Hey, I'm

Ashish Soundalkar

Product Design Lead at HowNow.

I design accessible products that turn complex problems into clear experiences and measurable business outcomes.
A11Y Certified · Coachable Certified

  • Figma
  • A11Y certified
  • Coachable certified
Standing by a mountain lake in an autumn landscape
Relaxing on a boat under a Swiss flag on a mountain lake
Smiling with a husky draped over my shoulders

About Me

I'm a Product Designer with a background in Computer Science and over 9 years of experience designing digital products that people find easy to use. I work at the intersection of creativity and logic, turning complex problems into scalable solutions that balance user needs and business goals. I've contributed to products across Finance, Healthcare, and EdTech, working closely with everyone from engineers and product managers to CEOs, understanding what they actually want and delivering on those expectations. I measure my work by the impact it ships.

Why I Chose Product Design

I chose to be a Product Designer because it sits at the intersection of creativity, logic, and empathy. I'm most energized when solving complex problems: untangling ambiguity, understanding user needs, and turning insights into clear, intuitive experiences. Design, for me, is less about aesthetics and more about impact: creating solutions that genuinely help people while supporting business goals. The challenge of balancing user needs, technical constraints, and real-world outcomes is what keeps me motivated and continually curious in my work.

My Design Journey

My path into product design wasn't linear. While my professional design career began in 2017, it was shaped by years of self-directed learning, hands-on experimentation, and real-world problem solving. An early freelance project during my final year of college became the catalyst for my career, teaching me how to manage constraints, prioritize effectively, and ship thoughtful design under pressure. Since then, I've grown from a self-taught UI enthusiast into a Lead Product Designer, carrying a strong sense of discipline, empathy, and ownership into every project I take on.

Career timeline

Dec 2020 - PresentMumbai, Maharashtra, India

Product Design Lead

HowNow

I joined as the founding designer and built the design team I now lead. I initiated the design system that made the platform accessible for clients led by the UK Government, guided three designers through delivering it, and designed Insights, our conversational reporting surface.

Mar 2020 - Nov 2020Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Senior UI/UX Designer and UI Developer

Ezobanks

I revamped the design system to realign it with the brand, and delivered banking app features and rapid prototypes that kept development moving through the COVID lockdown.

Nov 2018 - Mar 2020Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

UI Team Lead

Relifems

I led a team of four designers and UI developers, drove the UX research behind our decisions, and delivered features across healthcare sub-apps and web apps.

Apr 2017 - Oct 2018Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

UI/UX Designer and UI Developer

Penguinapps

I designed across multiple client projects, led design and UX brainstorming sessions, and shipped production features from concept through launch.

Jan 2017 - Apr 2017Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

UI/UX Designer and UI Developer

ACS Business Solutions, contract

I started my design career on contract, building my grounding in user research and design principles and raising the team's design standards as I learned.

How I work

01

Outcome over output

Shipped screens mean nothing on their own; I measure design by the change it creates for users and the business.

02

Build to understand

I prototype early and often; making an idea real is the fastest way to find out whether it is right.

03

Clarity is kindness

Plain language and obvious interfaces respect people's time; so does direct, honest feedback.

04

Always be learning

Self-taught first and certified later, I treat every project as a chance to get better at the craft.

When I'm Not Designing

Outside of design, I'm an avid traveler and adrenaline seeker who enjoys motorsports, photography, and exploring new cultures. Whether I'm chasing the perfect shot, following Formula 1, or discovering great local food in a new city, I bring the same curiosity and attention to detail back to my design work, always looking for better ways to understand people.