Ringae Nuek | San Francisco-based Product Design Consultant

I'm Ringae, a San Francisco-based independent product design consultant with 20+ years of experience.

I've led design at startups, partnered with founders and executives, and worked across product strategy, UX, and, now, development—from early ideas through launch.

Designing and building with AI

AI has changed how I work. I now go from an idea to a functioning product myself, often designing and building directly in code rather than stopping at mockups.

Product sense

I've often been the first designer at a startup, working with founders when there's little more than an idea. I help figure out what to build, what matters, and what can wait.

Hands-on design leadership

I've built and led design teams, but I always stay close to the work. I'm as comfortable setting direction as I am getting into the details of a flow or design system.

The right process

not more process

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to design. I've always adapted my process to what each project needs, and AI has changed how I work in exciting ways.

I move from ideas to working software faster than ever, but research, exploration, and testing with real users are still essential. The tools have changed, but experience and judgment still determine when to move fast and when to slow down.

Experience across industries

A stock chart on a screen with city lights behind it

Finance

Varo

Motif

Karma Wallet

A doctor in a white coat with a stethoscope, holding a phone

Healthcare / Veterinary care

Hale

Flo

Petabyte

Gold and silver eyeglass frames on a blush background

Fashion

Topology

Mobile

Nokia

Samsung

Motorola

Three

Workers in safety vests in a bright, empty warehouse

Safety & Construction

Voxel

Siteline

Satellite dishes on a rooftop against the sky

Media

BBC

Students crossing a college quad under autumn trees

College Search

Waysmith

“Ringae was a fantastic member of my team both in terms of work produced and the culture she helped create. As a manager I knew she could tackle a large unstructured problem and that she’d come back promptly with excellent, well-thought out solutions that were both creative and pragmatic.

On top of that, she has real design craftsmanship and can see a concept through to execution, down to all the nitty-gritty details and small decisions that, done right, really make a project stand out and shine.”

Tony Price

Partner, Foster + Partners

“Ringae is an outstanding, talented creative. At INQ, she played an integral role in thinking through how to integrate social throughout the INQ1 phone. This work required comprehensive and original thinking about the device’s entire UI, since that product was one of the very first to pursue this kind of integration.

I was impressed how Ringae was able to innovate on this project, while encouraging and supporting collaboration. She genuinely cared about the work - not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind it. She works fast, produces great results, and does not shy away from rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty.A really talented, creative, team player.”

Frank Meehan

Co-founder & CEO, Inq Mobile

“If I could have hired her, I would have. Heaven knows I tried. Maybe someday she'll come back and work for me full time, but for now I'm happy to recommend her as a very high quality, thoughtful, and self-directed UX lead.

Ringae has the poise and presence of mind to handle senior-level client interactions, as well as the UX chops to get down and dirty with complex wireframes. I would feel comfortable, and you should too, having her lead any major UX-driven engagement, knowing that she will not only solve the problem, but build a great working relationship with her teammates along the way. Highly recommended.”

Alder Yarrow

Chief Experience Officer, Cibo

See more testimonials

I help startups figure out what to build—and bring it to life.

I'm Ringae, a San Francisco-based independent product design consultant with 20+ years of experience. I've led design at startups, partnered with founders and executives, and worked across product strategy, UX, and, now, development—from early ideas through launch.

not more process

I'm Ringae, a San Francisco-based independent product design consultant with 20+ years of experience.

I've led design at startups, partnered with founders and executives, and worked across product strategy, UX, and, now, development—from early ideas through launch.