Maeve Breslin

Strategy.

How I approach product design, lead teams, and bring clarity to complex systems.

Design.

Systems.

Strategy.

Design.

Systems.

Strategy.

How I approach product design, lead teams, and bring clarity to complex systems.

Design.

Systems.

This isn’t a case study. It’s the space between — the thinking, habits, and systems I lean on to do good work in complex spaces. From scaling design teams to structuring platforms, this is how I stay clear-headed when the problem space isn’t. At the heart of it all: four principles I keep coming back to — People, Process, Performance, and Purpose.

People

People rule. Silos drool.


  • Build relationships. I invest in 1:1s, async check-ins, and creating space for thoughtful conversation — because good design starts with trust.

  • Foster inclusion. I work to surface different perspectives and make sure all voices are heard in critiques, workshops, and day-to-day decisions.

  • Celebrate progress. I highlight wins (big or small) and help teams build momentum through positive reinforcement and shared ownership.

  • Support better hiring. I contribute to hiring by helping shape inclusive assessments, reviewing portfolios, and being intentional about team fit.

Process

Structure that speeds things up.

  • AI as design infrastructure. I use AI tools to accelerate insight synthesis, unlock earlier concepts, and streamline handoff — from thematic research analysis to scaffolding content, mapping flows, and prototyping ideas fast.

  • Systems thinking, still human. I combine AI-powered workflows with structured design foundations like journey maps, object models, and modular templates — ensuring speed doesn’t come at the cost of cohesion or clarity.

  • Speed with judgment. I treat AI as a design partner, not a shortcut. It helps me move quickly through ambiguity, but the design intent and product reasoning stay human.

  • Always adapting. As tooling and team contexts evolve, so does my process. I’m comfortable adapting rituals, systems, and standards to match the moment — especially when the moment is moving fast.
    No AI was harmed in the production of the portfolio**

Performance

Momentum over perfection.

  • Bias for action. I’m pragmatic in complexity — I move ideas forward, even when not everything is fully defined.

  • Design as delivery. I don’t treat design as a phase. It’s how I help teams make decisions, test assumptions, and get real things into users’ hands.

  • Unblock and go. I’m comfortable shaping just enough structure to move, especially when speed matters more than polish.

  • Velocity with intention. I aim for momentum that compounds — not chaos. Strong defaults, fast feedback loops, and progress you can build on.

Purpose

Designing for clarity, impact, and direction.

  • Focus on what matters. I work to align design decisions with product strategy, commercial goals, and user needs — especially when things get noisy.

  • Design as a lever. I believe design isn’t just for shipping screens — it’s a way of shaping product direction, reducing risk, and enabling scale.

  • Lead with intent. Whether mentoring designers, guiding a decision, or mapping a system, I bring a strong point of view rooted in purpose — not just process.

  • Clarity is the outcome. In complex environments, I measure design’s success by how much clearer the path forward becomes — for users, teams, and the business.