About Shahriyar Mohammadi - Product Designer & AI Enthusiast at Bumble
Steve Jobs
once said...
You can only connect the dots looking backward.
I wasn't the kid who always knew what he wanted to be. I just followed what felt interesting, one random project at a time. I tried photography, web design, iOS development, even started a startup out of a class project that somehow grew to tens of thousands of users.
It didn't make sense back then, but every experiment, every failure, was a dot. Turns out, I was never chasing success. I was chasing 
.
.That curiosity eventually took me to computer science. I fell in love with algorithms, then programming, then product. It felt like discovering a new language for creativity, one where logic and design could coexist.
Over time, I became fascinated by how people interact with technology and how subtle choices in design can shape behavior. That's when I fell in love with behavioral design, the space where psychology meets product.
In my final year, I turned a simple iOS course project into my first startup, Goody.ba, a gamified loyalty app with digital scratch cards, coins, and prizes. It started as "let's see if this works" and grew into 60,000 monthly users and 100+ business partners.
That was my crash course in building, launching, and scaling, and in learning that even small experiments can turn into something much bigger when you stay curious long enough.
Design philosophy
Good design should feel simple. Not because it's simple on the surface, but because someone wrestled with the chaos behind it.
I don't design for novelty. I design for impact. The kind of changes that quietly improve someone's day and push the business forward.
People describe me as structured. Principled. But to me, I think I'm just passionate. Passionate about beautiful products.
People are amazing. And I often get inspired by them, because a great idea can come from anyone, at any time. That's why collaboration is key. PM's, UXR's, engineers, and leadership, I see myself as a connector. Someone who helps the team turn those sparks of inspiration into better decisions together.
Human first
(especially in the age of AI)
Simplicity
Transparency
XFN collaboration
E2E ownership
Mentoring
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."
I heard this quote from Pablo Picasso a long time ago.
Being Iranian usually means your parents want you to become a doctor. Mine were the same. I even got accepted into medical school. But deep down, I knew that wasn't my path, so I chose computer science instead. I think true mentors help you discover your path but don't push you in a direction.
I never had a mentor growing up. No YouTube. No AI. Just curiosity, trial, and a lot of mistakes. Those early years taught me how much guidance can change a person's path, and how powerful it is when someone simply believes in you.
That's why I love to mentor. I've mentored over 100 designers and engineers one-on-one over the past five years, helping them sharpen their craft and grow their confidence. To me, mentorship isn't just giving back—it's how I refine my own thinking and stay connected to what truly matters: people.
Beyond design
Outside of design, I chase the same feeling of flow and focus. The rhythm of a tennis rally. The strategy of padel. The freedom of snowboarding.
I love exploring new restaurants, pairing the right glass of wine with good food, or spending a quiet Sunday in an art museum. I enjoy spontaneous plans, like hopping on a short flight to Paris or drifting through the Croatian islands.
And of course, the drama of an El Clásico. 
-s