Cheriyan Manalel

About

I build design teams that ship work people actually use and leave better than I found them. My background spans HealthTech, enterprise SaaS, and AI-native products. I've grown teams, built mentorship structures that moved junior designers into mid-level roles, and delivered consistently in domains where precision has real consequences. The work I'm most proud of sits at the intersection of research and delivery, clinical products redesigned through deep patient research, AI UX built from scratch, and design systems that reduced rework and kept engineering moving. I set up DesignOps, partnered directly with product and engineering leadership, and directed marketing design end-to-end so design speaks with one voice across every touchpoint. I also facilitate Design Thinking workshops for service design teams, helping organisations map journeys and align on user needs before designing solutions. Local leader at UX India Kochi, executive mentor at Kerala Startup Mission, and active on international design academies.

Experience

• UX Lead · Expeed Software06-01-2025
• User Experience Lead · WebCardio2021-06-01 –

  Led UX design for the WebCardio Patient App, focusing on streamlining ECG transfer for faster access to health information. Reduced cognitive load for users by implementing intuitive design elements. Enhanced patient experience by creating a user-friendly interface with seamless navigation.

• Desig Mentor · Designlab2020-11-01 –

  Mentored 50+ aspiring designers through structured UX/UI training and personal mentorship, helping many secure roles in top organizations.

• Health and well-being · Career Break2020-05-01 – 2021-06-01
• Senior UI UX Designer · RapidValue2016-10-01 – 2020-04-01

  Created POCs to support new business acquisition. Planned and estimated design timelines for on-time completion. Led the team to ensure design quality. Presented concepts to stakeholders, emphasizing user value. Conducted design reviews for consistent quality.

• Freelance Designer · Freelance2014-09-01 – 2016-08-01

  Worked with clients, developers, and stakeholders globally to design products meeting business goals and user needs with seamless design integration.

• Part-time Mentor · Designlab, Careerfoundry, ADP List–

  Mentored UX/UI students by providing feedback on assignments and conducting weekly 1-on-1 calls. Updated course materials to reflect industry trends, assessed student performance, and collaborated with instructors to enhance the curriculum, guiding students toward their career goals.

Education

• Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityBachelor's degree, Psychology
• Bharathiyar collageBachelor's degree
• Periyar University PRIDEBachelor's degree, Computer Application

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