Managing change at Mendeley and Elsevier.
I helped academics and researchers to discover, review, manage papers and publish their own work, leading a team of 21 through change and transformation. This included all things from hiring to delivering the innovation strategy (GenAI) and design system.
Outcome. ScienceDirectAI was delivered in Q1 2025. Graphene the design system was included in the tech strategy by Q1 2024, speeding up adoption. And I formed many long lasting relationships with the design community in Amsterdam.
My role. Design Director, Design Manager, Principal Designer.
Design direction.
Through relentless collaboration, I set the design direction for ScienceDirect, Knovel, Mendeley, and Journal Branded Solutions. Each year, design contributed strategically to product development. Working with my team, we consistently pushed to integrate the customer voice into business decisions, anchoring all design in data and research. Aligned with product cycles, we adapted each product’s design language to fit Elsevier’s overall brand strategy, with accessibility at the core of our work.
Innovation (GenAI).
We delivered the innovation strategy for ScienceDirect, Mendeley, and Knovel, aiming for full product integration. Abandoning feature focused thinking, we began with customer journeys, connecting technology with real user needs.
Working closely with product and technology teams, we involved every team member in early exploratory research, building empathy through workshops and reflecting on customer needs together. We guided the decision - making process with a view to accelerating experimentation, failing fast.
Team management.
I worked closely with everyone on my team, supporting each individual’s career path within Elsevier and beyond, so that all designers felt empowered to do their best work. We fostered a strong collaborative culture grounded in knowledge sharing and curiosity, and promoted a psychologically safe working environment. My work spanned everything from coaching to strategic career development, ensuring each designer was well placed within the organisation. Attrition was kept at 2%.
Design System Strategy.
Before becoming Design Director for our Academics and Researchers products, I developed the strategy and business case for our group’s design system, which later evolved into Graphene, the design system for our Academic and Government products. The business case was well received by senior stakeholders, who approved funding for an initial team dedicated to the design system.
An OKR was added to the technology strategy requiring all products to adopt the design system by the end of 2024. I led the adoption strategy at product level across the organisation.
