interfaces for SaaS platforms and mobile apps.
• 🎯 Works closely with startups, helping founders validate ideas through rapid prototyping and usability testing.
• 🎯 Tom’s portfolio reflects a consistent ability to improve user retention and reduce friction points dramatically.
• 🎯 His consultancy promotes iterative design, with a strong emphasis on user feedback and analytics.

Tom’s personal brand is built on precision, responsiveness, and a clear passion for minimalist yet powerful user experiences.

Jenny Bjorkman

Co-Founder, Interaktiv Studio
LinkedIn | Interaktiv Studio

Jenny Bjorkman is a powerhouse in the UK UX community, steering Interaktiv Studio toward being a leader in collaborative and participatory design. She brings a strong background in interaction design combined with an inclusive approach that values client and user voices equally.

✨ Jenny’s impact highlights:

• 🎯 Expert facilitator of design sprints that align cross-functional teams quickly.
• 🎯 Emphasizes accessibility, particularly in public-facing government projects.
• 🎯 Her studio’s ethos focuses on transparency and user empowerment, engaging clients as active partners.
• 🎯 Regular speaker at UX events and contributor to thought leadership on designing for equity.
• 🎯 She actively promotes sustainability in digital design, reflecting emerging priorities in the industry.

Jenny’s work blends creativity with pragmatism, and she is recognized for fostering environments where innovation flourishes.

Martin Ollivere

Founder, Ollivere
LinkedIn | Ollivere

Martin Ollivere stands out for his strategic mindset and ability to scale UX practices within businesses. His consultancy Ollivere supports companies in embedding UX culture and processes, going beyond just designing products.

✨ Martin’s unique qualities:

• 🎯 Skilled in UX leadership coaching and team development, helping organizations mature their UX capabilities.
• 🎯 Consults on UX governance, ensuring consistent design language and standards across products.
• 🎯 Works with mid-sized businesses to large enterprises across fintech and retail sectors.
• 🎯 Ollivere’s approach integrates product management and UX design to create well-rounded solutions.
• 🎯 Martin’s thought leadership includes published articles on UX maturity models and organizational change.

His approach helps businesses transition from ad hoc design efforts to sustainable, scalable UX strategies — a critical step for growth.

Scott Jones

Founder, Illustrate Digital
LinkedIn | Illustrate Digital

Scott Jones’s Illustrate Digital is synonymous with engaging and brand-focused UX design. His work often combines storytelling and strategic UX to help brands build stronger emotional connections with their users.

✨ Scott’s distinguishing factors:

• 🎯 Expert in brand integration within UX, ensuring visual identity supports usability.
• 🎯 Strong background in retail and e-commerce UX, helping clients increase engagement and sales.
• 🎯 Known for comprehensive usability audits and actionable insights.
• 🎯 Emphasizes cross-device consistency and mobile-first design philosophies.
• 🎯 Scott regularly mentors junior designers and contributes to UX education initiatives.

Scott’s consultancy offers a full-service approach from research to delivery, making him a reliable partner for brand-led digital transformation.

Ben Stirling

Founder, Made With Maturity
LinkedIn | Made With Maturity

Ben Stirling’s Made With Maturity consultancy is dedicated to designing digital experiences for older adults, an often underserved demographic in UX design.

✨ Ben’s specializations:

• 🎯 Deep understanding of accessibility and usability for mature audiences.
• 🎯 Advocates for empathy-driven design that respects cognitive and physical changes with age.
• 🎯 His projects often involve working with healthcare and public service clients.
• 🎯 Pioneers techniques to simplify interfaces while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
• 🎯 Ben’s work has influenced broader conversations about inclusivity in UX at industry conferences.

Ben’s focus makes him a critical figure in expanding the reach and relevance of UX design across all age groups.

Danny Bluestone

Head of UX, CACI (formerly Cyberduck)
LinkedIn | CACI

Danny Bluestone leads UX at CACI, a major consultancy known for blending cutting-edge research with user-centered digital innovation.

✨ Danny’s leadership highlights:

• 🎯 Oversees multi-disciplinary teams delivering complex digital projects for public and private sectors.
• 🎯 Focused on integrating UX with data analytics to refine product strategies continuously.
• 🎯 Champions user testing and behavioral analytics to inform iterative design.
• 🎯 Has a track record in delivering government platforms that balance security, accessibility, and user needs.
• 🎯 Regularly publishes insights on UX leadership and team dynamics.

Danny’s strategic vision helps organizations leverage UX as a business driver, embedding it deeply into project lifecycles.

David Hamill

Founder, upUX
LinkedIn | upUX

David Hamill’s upUX consultancy is renowned for its human-centered innovation and pragmatic solutions. David thrives in fast-paced environments requiring quick yet effective UX decisions.

✨ David’s top traits:

• 🎯 Blends service design with UX to craft seamless end-to-end customer journeys.
• 🎯 Skilled at rapid prototyping and MVP development for startups.
• 🎯 Advocates for lean UX practices to minimize waste and maximize learning.
• 🎯 upUX works across sectors including tech, finance, and retail, showcasing versatility.
• 🎯 David’s commitment to mentorship enriches the UK UX community, helping elevate emerging talent.

His consultancy’s ability to combine big-picture thinking with tactical execution makes David a standout consultant.

Wrapping Up: Why These UK UX Consultants Matter in 2025

The UK’s UX consultancy scene is as dynamic and diverse as the cities that nurture it. From London’s innovation powerhouse to the vibrant tech communities across the country, these experts don’t just design interfaces — they shape how people experience technology every day. Their distinctive approaches, whether rooted in behavioural science, accessibility, or strategic leadership, illustrate the power of thoughtful UX to transform businesses and lives alike.

At Digital Reference, we are proud to spotlight these professionals, who embody our values of innovation, inclusivity, and user-focus. Our company is dedicated to bridging the gap between digital strategy and user experience, helping brands grow through smarter, research-driven design solutions. Interested in how UX can elevate your brand?

Whether you’re a startup founder, product manager, or fellow designer, keeping an eye on these UK consultants will give you a leg up in understanding where UX is headed in 2025 — and beyond.

Want to explore other UX hubs?

• UX Design Consulting Services in the USA
• UX Design Consulting Services in Canada
• UX Design Consulting Services in Australia

Thanks for reading! If you want to learn more about the Digital Reference team and how we champion UX excellence, visit our About page.