About Abdo
Hi, I’m Madi. I’m a Canadian product designer with 12+ years of experience delivering high-impact digital products across fintech, proptech, SaaS, marketplaces, and AI-driven platforms. I focus on 0 to 1 product strategy, complex systems design, and simplifying multi-step workflows into intuitive, scalable experiences.
Most recently, I worked as the Staff Product Designer at CoLab (YC19), a venture-backed company that has raised more than 100+ million dollars. I led platform UX, workflow design, design systems, and AI initiatives, working directly with the CEO, CTO, and engineering leads. My work contributed to major product improvements, including reducing review time by over 50% and cutting design and development rework at scale.
I have helped multiple startups raise millions in venture capital, redesigned platforms that improved discoverability and task completion by double digits, and created design systems that reduced design and engineering friction by 35%. My background in computer science and frontend development allows me to collaborate closely with engineers and deliver solutions that are both elegant and build-ready.
I have delivered products for dozens of startups and enterprise clients across North America and the Middle East. Past collaborations include CoLab, Cognosys AI, Go Insurance, Toyota, Costco, Shoppers Drug Mart, & Loblaws.
I enjoy solving complex product challenges, working in fast-moving environments, and partnering with founders to shape product vision and execute with clarity. Whether working with a team or independently as a one-person product function, I focus on measurable impact and high-quality execution.
What you can expect:
• 12+ years of experience in product design and systems thinking
• Staff-level expertise in complex platforms and AI-driven workflows
• Clear communication and fast, reliable collaboration
• High-quality UX and UI grounded in product and business goals
Let’s connect and explore how we can work together.
English
Native or bilingual
Arabic
Native or bilingual
Remote only
Primarily works remotely
Experience
- MakaniProduct Design & DevelopmentApril 2024 - August 2024 (4 months)New York, United StatesLed the 0→1 design and build of Makani’s mobile MVP in 6 weeks, transforming the founders’ Google Form + Notion workflow into a functional app that attracted 1000+ users in the first two weeks.
- Partnered with the founders to define the problem space, core use cases, and MVP scope, shaping product strategy from day one.
- Ran a focused design sprint to align vision, validate assumptions, and map the initial booking and home-swap experiences.
- Designed end-to-end UX, including flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI tailored to the cultural and religious needs of Muslim travelers.
- Conducted user interviews and usability tests with early adopters, improving clarity of key workflows and increasing booking-path completion (~25%).
- Developed and shipped the full MVP frontend, working closely with backend engineering to ensure smooth integration and fast delivery.
- Iterated rapidly using user feedback to reduce friction across onboarding and request flows (~30% faster task time).
- Delivered a production-ready MVP in 6 weeks, enabling the team to validate the concept quickly and drive 500+ signups within the first two weeks of launch.
- CoLabStaff Product DesignerAugust 2021 - August 2024 (3 years)Canada
- Joined as CoLab’s first Product Design hire, partnering directly with the CEO, CTO, and SLT to define product direction, UX strategy, and the foundation of the company’s design practice.
- Redesigned the core mechanical-engineering review workflow, reducing cognitive load, cutting average review time by ~55%, and increasing adoption of review tools by 30%.
- Founded and championed the early AI initiative, shaping the strategy for the “AutoReview” agent and contributing to the 47,000+ engineer waitlist featured in CoLab’s $72M Series C.
- Led the design overhaul of the platform including core products such as Deck, Notebook, and Drive, improving clarity, discoverability, and cross-product cohesion.
- Built and scaled the first company-wide design system, introducing reusable components and standards that reduced design-dev iteration by ~40% and improved consistency across 6 teams.
- Drove major UX initiatives including the navigation overhaul and information architecture redesign, simplifying complex workflows for engineering users.
- Mentored 3 designers, establishing critique rituals, pairing sessions, and growth frameworks that elevated team output and design quality.
- Collaborated with the CMO to create early motion product videos that clarified complex engineering workflows and supported sales, marketing, and fundraising efforts.
- Independent ConsultantProduct Design & Development ConsultantJanuary 2012 - Today (14 years and 5 months)
- Helped early-stage teams and founders bring 0→1 products to life, leading discovery, defining workflow, and rapidly prototyping end-to-end complex interactions.
- Operated as a one-person product design partner across SaaS, fintech, proptech, marketplaces, and AI tools, simplifying multi-step workflows and delivering dev-ready UI/UX for fast execution.
- Products launched through these engagements have gone on to raise millions in funding and become core operational tools for their teams.
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Education
- Bachelor of Engineering in Computer ScienceMemorial University of NewfoundlandBachelor's degree, Computer Science (Software Engineering)
- Bachelor of Engineering in Computer ScienceUniversity of Tripoli2013Bachelor's degree, Computer Science