Toronto, Ontario
3:31 PM UTC
Chris Cos
Product design leader who brings teams together to ask hard questions and build things people really need. My work is rooted in evidence, systems thinking, and a firm belief in clarity over cleverness.
WORK
Ten years designing products. From zero-to-one work to refining systems that serve millions. Here are a few highlights.
My Approach
Over the years, I've developed a few core beliefs about what makes design work: clear thinking, honest collaboration, and knowing what to leave out. These principles guide how I approach every project.
01
Systems over screens
Every screen is part of a larger ecosystem. A button isn't just a button. It's connected to user expectations, business logic, technical constraints, and a dozen other touchpoints. I evaluate solutions not just by whether they work in isolation, but whether they strengthen the system as a whole.
02
Evidence over assumptions
The truth emerges when real people interact with real things. I prioritize testing and validation over speculation, and I'm never too proud to let evidence change my direction. This shows up constantly in my process: form hypotheses, test with real users, let what we learn guide the next move.
03
Alignment through clarity
Trust starts in how you communicate before anything is built. I invest heavily in workshops, clear visual flows, and asking questions that reveal deeper issues. This is where my design sprint facilitation background comes in: bringing the right people together and making sure everyone understands not just what we're building, but why.
04
Question the obvious
The most important insights often hide behind assumptions everyone's already made. I'm not afraid to ask "why" multiple times or push past the first "obvious" solution. Some of my best work has come from uncovering what's actually going on underneath.
05
Design only what's needed
Clarity in language does more heavy lifting than complex UI ever could. I constantly ask: are we over-designing this? Could better microcopy solve this instead of another component? This restraint has become a hallmark of my work: knowing when to add and, more importantly, when to subtract.
06
Embrace uncertainty
Perfect information doesn't exist, so waiting for it is a losing strategy. What matters is building psychological safety so teams can experiment effectively, testing assumptions in ways that are constructive, not reckless. The best work happens when teams feel safe enough to not have all the answers upfront.
Kind Words
“Chris connects the dots between strategy and execution. His work ensures that design is tied to the bigger idea; a clear target, purpose and industry best- practices to have the greatest business impact.”
Natalie W.
COO
“A true partner in bringing our product vision to life. Delivering a process and expertise which allowed us to develop our product in a modern, thoughtful and beautiful way.”
Steve H.
Founder
“I've worked with Chris on many projects for different industries, and each time he's demonstrated a dynamic ability to produce unique solutions. He's great at taking large amounts of data and creating user-centred experiences."
Josh M.
Founder / CTO
“The result of working with Chris is a perfect collaboration of design and function and we've already begun to see an increase in target metrics in the short time since launch. Immensely pleased with the final work product."
Hutton W.
Managing Director
My Story
I came to product design from a past life as a recording engineer. I loved creating experiences that moved people, but I wanted a different kind of challenge. Tech had always fascinated me (the iPhone 4 keynote genuinely changed my life), so I explored development first, learning how things are built from the ground up. That technical foundation proved invaluable, but design was what actually resonated. It was the intersection of craft, strategy, and human impact I'd been looking for.
What's stayed constant is the belief that you can create something that genuinely affects how people see and interact with the world. What's changed is my understanding of what that means. Early on, it was easy to make the work about me: flashy, clever, more about showcasing than serving. Over time, I've become more interested in what makes sense for the reality that exists outside my head. That shift has made the work more challenging and more fulfilling.
Outside of work, I still write and record music, and I've recently gotten into photography. Both share the same principles that show up in my design work: contrast, intentionality, and the importance of negative space.
