---
name: Mahdi Farra
role: Design leader who codes
location: "Bay Area, CA"
status: Open to senior design and leadership roles
url: "https://mahdif.com/"
---

# Mahdi Farra

> Design leader with 17 years scaling teams, building systems, and shipping products.

I've grown design teams from 1→6, led cross-functional orgs of 25+, and I code. My teams ship faster. Currently designing monetization at Meta (Facebook Plus & Meta AI subscriptions). Previously founded DesignQA, an AI tool that turns UI bugs into code fixes.

## Open to senior design and leadership roles

Based in Bay Area, CA.

## Selected work

- [DesignQA](https://mahdif.com/case-studies/designqa.md): Built AI devtool from 0→1 through rigorous user research (50+ interviews). Secured paying customers pre-launch.
- [Ronday](https://mahdif.com/case-studies/ronday.md): Scaled design team 1→6 while growing 25-person cross-functional org. Achieved 4x engagement increase and 83% performance improvement. Helped secure $7M seed funding.
- [Ava](https://mahdif.com/case-studies/ava.md): Led cross-platform design (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows) for AI-powered accessibility platform serving the deaf and hard of hearing community. Increased session duration 3x.
- [Airtime](https://mahdif.com/case-studies/airtime.md): Designed and prototyped a social video calling app that brings people together through shared experiences. Led interaction design for reactions, chat, and real-time video features.
- [Rakuten Restaurants](https://mahdif.com/case-studies/rakuten-restaurants.md): Designed B2B tools serving 100M+ users globally. Built design system for 5 designers and 15 engineers. 50% staff efficiency improvement, 40% sales increase per location.

## Recent writing

- [Design Philosophy](https://mahdif.com/blog/design-philosophy.md): My journey in product design has been shaped by a set of guiding principles that have helped me navigate the dynamic landscape of UX. In this post, I'll share my philosophy on product design—anchored in user-centricity, strategic prioritization, and the art of balancing perfection with pragmatism.…
- [How I Changed my Company's Culture with Food!](https://mahdif.com/blog/changing-company-culture-with-food.md): Food is not just fuel – This is the story of how I changed my company's culture with food!
- [Why Your New Product Feature Failed](https://mahdif.com/blog/why-your-product-feature-failed.md): I know exactly what it feels like to launch a product feature and then see it fail. I've been there, and have done that 😅
- [Tips for Promoting a Healthy Company Culture](https://mahdif.com/blog/tips-for-promoting-a-healthy-company-culture.md): Leading teams and cultivating the right company culture can be challenging and is an art in itself. Here are 6 quick tips for promoting a healthy culture in which every team member thrives
- [3 Tips for Building Strong Design Teams](https://mahdif.com/blog/three-tip-for-building-strong-design-teams.md): Building a strong product design team isn't a walk in the park, and over the years, I've found it quite challenging to find the right people 😶 That said, here are 3 tips for finding great candidates for your team

## What I bring to senior design roles

- **Team scaling:** Grew design teams from 1→6 designers at Ronday. Hired, mentored, and built high-performing design orgs.
- **Design Systems at Scale:** Built design systems at 5 companies including Rakuten (100M+ users). Reduced implementation time 50%.
- **Technical Fluency:** Designer who codes in React, Next.js, and Vue.js. Bridges design vision with engineering constraints.
- **Cross-Functional Leadership:** Managed 25-person cross-functional org as Acting CEO. Led product, design, and engineering teams.
- **0→1 Product Development:** Built products from scratch at DesignQA, Ronday, and earlier startups. Strong validation and iteration skills.
- **AI & Devtools Expertise:** Deep experience with AI products (Ava, DesignQA) and tools for technical users. Understand developer workflows.

## More

- [About](https://mahdif.com/about.md)
- [Résumé](https://mahdif.com/resume.md) (PDF: https://mahdif.com/resume/Mahdi-Farra-Resume.pdf)
- [Work](https://mahdif.com/work.md)
- [Side projects](https://mahdif.com/side-projects.md)
- [Contact](https://mahdif.com/contact.md)
- [Chat with my AI](https://mahdif.com/chat)