Benny Aarup
Lead Product Design Consultant
29
Projects
14+
Years Exp.
I am a lead product designer and AI-native product execution consultant specializing in enterprise systems, product architecture, and delivery. I turn complex requirements into structured, implementation-ready product solutions.
Toptal
Lead Product Design Consultant
March 2015 - Present
Working through Toptal’s global consulting network, I deliver product design and product execution across complex enterprise environments. My latest engagement is with a confidential client in the shipping industry, contributing to a large-scale digital product environment supporting complex operational workflows. I work directly with product leadership and domain stakeholders to translate evolving business requirements into clear, executable product systems. This involves structuring product logic, defining user flows, resolving ambiguity, and establishing consistent foundations across interconnected product experiences. My role extends beyond interface design into product architecture and execution. I help shape how requirements are understood, validated, communicated, and translated into implementation-ready outcomes for product, design, and engineering teams.
- Enterprise product design and product architecture
- Complex workflow and interaction design
- Requirement analysis and stakeholder communication
- Multi-application systems thinking
- Design systems and scalable component foundations
- Figma-based delivery, documentation, and prototyping
- Product, design, and engineering alignment
- AI-native workflows for analysis, structuring, and rapid exploration
―The work requires balancing operational complexity, usability, scalability, and delivery quality while maintaining clarity across a continuously evolving product environment. Previous Toptal engagements include enterprise platforms, operational systems, and data-intensive products used by Fortune 500 organizations and high-growth companies. Selected public client experience includes Azira, Bridgestone, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Skanska. Confidential engagements are described at a general capability level in accordance with client agreements and disclosure requirements.
Azira
Lead Product Design Consultant
October 2021 - October 2022
Delivered product design and system structuring for a large-scale operational intelligence platform providing place-based insights and human movement data to enterprise clients. The platform supported decision-making for more than 200 Fortune 500 companies, combining complex datasets, real-time processing, and advanced analytics. Focused on improving clarity, usability, and decision support across a highly data-intensive product environment.
- Defined product structure and navigation for interacting with large-scale datasets
- Translated analytical requirements into clear, usable product flows and interfaces
- Improved data presentation and interaction patterns across the platform
- Established scalable component and design system foundations
- Enabled alignment between product, design, and engineering through structured output
―Contributed to measurable improvements in data accessibility and usability, including increased data access speed and overall user efficiency.
Caliber
Lead Product Design Consultant
December 2019 - October 2021
Delivered product design and system structuring for a digital platform combining mobile and web applications for a data-driven fitness and coaching service. The platform required coordination across multiple product surfaces, including dashboards, user flows, and real-time interaction between users and coaches. Focused on structuring product experience and establishing scalable foundations across both mobile and web environments.
- Defined product structure and interaction flows across mobile and web applications
- Established component-based design system foundations to support consistency and scale
- Translated product requirements into structured, implementation-ready output
- Supported alignment between product, design, and engineering teams
- Improved clarity and usability across key user journeys and product features
―Contributed to a more structured and scalable product platform, improving consistency and user experience across multiple touchpoints.
BRIDGESTONE JAPAN
Lead Product Design Consultant
January 2019 - December 2019
Delivered product design and system structuring for an enterprise dashboard platform supporting data visualization and business intelligence across a global organization. The system served more than 140,000 users and was built on top of Power BI, requiring consistency, scalability, and clear interaction patterns across a high-volume user base. Focused on improving system structure, usability, and scalability across the dashboard environment.
- Structured dashboard layouts and interaction patterns for improved usability
- Contributed to component-based design system foundations
- Improved consistency across data visualization and UI elements
- Supported alignment between design and frontend implementation
- Enhanced interaction with complex datasets through improved presentation logic
―Contributed to a more consistent and scalable dashboard platform, improving clarity and usability for a large global user base.
Meta
Front-End Developer Professional Certificate
2024 - Ongoing
Currently pursuing a professional certificate in Front-End Development from Meta, focusing on building responsive websites and interactive web applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React.
- Developed responsive websites using HTML for structure, CSS for styling, and JavaScript for interactivity.
- Gained proficiency in using React alongside JavaScript libraries and frameworks to create dynamic user interfaces.
- Mastered the Bootstrap CSS Framework for creating responsive webpages and effectively managing version control with GitHub.
- Prepared for coding interviews by learning best practices for problem-solving and building portfolio-ready projects.
- Engaged in hands-on projects, applying learned skills to create and deploy a front-end web application.
―Meta's Front-End Developer Professional Certificate, offered through Coursera, provides professional-level training in front-end development, equipping learners with the skills required for roles such as Front-End Developer, Website Developer, and Software Engineer. The program emphasizes practical skills and real-world projects to ensure job readiness.
# Front-End Development
# HTML
# CSS
# JavaScript
# React
# Bootstrap
# GitHub
Copenhagen School of Design and Technology
Academy Profession Diploma in UX Design
2012
Focused on project-based learning to develop digital brand identities and professional websites.
- Developed comprehensive digital brand strategies tailored for diverse clients.
- Designed and implemented user-centric and visually appealing professional websites.
- Collaborated closely with industry professionals to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.
- Enhanced skills in user experience design, interface design, and digital branding.
- Completed projects that integrated market research, user testing, and iterative design processes.
―Copenhagen School of Design and Technology is renowned for its emphasis on practical, hands-on design education, equipping students with the skills and experience needed for successful careers in the dynamic field of UX design.
# UX Design
# Digital Branding
# User Experience
# Interface Design
# Market Research
Copenhagen Business School
BSc. Business, Asian Language, and Culture
2006 - 2011
Developed comprehensive business skills with a focus on Asian markets, languages, and cultural dynamics.
- Achieved proficiency in Mandarin Chinese through rigorous language courses.
- Gained in-depth knowledge of Asian business practices, economic systems, and cultural nuances.
- Participated in business simulations and case studies, focusing on market entry strategies and competitive analysis in Chinese and broader Asian contexts.
- Conducted comparative analyses of Asian and Western business models, emphasizing intercultural communication and negotiation tactics.
- Completed a significant research project on international business strategies within Asian markets.
―Copenhagen Business School is renowned for its focus on international business education, integrating cultural studies with economic and management training to prepare graduates for global careers.
# International Business
# Asian Markets
# Mandarin Chinese
# Intercultural Communication
# Market Entry Strategies
Ramkhamhaeng University
Semester - BA Chinese
2008 - 2009
Developed business competencies within the Chinese market, with courses taught in Mandarin by native Chinese professors.
- Studied Chinese business practices, management strategies, and economic systems.
- Participated in cultural exchange programs to deepen understanding of Chinese culture and its impact on business.
- Engaged in real-world business projects and case studies focused on the Chinese market.
- Developed cross-cultural communication skills essential for international business.
―Ramkhamhaeng University is a leading institution in Thailand, renowned for offering diverse programs that integrate global perspectives, especially in business education.
# Chinese Business Practices
# Cross-Cultural Communication
# Real-World Projects
# International Business
# Mandarin
Publications
Atomic Design Theory
2025
A modern framework for building and maintaining enterprise-scale design systems across multiple products, brands, and platforms. The book expands the original Atomic Design model to address real-world challenges such as design tokens, accessibility, governance, and complex Figma workflows. By introducing an extended seven-layer atomic structure, it provides a clear way to connect design values, semantic tokens, components, templates, and application views. The focus is on helping teams create systems that scale without fragmentation while improving alignment between design and development.
UX Design Dictionary
2020
A comprehensive reference covering essential terminology and concepts used in UX and digital product design. The dictionary is designed to establish a shared language across designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders. By clarifying commonly misunderstood terms and patterns, it helps teams reduce ambiguity, improve collaboration, and communicate design intent more effectively throughout research, design, and delivery.