Director of Product Design
Steve Nash
Product through acquisition. Design through reinvention. A builder who came up through design, now leading with AI.
About
My background spans both sides of the product org. Head of Product at a company that was acquired, now leading design at one of ad-tech's most innovative platforms. I care about outcomes, not just craft — working close to the customer, sitting in on sales calls, and letting that shape what gets built.
The thesis I'm running: design is moving toward building. The designers who thrive won't be the best at Figma — they'll be the ones who can front a codebase, use AI as an accelerant, and ship. I'm not just advocating for it. I'm doing it.
I'm a builder who came up through design. If that combination interests you, let's talk.
Experience
GumGum
2 yrs 8 mosDirector of Product Design
Aug 2025 – PresentDirector, Product, Ad Products and Tools
Aug 2023 – Nov 2025- Actively moving the design team from Figma into code-native, AI-assisted workflows, with hands-on use of AI coding tools and agentic pipelines in production.
- Championing the designer-builder model across the product org, closing the gap between design and engineering through AI tooling.
- Led post-acquisition integration of Playground xyz’s ad units into GumGum’s North American markets, ensuring seamless adoption and maximising impact.
- Integrated and scaled cross-functional teams across product design and product management, bridging Playground xyz and GumGum talent through the transition.
- Partnered closely with sales to develop and launch go-to-market creative strategies, including interactive demos of cutting-edge ad units and technologies.
- Pioneered creative attention platforms that changed how brands measure consumer engagement with rich media.
- Presented creative attention research and products at AdWeek Asia in Tokyo.
Playground XYZ
7 yrs 7 mosHead of Product
Feb 2019 – Aug 2023Head of Design
Feb 2016 – Feb 2019- First employee and foundational leader, architecting the creative and product structure that drove double-digit year-over-year growth, culminating in a successful acquisition six years later.
- Established Playground xyz as an industry leader, renowned for delivering innovative, high-quality ad-tech solutions that set new market standards.
- Pioneered the development of attention-based eye-tracking solutions, transforming early prototypes into a standalone business line and app with over 30,000 panelists.
- Built and scaled a high-performing team of 25 across creative, product, and operations, driving rapid innovation, streamlined execution, and fast go-to-market strategies.
Big Mobile
2 yrs 1 moUX Lead
Jan 2013 – Jan 2015- Pioneered mobile product innovation in a pre-iPhone and Android era, leading a team of creatives to define groundbreaking mobile experiences.
- Developed cutting-edge animations and interactive ad formats, pushing the boundaries of technology and engagement.
- Played a key role in shifting ad spend from desktop to mobile, driving early adoption and transformation in the digital advertising landscape.
Object Consulting
2 yrs 6 mosSenior UX Consultant
Aug 2010 – Jan 2013- Provided high-impact consulting for major Australian and global brands, including Microsoft Australia, Vodafone, NSW Government, Australian Defence Force, and Domino’s Pizza.
- Led UX strategy within Agile teams, delivering complex, customized solutions that drove measurable outcomes on highly accessible solutions.
- Earned trusted partnerships through excellence, leading multiple high-stakes engagements and being specifically requested for repeat secondments by Microsoft Australia.
Featured
Contact
Always open to interesting conversations.