ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
TEAM
SKILLS
THE QUESTION
WHAT I DELIVERED
In just three months, I led the 0→1 design of Hemut’s first AI-powered product experience, working with engineers to translate the founders’ vision into a scalable solution. I crafted user journeys for dispatchers, fleet managers, and drivers, delivering MVP interfaces with map-based dispatching, real-time analytics, and AI-powered workflows.
OUR IMPACT
In just three months, Hemut was accepted into Y Combinator, the world’s leading startup accelerator (1.5% acceptance rate) known for launching companies like Airbnb and Doordash. Our early designs were instrumental in communicating the product vision, validating market fit, and attracting both investors and early customers.
SOLUTION PREVIEW
02 SYNTHESIS & IDEATION - TURNING COMPLEX OPERATIONS INTO AI-DRIVEN WORKFLOWS
01 DISCOVERY & USER RESEARCH - APPROACHING THE PROBLEM SPACE
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Hemut is a Y Combinator-backed startup modernizing fleet operations with AI-powered tools, real-time analytics, and intuitive map interfaces. As the founding designer, I led the end-to-end design process, from early research to high-fidelity prototypes, crafting interfaces that empowered dispatchers, drivers, and fleet managers through AI. Our human-centered, AI-driven platform secured YC acceptance and laid the groundwork for future scale.
04 MVP DESIGNS - ITERATING FOR FOCUS AND FLOW
IMPACT AND REFLECTION
Shaping the World of Trucking with Hemut’s AI-Powered Platform
Over three months, I worked with Hemut’s founders to turn their trucking startup from early sketches into a working product that earned a spot in Y Combinator. I led design across mobile and desktop for dispatchers, drivers, and admins, focusing on simplifying complex workflows, bringing clarity to real-time operations, and making AI feel visible and trustworthy.
I learned how to navigate ambiguity, build quickly with a small team, and design with empathy for an industry I had to learn from scratch.
KEY TAKEAWAY #1
Clear design cuts through complexity
Trucking can be chaotic. I designed focused states and intentional constraints, like only showing one load at a time, to help users act quickly and confidently.
KEY TAKEAWAY #2
AI should feel visible and useful
We brought AI into the interface through load suggestions and voice dispatch. I made sure users could see what the system was doing so it felt like a partner, not a black box.
KEY TAKEAWAY #3
Context is everything
Thank you so much for reading!
03 FEATURE DESIGNS - DESIGNING WITH DRIVERS IN MIND
ITERATIONS
Dashboard: Less Noise, More Focus
We refined our designs based on conversations with experts in the field, prioritizing clarity, reduced cognitive load, and AI-driven workflows.
Before: The dashboard surfaced both load booking options and current trip info, leading to visual overload.
After: Our team narrowed in down to focus on what matters most: the active load. By limiting the dashboard to two core states: In Progress and No Active Load, we reduce information overload and decision fatigue.
ITERATIONS
Inbox: More Visual, More Accessible
Before: Drivers struggled to find key tools and did not have clear access to AI support.
After: I gave the Inbox a visual refresh and made agentic AI impossible to miss by introducing a persistent AI button for one-tap voice commands and adding visual icons for key actions like check-in, upload, and reroute.
Onboarding Flow
AI Agent Dispatcher Communication
For fleet managers like Carl, juggling calls between drivers, warehouses, and clients used to mean pulling over or delegating on the fly.
While driving between sites, Carl taps the AI mic button in his app and says:
“Call John and let him know to wait at Dock 4.”
Hemut will then:
Identify the right driver and contact method
Place the call or send the message automatically
Update the dispatcher dashboard and any relevant delivery notes in real time
John never has to fumble with contacts or lose focus on the road.
UNDERSTANDING FOUNDER VISION
After analyzing competitors, mapping user pain points, and many late-night work sessions with the founders, our team translated research insights into focused themes and design opportunities that shaped Hemut’s product direction for the YC sprint.
THE CHALLENGE
How might we design an AI-driven FMS companion app that streamlines workflows, improves communication, and supports drivers on the road?
USER FLOW
Based on the founders’ early whiteboard sketches to high-fidelity designs, I worked closely with the team to map ideas and translate their insights into intuitive, functional interfaces.
AGENTIC AI IN ACTION
Scenario: John misses an exit. His manager, Carl, stays calm.
It’s 2:13 PM. Carl gets a ping from John, one of his drivers. He’s missed an exit in Bakersfield and is now 45 minutes behind schedule.
BEFORE HEMUT
1. Recalculate the route manually
2. Call the warehouse to adjust delivery windows
3. Update his whiteboard and text the client
AFTER HEMUT
1. Auto-generates an updated route and ETA
2. Notifies the warehouse of the delay
3. Updates the dispatcher dashboard in real time
Carl doesn’t need to pick up the phone, and John can get back to driving with peace of mind.
