A hands-on design leader scaling teams that ship faster, delight users and deliver proven ROI
Most recently I've been making Healthcare more Human-Centred, leading the design team at Telstra Health UK.
My career began in brand identity and strategy, crafting visual narratives for diverse clients like Heineken and University of Nottingham.
This foundation in strategic communication naturally evolved into a passion for User Experience. I recognised that resonant brands are built on exceptional, user-centred experiences, underpinned by sound business strategy.
My 15 years as Head of Forecasting at Domestic & General, achieving 97% budget planning accuracy, further solidified my data-driven approach and commercial acumen.
Design Philosophy
Great leaders have a clear vision. Mine is guided by three core principles, intrinsically linked to data and business impact: Intentional. Purposeful. Decisive.
Be Intentional (Data-Informed)
Every design decision must be deliberate, informed by robust data and insights. This isn't design by gut feeling, but design rooted in user research, analytics, and a clear understanding of business objectives. From DesignOps strategies to individual UI elements, intentionality ensures every aspect serves a purpose and contributes to user experience and ROI.
Be Purposeful (Impact-Driven)
Design must solve real problems and create meaningful experiences that improve lives and achieve strategic goals. My commitment to "design for purpose" sharpened as I witnessed my mother navigate digital interfaces post-stroke. This solidified my dedication to user-centred solutions that make a genuine difference, measurably impacting user satisfaction and business outcomes.
Be Decisive (Action-Oriented)
Speed and clarity are crucial. I excel at making informed, timely design decisions, even under pressure and with limited data. This involves clear frameworks, prioritisation, and proxy methods when user access is limited. My focus is on data-backed decisions and rapid progress, ensuring projects deliver maximum impact, on time and within budget.
Key Achievements
My career highlights demonstrate consistent success in building high-performing design functions and driving tangible business results:
UX Maturity & Team Scaling (Telstra Health)
Drove a 400% uplift in UX maturity within 2 years, building the company's largest and fastest-growing team, recognised for NHS-benchmark healthcare UX (VaxApp).
Healthcare UX Excellence (Helix/VaxApp)
Led UX for VaxApp, achieving 7x planned user adoption, 250,000+ vaccinations, and 30% user task time reduction, and earning NHS recognition for setting a new industry standard for our pilot work on Reasonable Adjustments.
Strategic DesignOps & Efficiency
Implemented DesignOps strategies and enterprise design system, achieving a 40% reduction in design-to-development time, enhancing consistency and efficiency.
Accessibility Leadership & Compliance
Established the Accessibility Council, embedding WCAG 2.2 AA compliance into product lifecycles and workflow and reframing accessibility as a core pillar aligned with regulatory and clinical safety.
Revenue & Engagement Growth
Designed accessible wayfinding for The Outwoods Nature Reserve, contributing to a 75% increase in visitor revenue. Led rapid Live Chat implementation at Domestic & General, mitigating a surge of 10,000+ queries and establishing a vital new communication channel.
Business Acumen & Forecasting
Leveraged 15 years as Head of Forecasting, achieving 97% budget planning accuracy at Domestic & General, to inform data-driven design strategies and ensure alignment with business goals and financial realities.
Skills & Specialities
My leadership is underpinned by a robust set of competencies honed across diverse roles:
Outside of pixels, I’m from Liverpool, a dad to Alexandra, and still finding time for guitars and alt-rock.
© 2025 Michael J. Preston
Matlock, Derbyshire UK