I design systems
that defy defaults.
Product designer at Porter, running the design org's Gen-AI program. I care as much about sharpening the axe as cutting the tree. When the tool I need doesn't exist, I build it.
chapter ii · selected work
Selected work.
0→1· SquadStack· 2024
Saving the Company in 3 Weeks: Telecaller Onboarding
SquadStack's margins were bleeding through BPO middlemen. A war-mode redesign of telecaller onboarding cut acquisition cost to a quarter, by making the experience good enough to stop paying people to finish it.

Design systems· SquadStack· 2023–2024
Ending Colour Chaos: a Token-First Design System
Two product surfaces, three primaries fighting for the same buttons, components breaking on BPO-floor monitors. A bottom-up initiative that became a funded design-system program at SquadStack.

AI· Porter· 2025
CopyCat: AI Copy That Partners Actually Understand
Over 80% of Porter's delivery partners struggle to read the app's English copy. CopyCat pairs a persona-first tonal matrix with AI tooling so every screen speaks partner. Built the framework and the working product; it won the productivity track at Porter's company-wide AI hackathon and entered the org's workflow.

Design leadership· Porter· Dec 2024 → present
The Partner Experience Paradox
Porter's driver-partner app shows 4.7★ across 530k+ reviews, a number that quietly argues against change. I built the case that the rating was a mask, then the strategy, principles, architecture, and phased plan to rebuild the app 7.5 lakh+ partners earn on.

AI-assisted design· Porter· Apr–Sep 2025 · live
Porter Prime: The Gemstone Journey
Porter's partner-loyalty program had stopped doing its one job: telling partners what winning looks like. I used AI to explore 12 narrative directions, authored the two finalists, and the concept the team shipped turned tier status into something you can see.
Prime support tickets −80% (team-reported)
From chatbots to org mandate.
Every commit below is real, dated, and verified. Watch the altitude.
The basics
Chatbots become daily practice. Honest start, no inflation.
Communication Framework
Tonal matrix + custom GPT for partners who read by keywords and visual cues.
read the case ▸09 may 2025Design Day
LoRA training, image gen, music, avatar video. The whole team hands-on in a day.
see the build ▸Porter icon generator
Brand-true icons on demand.
CopyCat wins the hackathon
The framework became a product. Productivity track.
wonsee the build ▸11 sep 2025Prime 2.0 ships
12 AI narratives seeded both finalist concepts.
see the build ▸Named Design × AI driver
The org mandate. The branch forks here.
forkAI Product Builder
Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 running. The team builds its own tools now.
see the build ▸2026 · interventionsToken audit, north star
698 tokens, machine-readable, zero drift. UAT automation unlocked.
read the case ▸the proof
Enough talk.Go look.
open source
more on githubchapter iv · in the field
The rooms I show up in.
Conferences, meetups, and the sessions I run. Every tile links to the quest note I wrote from that room.

Razorpay · Bengaluru · 2026
AI × Design Meetup

Dubai · 2026
DDX Dubai

Atlassian × Friends of Figma · 2025
Future of Design

Bengaluru · 2025
DesignUp E5

my first conference · 2025
Kyoorius Design Yatra

Porter · ran it · 2025
AI Playground Day

Figma · Bengaluru · Nov 2025
Shipped: India builds with Figma

Porter · won it · 2025
Porter AI Hackathon
chapter vi · voices
Word on the street.

Zain is one of the most intriguing designers I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and he is also a genuinely nice person. His visual design skills are excellent, but what truly sets him apart is his problem-first approach. He takes the time to question the issue, understand the context, and only then does he start designing. This methodology is evident in the outcomes he delivers.
His knowledge and interest in AI have been a tremendous asset to our team. He took the lead and independently developed an AI communication widget that significantly reduced our turnaround time. This initiative not only had a real impact but also played a major role in helping our team win the AI hackathon.
Another quality I appreciate about Zain is his willingness to share knowledge. He frequently organizes small workshops, provides updates, and keeps the team informed about developments in the AI and design space. His presence alone elevates the team's capabilities.
Zain is a strong designer with curiosity, energy, and a sense of ownership. Any team would greatly benefit from having him on board.
Sandeep Sreedharan
Sr. Product Designer at Porter, ex bigbasket
hi, I'm
Jainulabudeen
product designer · bengaluru
I keep a second brain. This site runs on it, so ask it anything.

