TARA KELLY

TARA KELLY

UX & Product Design Leader

I've Never Met a Mess I Didn't Want to Tidy

I didn’t start out aiming to do “fractional design leadership.” I started out as a founder, and then later as designer who kept getting pulled into messy situations. Sometimes the product complexity had sprawled unchecked; other times non-designers were struggling to plug a design-sized gap in the organization; often it was both.

In other words, the product usually works, customers exist, but lack of design direction is gunking up the works. That's when I just roll up my sleeves and get to degunking.

A Few Examples of the Work

I’ve worked with product teams at very different stages—sometimes as the first design hire, sometimes as senior support—helping untangle complex interfaces, clarify priorities, and rebuild shared confidence across founders, product, and engineering. These case studies show what that looks like in practice.

Download Case Studies:

But My Favorite Outcomes Are Human Ones

In the end, the strongest signal of a good engagement is a team that's more confident, and shipping faster, than when I arrived.

  • Blue background

    Tara is a patient, tactful, and inspiring leader who is excellent at solving complex business problems

    Lucia Tan

    Design @ Second Measure

    Blue background

    Tara is a patient, tactful, and inspiring leader who is excellent at solving complex business problems

    Lucia Tan

    Design @ Second Measure

  • Blue background

    If Tara is knocking on your door, I assure you things will get done!

    Gene Dreyband

    Design @ SonicWall

    Blue background

    If Tara is knocking on your door, I assure you things will get done!

    Gene Dreyband

    Design @ SonicWall

  • Blue background

    Tara’s experience as a Design Leader is evident right away… she is very open and giving with her incredible knowledge.

    Dave Zamora

    Design Mentee

    Blue background

    Tara’s experience as a Design Leader is evident right away… she is very open and giving with her incredible knowledge.

    Dave Zamora

    Design Mentee

  • Blue background

    Tara is phenomenal beyond what I expect from a UI/UX lead.

    Anthony Aragues

    Engineering @ Norse

    Blue background

    Tara is phenomenal beyond what I expect from a UI/UX lead.

    Anthony Aragues

    Engineering @ Norse

  • Blue background

    She is an influential voice with the executive team and maintains a design vision across products.

    Jan Benway

    Design @ Norse

    Blue background

    She is an influential voice with the executive team and maintains a design vision across products.

    Jan Benway

    Design @ Norse

  • Blue background

    Tara is a natural problem solver. [Even] complicated endeavors that could bog down the best of teams.

    Carlos Hermosillo

    Marketing @ Norse

    Blue background

    Tara is a natural problem solver. [Even] complicated endeavors that could bog down the best of teams.

    Carlos Hermosillo

    Marketing @ Norse

  • Blue background

    Tara is an absolute gold mine of actionable knowledge and insights.

    Nastia Fortune

    Design Mentee

    Blue background

    Tara is an absolute gold mine of actionable knowledge and insights.

    Nastia Fortune

    Design Mentee

  • Blue background

    If you are going to do business with Tara, rest assured that she is smart and humble.

    Adam Bader

    Product

    Blue background

    If you are going to do business with Tara, rest assured that she is smart and humble.

    Adam Bader

    Product

FIRST DESIGNER IN

Have a wonderful day.

Have a lovely day.

© 2026 Tara Kelly, FDI Publishing LLC