Growth

Growth

Growth

Growth

by Design

by Design

by Design

by Design

Erfan Talimi

Available Globally

Strategic design that elevates startups at every growth stage

Recent Work

Co-Living Reimagined

I led the rebranding of Homefully, a co-living startup, to support market expansion in Germany. Through workshops, we refined their mission to "make people feel at home," creating a timeless identity and user-friendly website that enabled successful scaling and a merger with Habyt.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Co-Living Reimagined

I led the rebranding of Homefully, a co-living startup, to support market expansion in Germany. Through workshops, we refined their mission to "make people feel at home," creating a timeless identity and user-friendly website that enabled successful scaling and a merger with Habyt.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Co-Living Reimagined

I led the rebranding of Homefully, a co-living startup, to support market expansion in Germany. Through workshops, we refined their mission to "make people feel at home," creating a timeless identity and user-friendly website that enabled successful scaling and a merger with Habyt.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Co-Living Reimagined

I led the rebranding of Homefully, a co-living startup, to support market expansion in Germany. Through workshops, we refined their mission to "make people feel at home," creating a timeless identity and user-friendly website that enabled successful scaling and a merger with Habyt.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Football for Change

Common Goal unites football for social impact. I developed their brand and website to inspire action, focusing on collaboration and transparency. The logo symbolizes unity, while the website boosts engagement, generating global media attention and support for the United Nations Global Goals.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Football for Change

Common Goal unites football for social impact. I developed their brand and website to inspire action, focusing on collaboration and transparency. The logo symbolizes unity, while the website boosts engagement, generating global media attention and support for the United Nations Global Goals.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Football for Change

Common Goal unites football for social impact. I developed their brand and website to inspire action, focusing on collaboration and transparency. The logo symbolizes unity, while the website boosts engagement, generating global media attention and support for the United Nations Global Goals.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Football for Change

Common Goal unites football for social impact. I developed their brand and website to inspire action, focusing on collaboration and transparency. The logo symbolizes unity, while the website boosts engagement, generating global media attention and support for the United Nations Global Goals.

Strategy

Branding

UX/UI

Research Integration

I partnered with Flexperto to embed user research into their product development. We set research goals aligned with business needs and trained the team for independent management. This sustainable approach enhanced user-centric design across their offerings.

Research

Roadmap

Training

Research Integration

I partnered with Flexperto to embed user research into their product development. We set research goals aligned with business needs and trained the team for independent management. This sustainable approach enhanced user-centric design across their offerings.

Research

Roadmap

Training

Research Integration

I partnered with Flexperto to embed user research into their product development. We set research goals aligned with business needs and trained the team for independent management. This sustainable approach enhanced user-centric design across their offerings.

Research

Roadmap

Training

Research Integration

I partnered with Flexperto to embed user research into their product development. We set research goals aligned with business needs and trained the team for independent management. This sustainable approach enhanced user-centric design across their offerings.

Research

Roadmap

Training

User-Centric Culture

As Head of UX at Spark Networks, I built a user-centric design culture by hiring and mentoring talent. This strategy improved collaboration across departments and streamlined workflows, resulting in products that exceeded expectations and boosted ratings and conversions.

Leadership

Workflow

Culture

User-Centric Culture

As Head of UX at Spark Networks, I built a user-centric design culture by hiring and mentoring talent. This strategy improved collaboration across departments and streamlined workflows, resulting in products that exceeded expectations and boosted ratings and conversions.

Leadership

Workflow

Culture

User-Centric Culture

As Head of UX at Spark Networks, I built a user-centric design culture by hiring and mentoring talent. This strategy improved collaboration across departments and streamlined workflows, resulting in products that exceeded expectations and boosted ratings and conversions.

Leadership

Workflow

Culture

User-Centric Culture

As Head of UX at Spark Networks, I built a user-centric design culture by hiring and mentoring talent. This strategy improved collaboration across departments and streamlined workflows, resulting in products that exceeded expectations and boosted ratings and conversions.

Leadership

Workflow

Culture

Empowering Designers

I've mentored over 280 designers, focusing on those aiming for leadership roles. My approach emphasizes clarity and actionable goals, fostering growth and confidence. Many mentees have achieved promotions and renewed purpose in their careers, making this experience deeply rewarding.

Mentorship

Career

Growth

Empowering Designers

I've mentored over 280 designers, focusing on those aiming for leadership roles. My approach emphasizes clarity and actionable goals, fostering growth and confidence. Many mentees have achieved promotions and renewed purpose in their careers, making this experience deeply rewarding.

Mentorship

Career

Growth

Empowering Designers

I've mentored over 280 designers, focusing on those aiming for leadership roles. My approach emphasizes clarity and actionable goals, fostering growth and confidence. Many mentees have achieved promotions and renewed purpose in their careers, making this experience deeply rewarding.

Mentorship

Career

Growth

Empowering Designers

I've mentored over 280 designers, focusing on those aiming for leadership roles. My approach emphasizes clarity and actionable goals, fostering growth and confidence. Many mentees have achieved promotions and renewed purpose in their careers, making this experience deeply rewarding.

Mentorship

Career

Growth

Inspiring Users,

Elevating Startups

About

I'm Erfan, a designer and mentor, helping early-stage companies thrive through strategic brands and products.


With over 16 years in tech, I’ve worked with industry leaders like Adobe, YouTube, and Behance, as well as emerging startups and scale-ups. With expertise across industries and growth stages, I specialize in guiding teams, and building brands & products that go beyond aesthetics.

As a self-taught professional who has lived in eight countries, I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty and turn challenges into opportunities.


My approach blends design, business, and psychology to create thoughtful, user-centric experiences. In 2024, I surpassed 280 mentoring sessions, helping designers elevate their leadership skills and advance their careers.

Capabilities

Strategy

Research

Vision

Positioning

Roadmap

Design

Product Design

Web Design

Branding

Design System

Leadership

Recruitment

Mentorship

Alignment

Optimization

Expertise

Launch

Building new brands and products from idea to launch to capture valuable market opportunities.

Refresh

Updating your brand and product to boost relevance and competitiveness, while preserving key strengths.

Merger

Developing powerful new identities when combining brands and products.

Scale up

Guiding your business through sustainable growth with evolved brand systems and workflows.

Expansion

Helping you grow into new markets and offerings to increase revenue and leverage existing assets.

Reposition

Adapting your company's focus to align with market shifts or new growth stages.

Launch

Building new brands and products from idea to launch to capture valuable market opportunities.

Refresh

Updating your brand and product to boost relevance and competitiveness, while preserving key strengths.

Merger

Developing powerful new identities when combining brands and products.

Scale up

Guiding your business through sustainable growth with evolved brand systems and workflows.

Expansion

Helping you grow into new markets and offerings to increase revenue and leverage existing assets.

Reposition

Adapting your company's focus to align with market shifts or new growth stages.

Launch

Building new brands and products from idea to launch to capture valuable market opportunities.

Refresh

Updating your brand and product to boost relevance and competitiveness, while preserving key strengths.

Merger

Developing powerful new identities when combining brands and products.

Scale up

Guiding your business through sustainable growth with evolved brand systems and workflows.

Expansion

Helping you grow into new markets and offerings to increase revenue and leverage existing assets.

Reposition

Adapting your company's focus to align with market shifts or new growth stages.

Launch

Building new brands and products from idea to launch to capture valuable market opportunities.

Refresh

Updating your brand and product to boost relevance and competitiveness, while preserving key strengths.

Merger

Developing powerful new identities when combining brands and products.

Scale up

Guiding your business through sustainable growth with evolved brand systems and workflows.

Expansion

Helping you grow into new markets and offerings to increase revenue and leverage existing assets.

Reposition

Adapting your company's focus to align with market shifts or new growth stages.

Stats

16Y

Experience in Tech

30M

Users Impacted

100+

Projects Delivered

7x

Top 1% Mentor @Adplist

Top 1% Mentor

280+

Designers Mentored

73

5-Star Reviews

  • The perfect blend of a skilled strategist and creative visionary

    Client

    COO @Common Goal

    Thomas Preiss

  • Erfan helped me refine my career and coaching skills, with practical exercises and clear guidance. Highly recommend him for anyone aiming to level up as a Design Lead.

    Mentee

    Design Team Lead @Shell

    Nikki Veldhuis

  • Outstanding mentor focusing on mindset and career strategy. Offered practical guidance for clearer career goals.

    Mentee

    Product Designer

    Gizem Kaymakçı

  • Erfan helped us to differentiate our product to gain relevant market advantage

    Client

    Co-Founder @Jalu

    Jan Titze

  • Erfan helped me rediscover confidence and leadership potential. His targeted assignments were pivotal in guiding my career growth.

    Mentee

    Lead PD @HelloFresh

    Clara Chaume

  • Erfan pushes you to your limits, questioning design decisions. His honesty drives you to strive for better. Combined with mutual trust, we delivered great products.

    Mentee

    Design Ops & Systems

    Steffen Karspeck

  • Erfan helped me build confidence in communication and strategy, focusing on mindset and problem-solving.

    Mentee

    UX Designer

    Gillian Wu

  • Erfan is the creative mind behind the success story of our startup

    Client

    CEO @Homefully

    Sebastian Würz

  • Visionary UX leader delivering growth-driving feedback. Goes above and beyond in mentorship.

    Mentee

    UX Associate @UNDP

    Ruzanna Baldryan

  • Erfan's hands-on approach boosted my design thinking, fostering critical thinking and innovation

    Mentee

    UX Designer @NextPay

    Jannah Sandico

  • Erfan’s mentoring approach guided me to find my own path. He offered resources that helped me develop a style that fits my unique leadership approach.

    Mentee

    Design Manager @Sc Ventures

    Miridhani Rani

  • The blend of design and business makes Erfan a perfect strategic asset

    Client

    CFO @Flexperto

    Marcel Schmidt

  • Erfan’s mentoring style is practical and positive, with no fluff. His advice helped me gain clarity and grow as a designer.

    Mentee

    Product Designer @UzumBank

    Abdul Abdumansurov

  • Erfan pinpoints improvement areas precisely. Offers invaluable, widely applicable frameworks for growth.

    Mentee

    Product Designer @Stealth

    Sonia Wu

  • The perfect blend of a skilled strategist and creative visionary

    Client

    COO @Common Goal

    Thomas Preiss

  • Erfan helped me refine my career and coaching skills, with practical exercises and clear guidance. Highly recommend him for anyone aiming to level up as a Design Lead.

    Mentee

    Design Team Lead @Shell

    Nikki Veldhuis

  • Outstanding mentor focusing on mindset and career strategy. Offered practical guidance for clearer career goals.

    Mentee

    Product Designer

    Gizem Kaymakçı

  • Erfan helped us to differentiate our product to gain relevant market advantage

    Client

    Co-Founder @Jalu

    Jan Titze

  • Erfan helped me rediscover confidence and leadership potential. His targeted assignments were pivotal in guiding my career growth.

    Mentee

    Lead PD @HelloFresh

    Clara Chaume

  • Erfan pushes you to your limits, questioning design decisions. His honesty drives you to strive for better. Combined with mutual trust, we delivered great products.

    Mentee

    Design Ops & Systems

    Steffen Karspeck

  • Erfan helped me build confidence in communication and strategy, focusing on mindset and problem-solving.

    Mentee

    UX Designer

    Gillian Wu

  • Erfan is the creative mind behind the success story of our startup

    Client

    CEO @Homefully

    Sebastian Würz

  • Visionary UX leader delivering growth-driving feedback. Goes above and beyond in mentorship.

    Mentee

    UX Associate @UNDP

    Ruzanna Baldryan

  • Erfan's hands-on approach boosted my design thinking, fostering critical thinking and innovation

    Mentee

    UX Designer @NextPay

    Jannah Sandico

  • Erfan’s mentoring approach guided me to find my own path. He offered resources that helped me develop a style that fits my unique leadership approach.

    Mentee

    Design Manager @Sc Ventures

    Miridhani Rani

  • The blend of design and business makes Erfan a perfect strategic asset

    Client

    CFO @Flexperto

    Marcel Schmidt

  • Erfan’s mentoring style is practical and positive, with no fluff. His advice helped me gain clarity and grow as a designer.

    Mentee

    Product Designer @UzumBank

    Abdul Abdumansurov

  • Erfan pinpoints improvement areas precisely. Offers invaluable, widely applicable frameworks for growth.

    Mentee

    Product Designer @Stealth

    Sonia Wu

FAQ

How do we kick off a project?

The first step is scheduling a call to discuss your goals, timeline, and expectations. After that, I’ll map out key milestones and budget, and once the 50% deposit is secured, we can begin right away.

Can you help if we’re mid-project?

Absolutely. I frequently step in during complex or stalled phases, helping to realign the team, resolve bottlenecks, and regain momentum.

Do you offer ongoing support?

Yes, I offer long-term support through flexible monthly retainers or structured 3-6 month engagements, depending on your needs.

What companies do you work with?

I primarily partner with tech startups and scale-ups, though my experience spans a variety of industries like Ed-tech, Streaming, Sports, Real Estate, and SaaS. Any business looking to align design with strategic goals can benefit from my approach.

How do you collaborate with teams?

I can integrate as either an external design lead, fractional Design Manager or Mentor, refining processes, fostering leadership, and identifying new opportunities for growth. With experience working across global teams and time zones, I ensure smooth collaboration without disrupting your workflow.

What’s your design process like?

It’s a combination of research, strategy, and iterative design. I focus on tight collaboration and adapt quickly, ensuring every step aligns with your business goals.

How do you meet business goals?

I ground all design work in a solid understanding of your business strategy. Each decision is guided by data, user needs, and clear metrics for success.

How do you measure success?

Success is measured through both immediate metrics like user engagement and long-term impact such as revenue growth, customer retention, and team efficiency.

How do we kick off a project?

The first step is scheduling a call to discuss your goals, timeline, and expectations. After that, I’ll map out key milestones and budget, and once the 50% deposit is secured, we can begin right away.

Can you help if we’re mid-project?

Absolutely. I frequently step in during complex or stalled phases, helping to realign the team, resolve bottlenecks, and regain momentum.

Do you offer ongoing support?

Yes, I offer long-term support through flexible monthly retainers or structured 3-6 month engagements, depending on your needs.

What companies do you work with?

I primarily partner with tech startups and scale-ups, though my experience spans a variety of industries like Ed-tech, Streaming, Sports, Real Estate, and SaaS. Any business looking to align design with strategic goals can benefit from my approach.

How do you collaborate with teams?

I can integrate as either an external design lead, fractional Design Manager or Mentor, refining processes, fostering leadership, and identifying new opportunities for growth. With experience working across global teams and time zones, I ensure smooth collaboration without disrupting your workflow.

What’s your design process like?

It’s a combination of research, strategy, and iterative design. I focus on tight collaboration and adapt quickly, ensuring every step aligns with your business goals.

How do you meet business goals?

I ground all design work in a solid understanding of your business strategy. Each decision is guided by data, user needs, and clear metrics for success.

How do you measure success?

Success is measured through both immediate metrics like user engagement and long-term impact such as revenue growth, customer retention, and team efficiency.

How do we kick off a project?

The first step is scheduling a call to discuss your goals, timeline, and expectations. After that, I’ll map out key milestones and budget, and once the 50% deposit is secured, we can begin right away.

Can you help if we’re mid-project?

Absolutely. I frequently step in during complex or stalled phases, helping to realign the team, resolve bottlenecks, and regain momentum.

Do you offer ongoing support?

Yes, I offer long-term support through flexible monthly retainers or structured 3-6 month engagements, depending on your needs.

What companies do you work with?

I primarily partner with tech startups and scale-ups, though my experience spans a variety of industries like Ed-tech, Streaming, Sports, Real Estate, and SaaS. Any business looking to align design with strategic goals can benefit from my approach.

How do you collaborate with teams?

I can integrate as either an external design lead, fractional Design Manager or Mentor, refining processes, fostering leadership, and identifying new opportunities for growth. With experience working across global teams and time zones, I ensure smooth collaboration without disrupting your workflow.

What’s your design process like?

It’s a combination of research, strategy, and iterative design. I focus on tight collaboration and adapt quickly, ensuring every step aligns with your business goals.

How do you meet business goals?

I ground all design work in a solid understanding of your business strategy. Each decision is guided by data, user needs, and clear metrics for success.

How do you measure success?

Success is measured through both immediate metrics like user engagement and long-term impact such as revenue growth, customer retention, and team efficiency.

How do we kick off a project?

The first step is scheduling a call to discuss your goals, timeline, and expectations. After that, I’ll map out key milestones and budget, and once the 50% deposit is secured, we can begin right away.

Can you help if we’re mid-project?

Absolutely. I frequently step in during complex or stalled phases, helping to realign the team, resolve bottlenecks, and regain momentum.

Do you offer ongoing support?

Yes, I offer long-term support through flexible monthly retainers or structured 3-6 month engagements, depending on your needs.

What companies do you work with?

I primarily partner with tech startups and scale-ups, though my experience spans a variety of industries like Ed-tech, Streaming, Sports, Real Estate, and SaaS. Any business looking to align design with strategic goals can benefit from my approach.

How do you collaborate with teams?

I can integrate as either an external design lead, fractional Design Manager or Mentor, refining processes, fostering leadership, and identifying new opportunities for growth. With experience working across global teams and time zones, I ensure smooth collaboration without disrupting your workflow.

What’s your design process like?

It’s a combination of research, strategy, and iterative design. I focus on tight collaboration and adapt quickly, ensuring every step aligns with your business goals.

How do you meet business goals?

I ground all design work in a solid understanding of your business strategy. Each decision is guided by data, user needs, and clear metrics for success.

How do you measure success?

Success is measured through both immediate metrics like user engagement and long-term impact such as revenue growth, customer retention, and team efficiency.

Capabilities

Strategy

Design

Leadership

Transparency

Status

Available

Location

Remote

Starting

$10,000