My Role
UX Designer I
Enterprise Fintech Design (2020–2022)
A foundational year shaping my approach to collaboration, systems thinking, and enterprise-scale UX.
Overview
AvidXchange is a leading fintech platform focused on automating accounts payable and procurement operations for mid-market businesses. I joined as a UX Designer I shortly before graduating college, working cross-functionally with product managers, researchers, writers, and engineers on large-scale, high-impact workflow tools.
This role was my introduction to enterprise UX — complex systems, deeply technical user needs, and multidisciplinary collaboration. It laid the groundwork for how I approach product design today.
My Role & Responsibilities
In my role as a UX Designer I, I did the following:
Designed & refined user flows across procurement & AP automation workflows
Collaborated daily with PMs, engineers, other designers, and a UX researcher
Contributed to the early stages of the company’s new design system (built on MUI)
Created reusable components and UI patterns to support scalable product development
Conducted usability testing using internal research tools and video-based testing
Helped shape early UX documentation and design guidelines
Worked with engineering teams (5–10 developers depending on the feature) during handoff and iteration
The Work
1. Design System Contribution
AvidXchange was transitioning to a new, unified design system. I contributed by:
- Building and documenting new components in Figma
- Translating MUI patterns into branded, scalable UI
- Ensuring consistency across teams designing parallel features
- Reviewing interaction patterns and aligning them with product requirements
This was the first time I experienced building a system from the ground up — something that later became a major strength in my role at Wholechain.
2. Procurement Application Redesign
AvidXchange was replacing legacy products acquired through multiple mergers. The new platform needed to support complex procurement workflows, but with a modern, intuitive experience.
My contributions included:
- Designing new flows for viewing, approving, and managing purchase order–related tasks
- Creating UI layouts for finance teams processing high volumes of data
- Pairing with a senior designer to develop features end-to-end
- Participating in user testing sessions and synthesizing insights
- Supporting development during implementation
While I left before full release, the work I contributed moved successfully into development with positive internal feedback.
What I Learned & How I Grew
This role marked a turning point in my career. Key areas of growth:
Cross-functional Collaboration
I learned how to work effectively with PMs, engineers, researchers, and writers — understanding how each discipline shapes a product.
Enterprise UX Maturity
Navigating complex workflows taught me to design for scalability, consistency, and clarity — not just visual polish.
Understanding Team Culture
Experiencing both highly supportive and challenging team environments taught me the importance of communication, psychological safety, and leadership — lessons that deeply influenced how I now lead teams and processes.
Finding My Voice as a Designer
I learned how to communicate my work, present decisions, ask questions, and step into more ownership — something that prepared me to lead whole product streams in my next role.
Requirements Matter
A significant part of my growth was understanding the power of strong requirements: clear expectations, shared understanding, and alignment across teams.
What I Took Forward Into My Career
My time at AvidXchange shaped who I am as a designer today. It gave me:
1
A strong foundation rooted in systems thinking
2
A deep respect for collaboration and process
3
A practical understanding of enterprise workflows
4
Confidence in my design abilities and creativity
5
A clear picture of what a healthy design culture looks like
These lessons prepared me to step into a much larger role at Wholechain, where I now lead design, product processes, and development collaboration for multiple applications.
Thanks for stopping by! Explore more if you are interested :)
LET'S CONNECT
LinkedIn
+1 904.501.9003
athenagiani@gmail.com