Hello! My name is Shoji Ushiyama.
I’m a force‑multiplying product designer with 10 years of experience.
I find hidden patterns in complex problems and create frameworks that help entire teams, orgs, and communities see solutions they couldn't find before.
Where tactical design approaches reach their limits, I architect systems that scale our problem-solving capability, concentrating strategy into clear, executable direction.
I activate product strategy by architecting systems where none existed before.
I concentrate product vision into design execution by harnessing complexity.
I construct frameworks to ensure everyone thrives in complex problem spaces.
I revitalised a B2B2C platform project stalled for 2 years by executing a systematic 0-1 design plan from user research through to prototyping.
I identified critical user pain points that had remained invisible in the entire history of the 40-year-old community and provided the engineering lead the breakthrough he needed.
I translated a startup's market positioning into a comprehensive visual design & heuristic system for their surgical robot.
I gave their CEO & CTO the first coherent vision of their product, accelerating development towards their Series A funding round.
I develop documentation that elevates my team’s creative output and professional skills, and enabling them to independently produce work that strengthens the brand narrative of a $17.4M convention.
I established design principles for gaming communities and online subcultures, systematising approaches that had been guesswork, developing tools that reduced multi-day processes to minutes.
Principal UX Designer
Christopher Miller
Shoji has this beautiful way of understanding problems at their core, creating this perfect dance between teamwork and innovation. Teams just get better when he's around.
Design Director & Coach
Marvin Hassan
Looking for someone who can think through systemic challenges and lead the charge toward finding solutions that go beyond the obvious to solve real underlying issues? Shoji is the right designer.
Founding UX Designer
Tamar Levy
Shoji brought great energy to the class, actively participated in discussions, and asked thoughtful questions that kept everyone engaged in the learning process. His curiosity and willingness to share his own knowledge made him a valuable presence in the classroom.
Product Designer
Mariana Mejía
Shoji was always a standout in any design discussion. He speaks with knowledge and is able to lead projects to reliably amazing solutions. I could always count on him to have a great brainstorming session and to deliver a great presentation together.
Despite 40 years of evolution, the furry fandom's multi-million dollar freelance art market remained a graveyard of failed platforms. Through systematic user research, I discovered why: they were all building for the wrong business model entirely.
This insight unlocked a complete strategic pivot from social platform to process automation tool, and culminated in a comprehensive prototype that unstuck 2 years of stalled development.
Revolve Surgical's surgical robot reduces surgeon fatigue during laparoscopic procedures, but bringing new medtech to market requires integrating user needs with a complex web of requirements. Success required navigating the intersection of surgical workflows, medical regulations, hospital procurement, and business viability.
My role: translate strategic market positioning and regulatory constraints into a unified product vision, enabling the team to move confidently toward regulatory approval and public launch.