Megan Whelen, product designer. I make tools people love.
Ten years as the first and only designer at health and AI startups, owning everything from research to shipped code.
- Now
- Staff Product Designer, Layer
- Also
- Yuna, In Truth, Reputable, Akili, UCSF
- Background
- Psychology degree, then front-end development
- Based
- B.C., Canada. Remote.
Selected work
Six case studies, 2017 to now.
Yuna
An AI wellness coach app. I redesigned onboarding so new users start talking to the coach right away.
+59%more new users sent a first message (Android A/B test)
In Truth
An app that reads your nervous system. I led a brand and UX design sprint to clarify their brand story and create a dynamic visual identity.
Akili
The first FDA-authorized video game treatment, for ADHD. I designed how families see it working.
+25%treatment adherence after adding a progress score
Reputable
A health startup. I helped it pivot from a consumer app to a research platform.
$1M+raised, double the target
ACE Explorer
A UCSF attention test for kids, rebuilt as a game they wanted to finish.
60 kidstested it in schools
Layer
AI art, 3D and video tools for game studios. I led two redesigns and ship them in code.
94production code changes shipped since JulyWhat I do
From first interview to shipped code.User research
100+ hours of user testing. Set up and owned research pipelines, product analytics and A/B testing.
Prototyping in code
A front-end developer before I was a designer. 94 production code changes at Layer since July.
What colleagues say
LinkedIn recommendations from product managers, colleagues and clients."Megan understands the human problem... She will always champion for zooming out to consider the whole experience. Oh, and she is also a total pro at orchestrating a cohesive and easy-to-use design system and process."Product manager, LinkedIn
"She was a whiz when it came to not just UX/UI, storyboarding, etc., but more importantly getting things done!"Neuroscape, UCSF, LinkedIn
"Consistently impressed with her steadfast commitment to our company's overall design culture, voice, and extremely high standard."Colleague at Akili, LinkedIn
Experience
Ten years in health tech and AI: in-house lead roles, a founding designer role and consulting.
| 2025–now | Layer | Staff Product Designer | AI art, 3D and video tools for game studios |
| 2026 | Yuna | Lead Product Designer | AI wellness coach app |
| 2023–25 | Reputable Health | Founding Designer | Health research platform using wearable data |
| 2018–23 | Akili | Senior Product Designer | FDA-authorized video game treatment for ADHD |
| 2022 | Mastermind Sports | UX Consultant | VR neuroscience training |
| 2019–20 | Flow Genome Project | Brand Designer | Brand identity and website |
| 2017–18 | Neuroscape, UCSF | Lead UX/UI Designer | Attention and memory test for kids, as a game |
| 2015–17 | Number 41 Media | Interaction Designer | Public health web apps |
| 2015 | North Studio | Front-End Developer | Where it started |
Let's make something people love.
meganryll@gmail.com- Limited consulting slots available10-hour design packageTen hours of senior product design. Use them on any of these, or a mix.
- Product teardownA close review of your app's flows and UI, with a ranked list of fixes.
- Design system kickstartTokens and core components, documented and ready for engineers to build with.
- Design sprintOne hard problem taken from sketches to a tested prototype.
- Design consultingA second set of eyes on a launch, a redesign or a pitch.