Lawanya Ramachandran

Hi, I'm Lawanya,a product designer bridging strategy and execution, turning ambiguous problems into experiences people actually use

Right now, I'm a Product Designer at Udemy + Coursera (Now combined)

From designing for non-English-speaking markets across B2B and B2C, to now building agentic and admin tools for enterprise customers.

Previously, I was a Senior UX Designer at Yara International

Led a farmer-facing platform and B2B retailer experiences across 5 regions in Southeast Asia and Africa, including delivering service blueprints, UX for non-smartphone users, and phygital experiences.

See my entire journey

My design philosophy

Systems Thinking

Systems Thinking

I treat every design problem as a system, from mapping the ecosystem, tracing the service blueprint, and designing backstage as deliberately as frontstage.

Strategic Design

Strategic Design

I design with evidence, work that's functionally sharp and visually compelling because it's grounded in what the business and the user both actually need.

Ethical Design

Ethical Design

I design with moral awareness of impact beyond the immediate user. Certified in Behavioural Design through CIID, Denmark and Irrational Labs.

My core values

Innovative problem-solving

I zoom out to see the bigger picture and connect non-obvious dots.

Purpose-driven mindset

I'm drawn to work that makes a real impact on people's lives.

Bridging perspectives

I navigate conflict and find common ground through empathy.

Leading with empathy

I create safe, collaborative spaces and mentor other designers.

Balanced standards

High quality without perfectionism. I know when to flex.

Strategic by nature

I turn abstract ideas into real, actionable things.

What people say

Lawanya was the first designer hired in India for Udemy. She was our first because she is highly autonomous, extremely proactive and has a great sense of adventure. She also is a great product designer, with the full skillset required to take on any type of project. I especially like her sense of taste which shines through in her visual design work. Would definitely hire again in the future!

Darragh Flood

Senior Director, Udemy

Directly reported

Lawanya stands out as one of the finest individuals I've collaborated with. Beyond her already impressive design skills, her genuine kindness and continuous desire for personal and professional growth set her apart. It was her humility and inquisitiveness that initially drew me to hire her. While no designer is flawless, Lawanya's presence has not only contributed to the growth of our products but has also enriched the design community with her willingness to share her knowledge. I eagerly anticipate her future contributions to the success of other projects.

Dorothy T

UX Manager, Yara International

Directly reported

Lawanya has been an outstanding colleague to collaborate with. She consistently embraces new challenges and opportunities at work, demonstrating a proactive attitude. Her adeptness in exploration and research, coupled with her data-driven and user-centric design approach, greatly enhances the quality of her work. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to work with Lawanya as a team once again.

Sharda Singh

Product Owner, Yara International

Collaborator

Lawanya started as an Interface Designer and swiftly took on roles in Design Production and Design Project Management. She led the redesign of a major social platform, skillfully managing its design system and collaborating with a large team. With a strong academic background, she was innovative and effective in implementing new techniques and confidently handled difficult stakeholders, always justifying her design choices clearly.

Balachandar S

Head of Design, TCS

Directly reported
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Outside of work

I'm a botanical artist, an urban sketcher, a traveller, and a photographer who loves capturing nature, wildlife, and birds. Design is about people: talking, collaborating, making space for every voice. Art is just for me, a practice that keeps me grounded.

@the_merakist
Artwork by Lawanya
Artwork by Lawanya
Artwork by Lawanya
Artwork by Lawanya