Design in Software Delivery - A Decade in Retrospective

In a world where technology evolves rapidly and user expectations shift constantly, design has become more than just aesthetics. It’s a strategic

enabler of growth, differentiation, and resilience. Join hedgehog lab’s senior design and product leaders for a candid, executive-level retrospective on a decade of delivering design-led software solutions.

This event is purpose-built for C-suite leaders at software-driven organisations who are considering or questioning the value of investing in UX, UI, and design research. We’ll explore how design has moved from the margins to the core of successful digital product delivery, drawing from a decade of experience working with enterprise clients like AJ Bell, Deliveroo, Aviva and Northumbrian Water.

We’ll address common executive concerns:

• How do design and UX really impact business performance?

• What does a design-led delivery model look like—and where does it start?

• How can research be tied directly to measurable ROI and product confidence?

An open, honest conversation rooted in real case studies, showing how design-thinking unlocked value, de-risked delivery, and helped clients innovate with confidence. Whether you're exploring design for the first time or seeking to embed it more deeply in your organisation, this session will provide clarity, inspiration, and practical takeaways. Join us and discover how design can become a strategic pillar of your digital transformation journey.

About the speakers

Ray Clarke

Chief Design Officer, hedgehog lab

Currently leading the UX and Product Teams at hedgehog lab, it's the human factors of digital product development that interests Ray the most. Is it easy to use, does it 'feel right' in the user's hands, and will people want to use it? Ray helps teams shape processes and solutions that answer these questions.

Originally trained as an industrial designer, Ray worked in the production of physical and digital products internationally, bringing an experienced real-world approach to the digital products crafted at hedgehog lab.

Ray has been actively involved in the design industry for over 25 years, 15 of those in digital.

Toby Rogers

Head of Product, hedgehog lab

As Head of Product at hedgehog lab, Toby helps global brands discover and develop cutting edge digital products on mobile and web.

He is passionate about product, strategy, creativity and innovation, and loves trying to figure out how to use technology to solve complicated problems.

Toby is a lifelong learner and enjoys sharing his journey with the product management community online.

Alex File

Lead UX Researcher, hedgehog lab

Alex is a design researcher and strategist, helping companies address challenges and make smarter decisions in their strategy, design, and experience delivery through powerful insight and a passion for user-centred design and inclusive research.

Through eight years of design practice, he has worked with a diverse range of organisations, from financial services to industrial safety products, employing a systems-led approach to deeply understand design problems, drive creation through conversation, and deliver timely insights that initiate positive change for users, teams, and businesses.

About the venue

You can find further details about this venue here.