Product Systems & Experience Architect

I design the architecture underneath.

A decade building design orgs, design systems, and product narratives inside cybersecurity — where getting the logic right matters as much as getting the interface right.

Portrait of Rudy Chou
Layered product system artifacts connecting security workflows, identity patterns, and design system surfaces

Why this matters

Products don't fail because the UI is ugly.

The confusing app on your phone and the enterprise portal my teams shipped fail for the same reasons — unclear ownership, broken handoffs, and workflows nobody designed as a system.

They fail when analysts can't trust the data, when workflows break under real load, or when nobody can explain the system. That's the layer I work in — product logic, operating models, and design infrastructure that makes complex platforms hold together.

System to surface

Most teams start at the interface. I start with the system underneath.

Whether it's an AI security console or a customer portal, the work follows the same sequence — name the problem, build the model, design how work moves, then ship the screen.

  1. 01 Untangle complexity
  2. 02 Create a shared model
  3. 03 Design the workflow
  4. 04 Build the interface

Most teams start at step 4. I usually need to begin with the system that makes step 4 worth building.

Career arc

Four companies, four constraints — same pattern underneath.

SecureAuth foundation → Cylance exit → ActZero zero-to-one → BlueVoyant transformation.

Four companies, four constraints — foundation in enterprise identity, an acquisition exit, a zero-to-one stealth launch, and MSP digital transformation. The metrics below are the measurable outcomes; the case studies show how each one was built.

  • 42% Faster incident response
  • 9 weeks Stealth-to-ship portal
  • $1.4B Acquisition exit
  • 33% Faster design handoff
Business problem Operating model Workflow design Data model Process architecture UI

Work I do

I turn ambiguous product specs into systems teams can use.

Design org leadership — hiring, operating models, and cross-functional alignment

Design systems as shared engineering infrastructure — token architecture, component libraries, Figma-to-code alignment

Workflow and decision architecture — ownership, tradeoffs, sequencing, and escalation across functions

Product narrative and GTM — stealth-to-launch execution, acquisition storytelling, and technical marketing

How I can help.

If your team is scaling faster than its product habits, I can help as a full-time contributor or as an advisor for a focused operating-model engagement.

Team Leadership

Build, mentor, and align design and research teams to ship complex platforms

Operating Models

Stand up shared UI infrastructure to dramatically accelerate design-to-engineering handoffs

Workflow Architecture

Map ambiguous services into clear, actionable portals, assessment tools, and ticketing flows

Rapid Execution

Drive zero-to-one launches across brand, marketing, and product surfaces under tight deadlines

Full-time Role

Hire me to join the team.

For teams that need a senior product/design leader who can structure ambiguous work, align functions, and turn strategy into shipped systems.

View career summary

Advisory consulting

Bring me in to map the work.

For teams that need a focused engagement to map the operating model, clarify workflows, or pressure-test product direction before investing in build.

Book a call

Selected work

See all work

Transformation at BlueVoyant, AI product design at Cylance, and a stealth exit at ActZero — each case study shows the operating model and workflow decisions behind the shipped product.

Thinking and building

What I'm exploring.

What I’m building

Cover graphic for FSOS

Building

FSOS

A lightweight context runtime for working with AI across running projects.

  • AI workflow
  • context runtime
Cover graphic for PartLine

Building

PartLine

A demand-driven marketplace for the automotive aftermarket.

  • marketplace
  • demand systems