About me
“Everyone deserves a great experience.”
Hemani shah
UX/UI Designer
I didn’t come into design the “traditional” way. Before design, I worked in retail, banking, and hospitality. Jobs that had nothing to do with wireframes, but everything to do with anticipating an individual’s needs – what frustrates them, what makes them feel heard, what makes them come back. This deep understanding of human behavior is probably the real foundation of how I design today. Me as a designer aims to create experiences that solve real problems, reduce friction, and leave people feeling understood.
I completed my Master’s in Design at Media Design School, New Zealand where my people-first instincts met a structured design process and real-world problem-solving. Looking beyond pixels and prototypes, I learnt how meaningful design is measured by the experiences it creates and the impact it leaves behind. In that moment, I knew I had found a discipline I wanted to dedicate myself to.
My time in the luxury retail industry in Auckland doubled as an unexpected design education. Alongside it, I am actively building my own practice, sharpening my craft, and staying close to the work. It gave me something a lot of designers coming straight out of a bootcamp don’t get: real, daily practice in reading people face-to-face, managing expectations, and solving problems on the spot, with no undo button.
Outside of work, I’m an arts and crafts enthusiast. There’s something about working with my hands that mirrors the same patience design takes. I also spend time behind the camera, and I’m always chasing down indie music, aviation documentaries, or a hidden gem movie nobody’s told me about yet.
If you work with me, expect someone who asks insightful questions and designs with real empathy not just as a statement, but as a practice. It’s about how design makes someone feel seen, and I’m the biggest ambassador of that.
My approach
I approach design with a focus on clarity, usability, and impact.
Every project starts with a simple question –
Who is this for? What problem am I solving? How can I add real value?
Having worked across design and service-led industries, I’ve learned to adapt and tackle challenges from multiple perspectives. I enjoy researching, breaking down complexity, and shaping experiences that feel intuitive and meaningful. I believe the best work comes from collaboration, iteration, and testing. This portfolio reflects that journey, where ideas evolve into purposeful design!
my design process
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Listen first
First things first, I ask questions, the ones that actually matter! Years spent helping people face-to-face, taught me that people rarely say exactly what they need on the first try. I dig past the request to find the real problem, the constraint nobody’s said out loud yet, and the goal underneath the goal. That’s usually where the actual brief lives.
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Design with intention
Every screen I build starts from that problem. I keep my thinking visible enough that anyone on the team can understand where I am coming from, and share their real insights – because good collaboration means people know why a decision was made, not just what it was. I’d rather show something early and get it wrong together than show it late and get it wrong alone.
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Test, learn, adjust
A handoff isn’t a finish line for me. I want to know what actually happened once real people touched the thing — what worked, what confused them, what I missed. That feedback loop keeps me honest, and it’s usually where the best ideas show up anyway.
People Talk About Me
It was a pleasure working with you at Kidaura Innovation. What stood out most was your willingness to learn, your thoughtful approach to design, and how well you turned feedback into action. You were always collaborative, dependable, and brought a positive attitude to the team. I’m excited to see your growth and have no doubt you’ll do great things in your UX career.
Shiv Kumar
Co-founder, Kidaura Innovations
Hemani assisted us with setting the tone of our brand for our artisan chocolate, and the entire experience was seamless. Right from the start, Hemani excelled at requirements gathering, asking all the right questions to truly understand our vision. Beyond her obvious skills, what impressed me most was her business-centric approach; she is always happy to have collaborative discussions and we can’t think of anyone more suited than her.
Ishita Maru
Entrepreneur, Yummy Chocolates
Working with Hemani on our startup in early 2026 was such a positive experience. What stood out the most was her genuine curiosity before jumping into a solution. We could comfortably bring her our messy ideas and challenges, and she would make things run. She genuinely understood what we needed, and that made all the difference. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer her to my peer.
Vishu Tayagi
General Manager, Beginning studio NZ
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