Ollie Phyo-Barker

Designer. Father. Chronic perfectionist.

I don't start with design, I start with understanding.

With over a decade of experience, I design software by first understanding it fully. How it's built, where it's awkward, and what people are actually trying to accomplish. Because it's not just about how a product works, but how people feel using it.

Today, I work on design and product at Capsule and Transpond, where I focus my energy bringing value to small businesses by helping them build stronger connections and turn conversations into sustainable long-term relationships.

When I'm not building, I'm learning how to be a father, balanced with climbing, Formula 1, and reading sci-fi.

Sample work

My approach is simple.

Understand the product properly, decide carefully what to build, then stay involved until it's right. Good software is mostly the result of decisions made before anyone opens a design tool.

The best products feel obvious, and are built with care for the parts nobody consciously notices. They're fast where it matters and polished enough to feel effortless.

The principles below are how that works in practice:

  1. 01

    Learn the product first

    Before opinions, I learn how it works: the data model, edge cases, why it was built, and the people who use it.

  2. 02

    Argue for less

    Every feature costs you later in complexity and support. Keeping the scope tight and doors open.

  3. 03

    Sweat the details

    Spacing, phrasing, empty states, errors. None of it is decoration, and all of it is why people trust software.

  4. 04

    Stay close to the build

    From strategy to build, I work with every team and write code. Constraints found early are useful; found late, rework.

  5. 05

    Learn from release

    I instrument the work, watch how people actually use it, and go back in when the data says I got something wrong.

  6. 06

    Don't design for applause

    The best interfaces don't ask to be admired, they get out of the way. I aim for calm and invisible, not looked at.

Experience

Some of the companies I've had the pleasure of working with over the past decade.

  • TranspondProduct & Design2023 → Now

    Guiding businesses into email marketing, live chat, and automations to enable multi-channel campaigns that turn conversations into repeat customers.

  • CapsuleProduct & Design2019 → Now

    Assisting small businesses build stronger connections and grow their businesses with relationship and sales management.

  • PentoProduct & Design2021 → 2023

    Designed for an automated payroll platform aiming to disrupt a stagnant industry. Building intuitive interfaces that simplified intricate legislation, expanded payroll coverage, and reduced manual workload.

  • MoltinDesign2018 → 2019

    Focusing on the Moltin dashboard and creating standalone projects to showcase the API. Notably an inclusive magic mirror retail experience.

Side projects

Unpaid, un-scoped, mostly finished.

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