UX Strategy Lab: About
Hi, I'm Michelle
UX Professional
I've spent 25+ years designing digital products for millions of users across Fortune 500 companies and startups. Now I help growing businesses create experiences that people actually love using, without the corporate fluff or impossible timelines.
Who is Michelle Morley?
Quick Answer
I am a UX professional with 25+ years of experience designing digital products for Fortune 500 companies and startups. I'm the founder of UX Strategy Lab and have led UX teams at Capital One, Upside Business Travel, and Brightfield. Unlike traditional UX consultants who only provide strategy documents, I provide both strategic UX guidance AND hands-on execution - wireframes, prototypes, and designs.
I'm the UX professional who's done with corporate committees, months-long strategy documents, and designs that look pretty but fall apart when real users touch them.
I help growing businesses build digital products that actually work for people. The kind people recommend to their friends.
Why How I Got Here
(And Why It Matters to You)
I've been designing digital products since before smartphones existed. I've watched the internet evolve from something people "visited" to something they live in. And honestly? Most UX professionals are still designing for how people used to behave online, not how they actually use technology today.
After 25+ years in corporate environments, leading design teams at major companies, and building products used by millions of people, I realized something: the best user experiences happen when you stop following design trends and start understanding how people really want to interact with technology.
Here's what I learned that changed everything:
People don't want to learn your interface. They want technology that feels helpful, intelligent, and gets out of their way. They want to have conversations with your product, not hunt through menus. They expect personalization, not generic experiences. And they have absolutely zero patience for digital products that feel clunky or confusing.
So I started UX Strategy Lab to bring that understanding to growing businesses who want to build digital products that actually work for people. No corporate committees, no months-long strategy documents that sit on shelves, no designs that look pretty but fall apart when real users touch them.
Just straightforward UX expertise that helps you build better digital experiences. The kind people recommend to their friends.
What Makes Michelle Morley Different from Other UX Consultants?
I've worked with enough UX consultants and agencies to know what you're probably used to. Here's why working with me is different.
Strategy + Execution
I don't just give you a strategy document and disappear. I provide strategic direction AND create the actual wireframes, prototypes, and designs you need to implement it.
No Corporate BS
After 25+ years in corporate environments, I'm done with buzzwords and complicated processes. I give you straight talk about what will work and what won't.
Modern UX Understanding
I design for how people actually use technology today - expecting smart recommendations, conversational interfaces, and personalized experiences.
Business Owner Perspective
I run my own businesses (UX Strategy Lab and a candle company called Chix and Wix), so I understand the real pressures you're facing. Budget constraints, timeline pressures, team dynamics, I get it.
Full-Stack UX
From user research to final interfaces, I handle every aspect of UX. You get cohesive, thoughtful solutions, not piecemeal advice from different specialists.
Results-Focused
I measure success by whether your users can accomplish their goals and whether your business sees real improvements. Pretty designs that don't work don't count.
What is Michelle Morley's UX Experience?
Here's the journey that taught me how to create digital experiences people actually want to use.
UX Strategy Lab Founder & Director
2024 - Present
Founded UX Strategy Lab to help growing businesses create better digital experiences. Providing fractional UX leadership and strategic design services without the corporate nonsense. Focus on strategy + execution, not just advice.
Director of Product & UX Design - Resonate
2022-2024
Led design strategy for enterprise B2B marketing technology platform. Established comprehensive design system reducing development time by 25%. Managed Design/UX backlog using JIRA, driving UX research initiatives and competitive analysis.
Head of Product & UX Design - Brightfield
2020-2022
Transformed complex labor data into intuitive visualizations for B2B SaaS platform. Created the company's first design system from scratch and led end-to-end redesign of core analytics features. Established user research program that shaped platform architecture.
Design Director - Upside Business Travel
2017-2020
Built and led 8-person design team across mobile and web platforms. Implemented design libraries increasing team efficiency by 30%. Established user research and testing program to validate design decisions and created service blueprints to guide product development.
Senior Creative Director - Capital One
2014-2017
Led design strategy for enterprise-scale digital banking products used by millions of customers. Managed cross-functional design sprints and implemented design thinking practices across the organization. Mentored designers, researchers, and strategists.
Early Digital Design Career
1999 - 2014
15+ years building websites, managing design teams, and learning how people really interact with digital products. Watched the internet evolve from static websites to the smart, personalized experiences we have today.
Common Questions About Working with Michelle
Where is Michelle Morley located?
Michelle is based in Washington, DC and works with clients across the United States. She provides fractional UX leadership and strategic design services remotely and on-site.
What types of companies has Michelle worked with?
Michelle has led UX teams at Fortune 500 financial services companies, venture-backed startups, and B2B SaaS platforms across industries like travel, workforce analytics, and marketing technology. She's designed products used by millions of users and has experience with both enterprise and consumer-facing applications.
How does Michelle stay current with UX trends?
Through 25+ years of continuous practice, working with diverse companies and users, running her own businesses, and focusing on how people actually use technology today rather than following design trends.
What if my team has never worked with a UX consultant?
Michelle excels at integrating with teams new to UX. She focuses on mentoring and collaboration, building internal UX capabilities while delivering actual work, not just advice.
Does Michelle work remotely or on-site?
Primarily remotely with regular video check-ins, but Michelle can arrange on-site visits for workshops, team sessions, or important milestones when needed.
What makes Michelle's approach different?
Michelle provides both strategic UX guidance AND hands-on execution. She's tired of corporate nonsense, gives straight talk, understands modern user behavior, and runs her own businesses so she gets real business pressures.
Can Michelle help with AI and modern technology?
Yes! Michelle specializes in designing AI interfaces that users trust and adopt. She understands how to make smart technology feel natural and helpful rather than complicated or intrusive.
How can I get started working with Michelle?
Start with a free UX assessment or schedule a discovery call. Michelle will help you figure out what makes sense for your situation, timeline, and budget. No pressure, just honest advice.
What I Stand For
These aren't just nice words on a website.
They're how I actually work with people.
Straight
Talk
I tell you what I really think, not what I think you want to hear. If something won't work, I'll tell you why and suggest better alternatives.
Genuine Helpfulness
I'm here to solve your problems, not sell you services you don't need. If you need something I don't do, I'll tell you and help you find the right person.
Real
Results
Pretty designs that don't improve your business aren't worth the pixels they're painted on. I focus on outcomes that matter to your customers and your bottom line.
Practical
Solutions
I design for your actual constraints - your timeline, your budget, your team's capabilities. Perfect is the enemy of better, and better is what we're after.
