Steve Edwards

I’ve been focussing on independent product development, consulting and exploring how AI can support the design and delivery process without losing sight of the people using the end product.

Recent work has included design, development and shipping my QuietStrength app, taking ideas from early discovery and product strategy through to branding, UX design, implementation and App Store release. Alongside the products themselves, I’ve been working on content, marketing and community engagement.

I’ve also worked with bestselling author Nicola May, helping shape her digital presence through website design, brand development and audience engagement.

Away from client projects, I’ve been exploring new product ideas including From the Pitchside, a grassroots football platform developed through conversations with coaches and clubs to better understand the challenges they face and where technology can genuinely help.

Throughout this period I’ve continued using AI-assisted and agentic workflows across research, prototyping, development and testing while maintaining a strong focus on human needs, usability and real-world outcomes. By reducing the time spent in implementation, these approaches have created more space to focus on the people using the product, test assumptions earlier and refine solutions based on what genuinely helps rather than what simply works technically.

I worked closely with clients operating in complex and highly regulated environments, helping turn difficult business problems into products people could genuinely understand and use.

A significant part of my work involved partnering with stakeholders, product owners and engineering teams during discovery, challenging assumptions, understanding how people actually worked and translating that understanding into practical solutions.

One of the most rewarding projects was working with Gresham House, where portfolio managers were navigating large volumes of financial and operational data. The challenge wasn’t simply presenting information on a screen, but helping people make confident decisions more quickly. By simplifying workflows and reducing unnecessary complexity, we created tools that made day-to-day tasks clearer.

Alongside client delivery, I led the design of a cross-platform design system spanning web, mobile and tablet products. More than creating a library of components, the goal was to establish a shared language between design and engineering, improving consistency, accessibility and delivery speed across multiple platforms.

I wasn’t someone who disappeared after handing over a Figma file. I worked alongside product owners, Technical Leads and developers from the earliest discovery conversations through to release, helping shape how products behaved as well as how they looked. Being part of those discussions meant user experience remained a consideration throughout delivery, not just at the start of a project. The result was often simpler, more practical solutions that worked for users, stakeholders and engineering teams alike.

Over 17 years I helped guide the agency’s transition from traditional print delivery into digital products, platforms and services, working closely with clients including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, O2, British Airways and Mitchells & Butlers.

Much of my time was spent embedded within client organisations, understanding how people actually worked and helping translate complex operational challenges into digital solutions that were simpler, faster and easier to use. Rather than working as an external supplier, I often became a trusted extension of internal teams, collaborating closely with stakeholders and operational staff to understand their problems directly.

For Marks & Spencer, I designed and built a supply chain platform that brought fragmented onboarding, compliance and supplier processes into a single system used by more than 100 suppliers. The result was greater visibility, reduced administration and a smoother path for getting products onto shelves.

For Sainsbury’s, I helped transform supplier onboarding and learning from static documents into a secure, accessible digital platform. By focusing on usability, accessibility and the needs of the people using it day-to-day, the platform significantly increased engagement and was recognised with an Online Recruitment Award for Best Candidate Experience.

Alongside client delivery, I played a key role in modernising the agency’s technical capabilities, introducing new digital services, mentoring designers and developers, and helping clients move away from paper-based and manual processes towards more connected digital experiences.