Nasif Salaam

About Me

If I were to choose a word to describe my approach, it would be "technical." Not technical in the way engineers are, but technical in understanding how things actually work. This fluency allows me to collaborate seamlessly with developers, turning ideas into solutions that don't just look good but are buildable, scalable, and grounded in reality. Over 15+ years, I've evolved from pure visual design to someone who designs, prototypes, and ships. I bring creativity and technical understanding together, which means fewer surprises in implementation and more value delivered to users.

What I Do Now

Enterprise Design Systems & Team Collaboration

I've designed and delivered a production design system for a major South African bank, including their website, mobile app, and secure dashboards. I led a team to design a new onboarding experience that balanced security with usability. For another major bank, I created a rapid prototype using FlutterFlow and Supabase that let stakeholders validate concepts before full development. I design systems that scale without creating implementation headaches.

Building Real Solutions

I ship production applications, not just portfolio pieces. I've built apps using AstroJS, React, and Supabase, integrating APIs, authentication, and databases. This hands-on building experience informs every design decision I make because I understand what's easy to build versus what creates technical debt.

Rapid Validation & Prototyping

I validate ideas quickly by building functional prototypes that go beyond clickable mockups. At Immersion Group, I led a self-initiated innovation project that upskilled six staff while creating an MVP we tested with real users. I use tools like FlutterFlow, Webflow, and code to move from concept to testable product fast.

Mentorship & Continuous Growth

I've mentored designers from junior to intermediate levels, including guiding someone from construction into UI design in six months. I'm always learning, recently earning my ISO 42001 certification to understand AI implementation at a governance level. I believe in building while learning and helping teams bridge knowledge gaps between design and engineering.

Skills & Capabilities

Product Design

  • Design Systems
  • User Research
  • Design Thinking
  • Information Architecture

Technical Execution

  • React & Astro
  • Supabase & Neon
  • API Integration
  • MCPs

AI Tools

  • Cursor & Warp
  • Claude & Mistral
  • Replit & v0
  • Perplexity & Gemini

Design Tools

  • Figma & FigJam
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Affinity
  • Miro

Leadership

  • Team Mentorship
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Cross-functional Collaboration

Professional Journey

AI & Design Specialist

Nexevo Studios • 2025 - Present

Training users to use AI safely and effectively while designing solutions as client needs dictate, from branding to web solutions. Developing frameworks for responsible AI implementation and helping businesses navigate the gap between AI capability and practical application. Mentored a junior designer into a senior role, demonstrating my commitment to building up others while building solutions.

Lead UI Designer

Immersion Group • 2022 - 2024

Designed production design systems and digital solutions for clients including Bidvest Bank, Old Mutual, and ABSA. Led a team to create a new secure onboarding experience for a major bank, collaborating closely with external development teams throughout implementation. Created rapid prototypes using FlutterFlow and Supabase for another major bank that allowed stakeholders to validate concepts before full development. Initiated and led an innovation project that upskilled six staff members while building a tested MVP, establishing a rapid prototyping proposition that opened new client conversations.

Senior Digital Designer

Machete Creative • 2019 - 2021

Created digital solutions including UI designs, websites, and digital assets that consistently hit sales targets in first-week launches. Conducted user research and implemented design strategies focused on solving real problems. Worked closely with development teams to ensure designs were technically feasible and delivered on business goals.

Visual Designer & Collaborator

Freelance • 2014 - 2018

Collaborated with diverse clients on branding, digital design, and web development projects. Managed end-to-end design processes and built WordPress solutions for clients including Clicks, Musica, UCT Pathology, and ICCEG. Developed technical skills that allowed me to bridge the gap between design vision and implementation reality.

Senior Graphic Designer

Musica & Clicks • 2009 - 2012

Designed promotional campaigns and internal marketing materials for major retail brands. Managed teams and oversaw design processes, building foundations in visual communication and project management. Introduced workflow automation that streamlined production processes and taught senior designers new tools like Adobe InDesign when the industry was transitioning from older software.

If you're building innovative teams and need a technical designer who solves problems, mentors effectively, and delivers results, let's connect.

Let's Connect