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Hi, I'm Zair.

I started as a web developer, moved into design and team leadership, and now build my own products with AI. Based in Karachi, working with teams worldwide.

Zair Abbas, UX/UI designer based in Karachi, Pakistan, leaning on his studio desk in a charcoal blazer, looking off to the side

I learned to build. Then what to build.

I started on the web self-taught, learning how things worked by building them. Design came next, once I saw that the hard part was knowing what people needed.

Since then I've worked across design, development and leadership, turning business problems into products people can use. Today I lead product design at Creative Chaos for clients like McDonald's, Luminopia, McQueens Flowers and Maersk.

Most projects need more than one of those at a time. I work across strategy, UX, the interface and often the build itself, with founders, product teams and agencies.

I still build. calog.cc, an AI calorie tracker for desi food, is my own product. I designed it, built it and keep shipping it alone.

Role
Principal product designer at Creative Chaos
Building
calog.cc · live, 140+ registered users
Experience
20 years · since 2006, self-taught
Based
Karachi, Pakistan · working worldwide
Focus
Product strategy, UX, AI products, Webflow
Background
Agency, startup and independent product work
Certified
Webflow Partner, Webflow CMS, Webflow Layouts 1 and 2
Mentoring
ADPList · 390+ minutes, 4 countries
Open to
Contract, fractional and full-time · remote

Experience

How I got here

Most of it at Creative Chaos in Karachi, with Jambro, Grocode and XStak along the way.

Zair in 2006, smiling at his office desk beside a CRT monitor
Karachi, 2006. Year one.
  1. 2021-PresentPrincipal product designer

    Product strategy, UX/UI and design systems for clients like McDonald's, Luminopia, McQueens Flowers and Maersk. I lead and mentor the designers on each project and present the work to client stakeholders.

  2. 2021-2025UI/UX consultant and Webflow developer

    · part-time

    Designed XStak's marketing websites in Figma and built them in Webflow, moving the company's sites off WordPress. Also redesigned its SaaS admin theme on the Ant Design system.

  3. 2018-2021Co-founder

    A digital product studio for startups. I shaped product direction, including Vendgame, a smart vending-machine brand-engagement platform.

  4. 2017-2019CTO

    A live-music marketplace connecting independent musicians with venues. I led product, design and engineering and shipped the iOS and Android apps, with a small budget and the outcome on me.

  5. 2014-2017Web development manager

    Running a web team, aligning stakeholders and turning complex requirements into coherent products. Over the years I've hired and managed 50+ people.

  6. 2011-2014Senior UX designer and team lead

    From building pages to designing products. Seven seasons of UX and web for Coke Studio, including a Universal Website Guide its India, Africa and Middle East markets adopted, plus work for Unilever, Toyota and Jazz.

  7. 2006-2011Web designer and developer

    Self-taught. HTML, CSS and PHP, then my own CMS and custom WordPress themes. It's why I still design with the build in mind and speak the developer's language.

What I've learned

Each one comes from a project you can read about on this site.

  1. Solve the right problem

    My first McDonald's concept was Instagram-style stories, drawn from the brief alone. Stakeholder interviews showed people would arrive from the newsletter, so the hub was built around that instead.

    McDonald's case study
  2. Design for reality

    Luminopia's headset is worn by young children. Before drawing a screen I studied Apple's spatial design guidelines and agreed six comfort rules with the client, and every headset screen followed them.

    Luminopia case study
  3. Make progress tangible

    calog.cc's guest flow, in-chat coaching and photo portion editing all shipped after launch, most within days of deciding to build them. Real use told me what to build next.

    calog.cc case study

What people say

Managers, clients, colleagues and mentees. Tap a quote to read it in full.

LinkedIn
“Whenever Zair has said ‘Don’t worry’ it has been that way.”
Sardar Mohkim KhanWorked with me, 2023
LinkedIn

“A problem solver… always ready to put in the hard work.”

Shakir HusainManaged me, 2018
ADPList

“An exceptional designer, leader and mentor.”

Camie WongMentee, 2024
LinkedIn

“The only benchmark I see around him is himself.”

Rumaisa ReemClient, 2010
Zair and three others in front of a presentation screen after a workshop at Habib University
SessionsHabib University
ADPList

“Extremely knowledgeable on the subject of UI/UX.”

Ali SaqibMentee, 2024
LinkedIn

“One of the best guys to learn from and work with.”

Shahzad KhanReported to me, 2009
LinkedIn

“All of them have been completed on time.”

Ali InamWorked with me, 2015
ADPList

“His authority in the field truly shines through.”

Farhan KhanMentee, 2023

Learning

Figma to Webflow

InterviewBuilding calog.cc with AI

Zair speaking into a microphone at a podium, a Figma user flow on the screen behind him
On stageTalks on Figma
LinkedIn

“A unique and irreplaceable contribution to the team.”

Maryam Bandukda, PhDManaged me, 2009
ADPList

“He even explained using real world examples.”

Amrita AlexMentee, 2023
LinkedIn

“I learned a great deal from Zair.”

Abdul Qadir MohiuddinWorked with me, 2010
LinkedIn

“A man of protocols.”

Sameer ul Haque SiddiquiWorked with me, 2009
LinkedIn

“He doesn’t need guidance.”

Muhammad NawazSenior colleague, 2009

I used to wonder where a designer fits in an AI world. Then I built a product with AI, on my own, in weeks. The tools keep changing. Deciding what to build is still the job.

Read the calog.cc case study

NextSee the work