UX & Human Factors Lead

I design human-centered digital products in an AI-driven world, working across both how products are built and how intelligence is experienced. As AI accelerates development and becomes embedded in user experiences, I focus on shaping systems that support clear, confident decision-making—bringing judgment, clarity, and real human understanding into the process.

Email
julzbayley@gmail.com

Phone
+27 83 319 0783

Location
Cape Town | South Africa

I’m a detail-oriented and creatively driven UX Lead with a passion for combining science and design to create impactful experiences. My career spans diverse fields—from military ergonomics to hospitality and conservation—each shaping a holistic, adaptable approach to problem-solving and a deep understanding of how people interact with complex systems.

Grounded in cognitive ergonomics and human factors, I apply scientific thinking, data, and evidence-based design to ensure that what is built is not only functional, but meaningful, trustworthy, and usable in the real world.

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts:

    • Psychology

    • Human Kinetics & Ergonomics

    Bachelor of Arts Honors:

    • Human Kinetics & Ergonomics

  • New Managers Program

    • Information Visualization

    • The Brain and Technology: Brain Science in Interface Design

    • Conducting Usability Testing

DOWNLOAD CV

« SKILLS

  • User Experience Design

    User Research • User Testing • Benchmarking • Information Architecture • Wireframing • Usability Testing • Rapid Prototyping • Conceptual Design • Attention to detail

  • Ergonomics

    Cognitive Ergonomics • Biomechanics • Anthropometry • Human Functional Performance • Design & Specification

  • Collaboration

    Project Management • Workshop and Design Critique Facilitation • Problem Solving • Effective Communication

  • Software

    Figma • Maze • Miro • Confluence • Jira • WordPress • Canva • Adobe InDesign

If it’s not for the human — and with the human — it’s not design.

References:

  • Sean Schickerling | VP Products | LifeQ

    +31 6 20663704 | sean_schicks@icloud.com

  • Raeygan Harris | Root | Lead Product Designer

    +31 6 57816346 | hraeygan@gmail.com

    Karmen Flemming | Entelect | Project Lead Design Systems

    +27 84 702 5821 | karmene@gmail.com

  • Benita Pretorius | 10X Investments | D2C Operations Lead

    +27 79 963 3585

EXPERIENCE »

  • UX Design Manager

    LifeQ Inc | February 2023 - January 2026

    UX Manager at LifeQ, leading end-to-end design across multiple mobile and desktop healthcare applications, guiding products from concept through delivery.

    » Led UX strategy and execution across a portfolio of digital health products spanning mobile and web platforms.

    » Directed end-to-end design processes from discovery through release, ensuring alignment across product, engineering, and business stakeholders.

    » Championed user-centred design practices to translate complex clinical and biometric data into usable, trustworthy experiences.

  • UX Designer

    LifeQ Inc | April 2022 - February 2023

    UX Designer at LifeQ, partnering with product and engineering teams to design and validate mobile experiences and responsive dashboards that translated complex health data into intuitive user insights.

    » Collaborated cross-functionally to ideate, prototype, and deliver mobile app features and web dashboards across the digital health ecosystem.

    » Applied user research, interaction design, and usability principles to simplify complex biometric metrics and derived insights.

    » Designed cohesive, scalable experiences that supported consistency across multiple products and platforms.

  • Digital Designer (& Mom)

    Makuku Design | June 2021 - Current

    Independent design practice combining human factors thinking, information architecture, and creative direction to craft clear, effective digital experiences.

    » Designed and developed websites using human factors principles to improve usability, structure, and information delivery.

    » Led creative direction and graphic design across digital assets to ensure cohesive and engaging brand experiences.

  • Marketing and Events Coordinator

    BirdLife South Africa | June 2019 - September 2020

    Marketing and Events Coordinator, managing digital platforms, website experience, and large-scale fundraising events to strengthen engagement and organizational reach.

    » Managed digital media platforms, producing multimedia content aligned to a structured social media strategy and content matrix.

    » Provided human factors–informed website consultancy and maintenance to improve usability and engagement.

    » Planned and delivered multiple successful fundraising events, including leading the end-to-end design and execution of The Virtual African Birdfair, a large-scale web-based conference experience.

  • General Lodge Manager

    Africa Wild Lodges and Safaris | April 2018 - June 2019

    General Manager of a luxury safari lodge in the Okavango Delta, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences while overseeing operations, service strategy, and performance across all departments.

    » Directed end-to-end guest experience delivery, ensuring consistently high service standards within a remote luxury environment.

    » Led cross-functional lodge teams, aligning daily operations with broader hospitality and customer experience goals.

    » Designed and implemented service practices that enhanced guest satisfaction, personalization, and repeat visitation.

  • Senior Manager

    ERGOnomics TECHnologies, Armscor (SOE) | December 2016 - March 2018

    Expanded senior ergonomics leadership role providing strategic direction for human factors research programmes, scientific oversight across multidisciplinary teams, and operational management aligned to quality and commercial objectives.

    » Directed multi-year human factors research planning, developing scientifically grounded proposals, cost models, and programme roadmaps.

    » Provided scientific leadership to internal teams and diverse defence and commercial stakeholders, guiding research quality and client engagement.

    » Oversaw operational performance and business sustainability, contributing to planning, resource allocation, and financial management.

    » Established and maintained work systems, procedures, and policies supporting ISO 9001:2015 quality accreditation.

  • Senior Ergonomics Consultant

    ERGOnomics TECHnologies, Armscor (SOE) | January 2009 - December 2016

    Delivered specialist human factors and ergonomics consulting across research and development projects, combining project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and scientific analysis to produce evidence-based design recommendations.

    » Led end-to-end ergonomics research activities including study design, data collection, analysis, and synthesis to inform complex system design decisions.

    » Applied advanced human factors methods and research technologies to generate actionable insights across multidisciplinary R&D projects.

    » Produced high-integrity technical reports and stakeholder presentations translating complex findings into clear design and operational recommendations.

SHOWCASE

  • Health & Longevity App

  • Clinical App

  • Configurable Dashboard

  • Companion App

  • Life Insurance App

  • Golf Prediction App

View Portfolio

« SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

  • Methodology for the evaluation of decision making processes: pilot study

    van der Meulen, J. and de Grey Birch, C. 2015.

    2nd South African Symposium on Human Factors and Aviation Safety, 2015

  • Total body water, electrolyte and thermoregulatory responses to ad libitum water replacement using two different water delivery systems during a 19 km route-march

    Nolte, Nolte & van der Meulen. 2015

    Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29(11): 88 – 93

  • The impact of 2-dimensional and 3- dimensional perspective view displays on command and control

    van der Meulen, J. and Smith, JR. 2015

    IEEE Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Cognitive Methods in Situation Awareness and Decision Making

  • Human Factors Evaluation on Vehicle Steering Performance

    van der Meulen, J. 2009.

    Ergonomics Society of South Africa ESSA (Annual) conference, Port Elizabeth, South Africa