Benjamin Anthonisz
A hands-on Senior Product Design Leader helping businesses across the UAE and GCC grow through product strategy, UX, UI and customer-first digital experiences. I design websites, apps and digital products that are clear, simple and built around customer needs, while adapting my approach for the changing world of AI search.
Brands I've worked with
Recommendations
Faith Okwuosa
Product, CRO & Growth Leader
Chalhoub Group, Dubai
Chalhoub Group, Dubai
"An exceptional Design Leader and a true partner to Product. He played a key role in scaling design across multiple brands while maintaining a high standard of quality and consistency.
Benji was instrumental in supporting our personalization and A/B testing programme, collaborating seamlessly with all relevant stakeholders. He’s thoughtful, collaborative, and always willing to go the extra mile to support the team. I highly recommend Benji to any organisation looking for a talented and supportive design leader."
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David Abel
eCommerce Manager
Al-Futtaim, Dubai
Al-Futtaim, Dubai
"I had the privilege of working with Ben for almost four years at Al-Futtaim, where we partnered to launch the group’s first transactional eCommerce site. Ben was the design engine as we adapted to a new market and took on category leaders. He built bilingual (English/Arabic) design systems that respected RTL, typography and cultural nuance, no small feat at scale.
Beyond craft, Ben is the teammate you want in the trenches: generous, dependable and kind.
He’s versatile on brand, product, performance creative and trusted across the business. As the group expanded its digital footprint, Ben led projects across multiple categories and brands, was respected by leadership and peers, and always invested time in those who reported to him.
If you’re building for MENA or any multilingual market, follow Ben’s work and if you get the chance, hire him. I’d be delighted to get the chance to work with Ben again."
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Jomana Samir
Senior Product Manager
Chalhoub Group, Dubai
Chalhoub Group, Dubai
"I worked with Benji for 2 years, and he was my first manager when I joined Chalhoub. From day one, he was incredibly supportive not only in guiding me through work-related matters but also in helping me settle into life in UAE as I had just relocated.
On the professional side, Benji consistently guided me to focus on delivering the best user experience by making decisions based on data and insights. His approach helped me sharpen my skills and shaped the way I think about building meaningful experiences.
What stands out about Benji is that he is not only a highly professional leader but also a genuinely kind human being something that is rare to find these days. His guidance, patience, and empathy left a lasting impact on me both personally and professionally, and I’m truly grateful for the experience of working with him."
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About me
I'm Benji. Over the past 11+ years I've worked with leading brands across the UAE and GCC, helping design websites, apps and digital products that solve real customer and business problems.
I enjoy taking complex ideas and turning them into experiences that feel simple, clear and easy to use. I work closely with product, technology and business teams because the best digital products are built together, not in isolation.
My approach
Every project starts with understanding the customer. Every design decision should have a clear purpose and help both the customer and the business.
Whether I'm designing something new or improving an existing product, I focus on creating experiences that are clear, simple and easy to understand. When people can quickly understand what to do, businesses usually see higher conversion, stronger loyalty and better long-term growth.
As AI search changes how people discover businesses, I'm adapting my approach so the digital experiences I design are easier for both people and AI to understand.
How I help businesses
Product Strategy
Turning business goals and customer needs into clear digital solutions that create better experiences and better business outcomes.
UX & UI Design
Designing websites, apps and digital products that are clear, simple and enjoyable to use from the very first interaction.
UX Audits & CRO
Reviewing digital experiences to uncover usability issues, reduce friction and improve conversion with clear, practical recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
What does a product designer do?
A product designer helps turn customer and business needs into digital products that are clear, simple and easy to use. This can include product strategy, user research, UX, UI, prototyping, testing and working closely with product and technology teams from idea through to launch and beyond.
How do you approach product design?
I start by understanding the customer, the problem we're trying to solve and what the business needs to achieve. From there, I work through the journey, UX and UI, testing ideas where needed and working closely with the wider team. Every design decision should have a clear purpose and help both the customer and the business.
Can you design a new website, app or digital product from scratch?
Yes. I've helped design new websites, apps and digital products from the initial idea through to detailed UX, UI and prototypes. I work closely with the wider team throughout the process to make sure what we design works for both the customer and the business.
Can you improve an existing website, app or digital product?
Yes. I can review an existing product to find problems, understand where people may be struggling and identify ways to improve the experience. I can then recommend or redesign the relevant journeys, screens or features to make them clearer, simpler and easier to use.
Do you have experience leading product design teams?
Yes. I've led and managed designers while staying hands-on with the design work myself. I enjoy helping designers grow, raising the quality of the work and bringing people together around a clear direction, while working closely with product, technology and other teams.
Do you work with design systems?
Yes. I've worked with design systems to create consistent experiences across digital products and help teams design and build more efficiently. This includes reusable components, patterns and clear design standards that can grow as the product grows.
What is a UX audit?
A UX audit is a detailed review of a website, app or digital product to find usability problems that may be making the experience harder than it needs to be. I look at the customer journey, navigation, content, interactions and key actions, then provide clear recommendations for what should be improved and why.
Why is UX important for eCommerce?
Good UX makes it easier for customers to find products, understand what they're buying and complete their purchase. If the experience is confusing or difficult to use, customers are more likely to leave. Making the journey clear and simple can improve both the customer experience and conversion.
How can better UX improve eCommerce conversion rates?
Better UX can remove problems that make customers hesitate, get confused or abandon their purchase. This could mean improving navigation, product pages, search, cart or checkout. The goal is to make it easier for customers to find what they need, make a decision and complete their purchase.
Have you improved checkout conversion before?
Yes. While working at Chalhoub Group, I redesigned the GUESS checkout experience and helped increase checkout conversion by 83%. The new one-page checkout was then rolled out across other brands within the group.
What industries have you worked in?
I've worked across retail, eCommerce, luxury, beauty, fashion, electronics, furniture, finance, events and other digital products. This has included working with start-ups as well as established regional and international brands across the UAE and GCC.
Do you understand customers in the UAE and GCC?
Yes. I've spent 11+ years designing digital experiences for businesses and customers across the UAE and GCC. That experience has given me a strong understanding of the region, including different customer behaviours, bilingual experiences and the importance of designing around local needs rather than simply copying what works elsewhere.
Are you available for freelance, contract and permanent roles?
Yes. I'm open to the right permanent leadership role as well as freelance and contract projects. I can help with product strategy, UX, UI, UX audits, CRO and the design or improvement of websites, apps and digital products.
Reach out
Whether you're creating something new or improving an existing product, I can help turn customer needs and business goals into clear, simple digital experiences.
Use the form, or message me directly on WhatsApp: +971 52 146 8376