I’m Paul Fontaine, a creative leader passionate about transforming ideas into exceptional digital experiences. With a track record of building and scaling high-performing UX teams, I blend design expertise with a deep understanding of human behaviour to create digital spaces that are not only visually stunning but also intuitive, impactful, and user-centered
What I Do
Design
With over 20 years experience I have a strong foundation in creative design and fine art. I bring a unique perspective to UX design. With a deep understanding of aesthetics, combined with a user-centered approach, allows them to craft intuitive and visually compelling digital experiences. Blending creativity with functionality I excel in creating seamless, engaging interfaces that not only look beautiful but also meet the needs of users and businesses alike.
Strategy
I'm a seasoned Design Strategist with extensive experience in elevating design maturity within teams to enhance the role of design in organisations and how it is perceived. I excel at building design solutions, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and embedding design thinking into an organisation's culture. By aligning design efforts with business objectives, I can help raise the stock of design, ensuring it is recognised as a key strategic driver for innovation and success within a organisation.
Leadership
As an experienced leader of design teams, known for creating and utilising skills maps to foster individual growth and team development. My approach to leadership is grounded in a thoughtful people-first management style that balances mentoring with clear guidance. By aligning each team member’s strengths with project needs and providing structured development opportunities, helps individuals thrive while driving the overall success of the team. I've also developed a coaching style that helps designers develop a flexible mindset when working in either an agency or in-house environment. I call this the ‘Triphase Mental Model’ aka '3 The Hats', a combination of hard and soft skills. read more
Building
Teams
I led the growth and development of a multidisciplinary design team, scaling from 20 to 40 designers while ensuring strategic alignment with business goals. With 6 direct UX Managers reporting into me, fostering leadership development and cross-functional collaboration at Entain.
-
Built and structured a high-performing design organisation, establishing clear roles, processes, and career growth pathways.
-
Recruited, mentored, and retained top design talent across UX, UI, Research, and Content Design, creating a culture of innovation and excellence.
-
Defined and implemented scalable design processes to enhance team efficiency, collaboration, and output.
-
Aligned design strategy with product and business objectives, ensuring impactful and user-centered outcomes.
-
Advocated for design excellence, embedding user-centered thinking into company-wide decision-making.
I am highly skilled in building and developing design teams with extensive experience in using skills maps to identify gaps and growth opportunities. By applying the 70-20-10 learning methodology —focused on hands-on experience, mentoring and formal education —they create tailored development plans that drive continuous improvement. This strategic approach ensures team members are constantly evolving, while the overall team's capabilities align with the organisation’s goals and needs.
Building a team culture through rituals
While team off-sites are powerful, I would plan to do them 1-2 times a year. As a team continues to grow, you have to adapt and find ways to foster collaboration. Some of the most significant rituals that I have implemented include the following:
-
User Experience Academy (UXA): These bi-weekly workshops and presentations are an opportunity for us to share knowledge and train each other on design topics.
-
Design Critique: Every week, we gather to present our work and receive feedback from the team. This is a chance for us to improve our craft together and ensure coherency throughout the product.
-
Show & Tell Friday: Each Friday, we share a 1-minute video showcasing our work from that week. This provides an opportunity for us to see what everyone is working on and stay connected.
-
Team Collaboration Tuesdays: While several of us are remote, we still try to gather in person on a regular basis for those who are near our headquarters.
By implementing these rituals, we have been able to maintain a strong sense of camaraderie and collaboration, even as the team continues to grow.
​
Testimonials
Luiz Kim
UX Design Manager
Working under Paul’s leadership as Global Head of Design was one of the most valuable experiences of my career. I learned so much from him—not just about design and leadership, but about fostering a culture where people feel connected, valued, and empowered. He broke down silos, bringing together 60+ designers across teams, and navigated the challenges of COVID with a level of care and vision that truly elevated our UX department.
What I admire most about Paul is that he sees people, not just roles. No matter your level, he is always approachable, supportive, and invested in your growth. I’m incredibly grateful for the time we worked together, and I genuinely hope our paths cross again in the future.
Press
BTF
Guest Speaker
Product Strategy for Inclusive Growth
I'm excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at Black Tech Fest, where I’ll be sharing insights on Product Strategy for Inclusive Growth. Join me and other industry leaders for an incredible experience on October 10th.
Agency vs In-House
An interview with Paul Fontaine, Head of UX at GVC Group, about working in agency vs in-house in the Creative industry.
In this ‘agency vs in-house’ interview series led by Salt Senior Consultant for Creative, Holley Potts, we speak to customers from all different sectors within the world of digital to answer the age-old question – agency or in-house? This series is designed to give you a snapshot of creative career journeys and insights into what is currently happening in their businesses.