How I designed 70% of my portfolio for the US market from india, with real user insight
- December 31, 2025
When I began freelancing in 2018, I wasn’t chasing any specific market. I was chasing problems worth solving. The US founder ecosystem and I crossed paths naturally through conversations, prototypes, and products that needed clarity more than cosmetics.
Over time, something became clear in my work:
Almost 70% of the products I designed were built for US users, US founders, and US investor expectations.
That wasn’t a coincidence it was a pattern formed through trust, communication, and results.
How it actually started
Most founders I worked with in the US came to me with early-stage ideas. They didn’t have full product clarity yet and they didn’t need someone who just pushed pixels. They needed someone who could
- break down the idea into logic
- simplify the user journey
- challenge unclear assumptions
- and turn a rough concept into a believable product experience.
I remember one founder telling me on a call:
I know what the product should do, but I don’t know the best way users should experience it.
That sentence stuck with me because it describes exactly what a designer should step in to do.
That project later evolved into a funded product.
What 70% US work has taught me
Working with US founders has shaped my design instincts in a way no tutorial or template ever could. I’ve learned the US startup landscape not by reading about it, but by designing inside it.
Here are the key insights that now drive my work:
1. Users want simplicity, not instructions
US users expect interfaces that feel instantly understandable. If a product requires heavy onboarding guidance, it already carries friction. So my goal is to remove that friction at the wireframe stage itself.
2. Credibility isn’t optional especially in software
When designing SaaS dashboards, AI products, or healthcare platforms, the UI must feel trustworthy before users even test the features.
US founders know this because their investors know this too.
3. Speed of iteration beats perfection of explanation
US founders move in weekly sprints, not monthly cycles. They test early, adapt fast, and expect design to keep up.
That has made my workflow naturally sprint-compatible:
- Fast wireframes
- Quick prototypes
- Early UX validation
- and clean UI delivery without unnecessary rounds.
4. Communication is part of product confidence
Most of my US calls happen between 7 PM to 2 AM IST.
But time zones have never been a barrier because consistency and clarity speak louder than convenience.
I’ve run meetings where:
- The founder shared the vision
- The developer shared constraints
- and I translated both into a clear design direction in real time
5. Market differentiation is a necessity, not a trend
The US startup market rewards uniqueness. Not uniqueness in decoration but uniqueness in how problems are solved.
I design products that don’t blend in with competitors, even if they share the same industry.
Why US founders keep coming back
After working with founders across the US, one thing has stayed consistent in their feedback:
“You don’t just design the interface, you design the thinking behind it too.”
That’s the real reason they trust me.
Not because I’m the cheapest, or the fastest, or the flashiest. But because I reduce design risk, bring product clarity, and stay involved beyond the screen delivery.
My edge as an Indian UI/UX freelancer designing for the US
- I understand US users through direct design experience
- I design the product logic, not just the screens
- I communicate clearly across founders, developers, and stakeholders
- I deliver fast iterations that support funding conversations
- I build for engagement, retention, and long-term growth
