With a background in design strategy and a strong foundation in graphic design, I bring a sharp eye for aesthetics to every project—ensuring that every product I touch is not only visually compelling but also easy to use.
Expertise
3+2Y
3 years product design experience and 2 years graduate school
100+
Delivered project
300%
Increased team efficiency by implementing design system
About me
Junru Ruan (James)
UX designer
Junru Ruan (he/him) is an architecturally trained UX designer with over 5 years of visual design experience, and over 3 years of UX industry experience. With a sharp eye for detail and a thoughtful, collaborative approach, he blends aesthetic sensibility with user-centered thinking to craft meaningful digital experiences. Meticulous about the design details that shape everyday interactions, Junru strives to align user needs with business goals for impactful outcomes. Studio-bred and research-driven, he thrives at the intersection of design and development—bridging teams and translating ideas into successful, intuitive products.
“James is a genuinely thoughtful and talented designer, and working with him was a pleasure. Over his time on my team, he built confidence, stepped up to lead customer discovery, and contributed insights that shaped key projects like our LTL offering.
He is a Figma master and played a central role in building our design system, designing polished visuals and complex components that raised the bar for the product. Beyond his technical skills, James’s curiosity, collaboration, and authentic approach make him someone teammates naturally rely on and enjoy working with.
With his combination of skill, dedication, and genuineness, James would be a valuable asset to any design team.”
Former Manager
“His work demonstrated a keen ability to synthesize complex spatial and social data into a compelling, accessible format”
Program Director at GSD
“I had the pleasure of working with James for three years. He's a very talented designer with a sharp eye for both aesthetics and user experience. He contributed significantly to our design system, elevating it to a whole new level-it became much more robust, user-friendly, and visually appealing thanks to his work.
James approaches every project with structure and logic, consistently delivering designs that make a real impact on users. On top of that, he's simply a great person-thoughtful, approachable, and always offering valuable feedback. It was a joy working with him.”
Former Co-worker
Cinematography, literature, and poetry
Besides being passionate about UX, I am also a photographer. I love 35mm film, and I enjoy the mystery and craftiness of the movie and the unparalleled textures. I love traveling and exploring the nature in which we are so lucky to live.
Moreover, I am also passionate about cinematography, literature, and poetry. I enjoy beautiful words as well as breathtaking landscapes.
Download resume
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Work
Research
Resume
About
With a background in design strategy and a strong foundation in graphic design, I bring a sharp eye for aesthetics to every project—ensuring that every product I touch is not only visually compelling but also easy to use.
Expertise
BRANDING
Brand & Strategy
Positioning & Copy
Naming
Storytelling
Logos & Brand Marks
DIGITAL PRODUCTS
Design System
MVP Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Product Design
INDUSTRY
Website Design
Website Development
User Interface/Experience
Motion Graphics
Social Strategy
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typeface Design
Photography
Motion
3+2Y
3 years product design experience and 2 years graduate school
100+
Delivered project
300%
Increased team efficiency by implementing design system
About me
Junru Ruan (James)
UX designer
Junru Ruan (he/him) is an architecturally trained UX designer with over 5 years of visual design experience, and over 3 years of UX industry experience. With a sharp eye for detail and a thoughtful, collaborative approach, he blends aesthetic sensibility with user-centered thinking to craft meaningful digital experiences. Meticulous about the design details that shape everyday interactions, Junru strives to align user needs with business goals for impactful outcomes. Studio-bred and research-driven, he thrives at the intersection of design and development—bridging teams and translating ideas into successful, intuitive products.
“James is a genuinely thoughtful and talented designer, and working with him was a pleasure. Over his time on my team, he built confidence, stepped up to lead customer discovery, and contributed insights that shaped key projects like our LTL offering.
He is a Figma master and played a central role in building our design system, designing polished visuals and complex components that raised the bar for the product. Beyond his technical skills, James’s curiosity, collaboration, and authentic approach make him someone teammates naturally rely on and enjoy working with.
With his combination of skill, dedication, and genuineness, James would be a valuable asset to any design team.”
Former Manager
“His work demonstrated a keen ability to synthesize complex spatial and social data into a compelling, accessible format”
Program Director at GSD
“I had the pleasure of working with James for three years. He's a very talented designer with a sharp eye for both aesthetics and user experience. He contributed significantly to our design system, elevating it to a whole new level-it became much more robust, user-friendly, and visually appealing thanks to his work.
James approaches every project with structure and logic, consistently delivering designs that make a real impact on users. On top of that, he's simply a great person-thoughtful, approachable, and always offering valuable feedback. It was a joy working with him.”
Former Co-worker
Cinematography, literature, and poetry
Besides being passionate about UX, I am also a photographer. I love 35mm film, and I enjoy the mystery and craftiness of the movie and the unparalleled textures. I love traveling and exploring the nature in which we are so lucky to live.
Moreover, I am also passionate about cinematography, literature, and poetry. I enjoy beautiful words as well as breathtaking landscapes.
Download resume
→
Work
Research
Resume
About
With a background in design strategy and a strong foundation in graphic design, I bring a sharp eye for aesthetics to every project—ensuring that every product I touch is not only visually compelling but also easy to use.
Expertise
UX RESEARCH
Journey mapping
Prototype
Usability Test
User Research
Wireframe
DIGITAL PRODUCTS
Design System
MVP Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Product Design
INDUSTRY
Architecture
B2B
Consumer
Logistics
SaaS
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Graphic Design
Illustration
Typeface Design
Photography
Motion
3+2Y
3 years product design experience and 2 years graduate school
100+
Delivered project
300%
Increased team efficiency by implementing design system
About me
Junru Ruan (James)
UX designer
Junru Ruan (he/him) is an architecturally trained UX designer with over 5 years of visual design experience, and over 3 years of UX industry experience. With a sharp eye for detail and a thoughtful, collaborative approach, he blends aesthetic sensibility with user-centered thinking to craft meaningful digital experiences. Meticulous about the design details that shape everyday interactions, Junru strives to align user needs with business goals for impactful outcomes. Studio-bred and research-driven, he thrives at the intersection of design and development—bridging teams and translating ideas into successful, intuitive products.
“James is a genuinely thoughtful and talented designer, and working with him was a pleasure. Over his time on my team, he built confidence, stepped up to lead customer discovery, and contributed insights that shaped key projects like our LTL offering.
He is a Figma master and played a central role in building our design system, designing polished visuals and complex components that raised the bar for the product. Beyond his technical skills, James’s curiosity, collaboration, and authentic approach make him someone teammates naturally rely on and enjoy working with.
With his combination of skill, dedication, and genuineness, James would be a valuable asset to any design team.”
Former Manager
“His work demonstrated a keen ability to synthesize complex spatial and social data into a compelling, accessible format”
Program Director at GSD
“I had the pleasure of working with James for three years. He's a very talented designer with a sharp eye for both aesthetics and user experience. He contributed significantly to our design system, elevating it to a whole new level-it became much more robust, user-friendly, and visually appealing thanks to his work.
James approaches every project with structure and logic, consistently delivering designs that make a real impact on users. On top of that, he's simply a great person-thoughtful, approachable, and always offering valuable feedback. It was a joy working with him.”
Former Co-worker
Cinematography, literature, and poetry
Besides being passionate about UX, I am also a photographer. I love 35mm film, and I enjoy the mystery and craftiness of the movie and the unparalleled textures. I love traveling and exploring the nature in which we are so lucky to live.
Moreover, I am also passionate about cinematography, literature, and poetry. I enjoy beautiful words as well as breathtaking landscapes.
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