Giovanni Cannata

Growing people, ideas, and near futures.

London, England, United Kingdom

About

Experienced UX leader with over 20 years' experience building and guiding high-performing teams. Currently serving as the Head of UX for YouTube Creator Monetisation Ecosystem. Operating at the intersection of user value, business strategy, advanced technologies, and execution. Passionate about building valuable businesses alongside robust UX practices. A long-term thinker with the ability to help teams deliver design and insights that drive substantial product value. Directing strategic priorities and leading multidisciplinary teams—comprising Designers, Researchers, Writers, Product/Programme Managers, and Engineers—across New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and London to build valuable, delightful experiences for creators. Proven track record of leadership across a diverse range of contexts, from consumer to enterprise: • Creator tools and platforms (YouTube, Google) • Publishing and advertising (Google) • Engineering and cloud software (Google) • Finance (Barclays) • Imaging (photo and gallery for Nokia and Microsoft) • Browsing (Nokia-Android) • Wearables (Nokia/Microsoft) • Fashion e-commerce (Net-a-Porter) • Music (STEIM) • Design research (co-founded the REACH global design research network) • Augmented and virtual reality (independent ventures) WORK EXHIBITED AT: Triennale di Milano, NEXT Copenhagen, Red Fort New Delhi, MIT Mediahouse, Città della Scienza di Napoli, Mixedmedia, and others. WORK FEATURED IN: Domus Online (Web, Italy), Il Sole 24 Ore (Newspaper, Italy), Auto & Design (Magazine, Italy), Interni (Magazine, Italy), Aftonbladet (Newspaper, Sweden), Non Solo Moda (TV, Italy), Discovery Channel (Web, USA), Smart Mobs (Blog), Engadget (Blog), We Make Money Not Art (Blog), Gizmodo (Blog), Core77 (Web, USA), Mousse (Magazine, Italy), The Times of India (Newspaper, India), Hindu Business Line (Newspaper, India), NDTV (National TV, India), and others.

Experience

  • Google (11 yrs 4 mos)
    • Head of YouTube Creator Monetization UX
      Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

      End-to-End UX Vision Leader, YouTube Creator Monetization Ecosystem • Ecosystem Strategy & Vision: Guiding the long-term UX vision for the entire creator monetization platform, with a mandate to ensure the voice of the creator is retained for product authenticity, and the experience of the users is valuable and delightful. • Strategic Interoperability: Leading high-priority initiatives focused on platform interoperability and integration across key creator tools. • Product Impact: Directing strategic priorities and driving enhancements across a core portfolio of major creator-facing tools. • Global Leadership: Leading a multidisciplinary UX team across New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and London.

    • Head of Publisher UX London
      Sep 2017 - Feb 2026 · 8 yrs 6 mos

      Leading a multidisciplinary UX team and the London site for Google Publisher products. - Improved process, craft and collaboration effectiveness within and across the team, resulting in increased impact as better produced work as well as increased strategic contributions - Increased product performance and value growth by: 1. identifying and executing on high value opportunities - 80% of our product's biggest bets come from UX initiated projects 2. Supporting the product team increasing focus with Users Segmentation and CUJs 3. Working more end to end to identify and achieve a consistent overall vision - Ideated and leading our product's design system on Google Material, influencing Publisher’s UX org

    • Staff UX Designer, SRE UX lead
      Mar 2015 - Aug 2017 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      - Initiated and ideated a vision and portfolio of 5 products for Google Engineers, which it has been staffed with 250+ engineers and is now in Cloud and one now offered to public (Incident Response). Built portfolio and team from scratch in an org that didn’t have UX - by extensive collaboration, research and visioning work from design to research - Ideated and led a design system and initiated data visualization design system for Material Design (now part of Google system) - Built a team of 7 (from 0) in an org which was wondering ‘why UX?’ - Successful team and practice now, continuing growing

  • User Experience Manager at THE NET-A-PORTER GROUP
    Nov 2014 - Feb 2015 · 4 mos

    Redefining User Experience for The Outnet. Working with user researchers and business analysts to create solutions which are valuable and delightful to users and fitting to the business. Delivering the designs for each release by following through on details with the Engineering team, Visual Designers and Content Writers. Playing a pivotal role for the product roadmap and strategy. Presenting and justifying the design/solutions to all areas/levels of the business. Providing UX thought leadership, coaching, mentorship, and guidance within the UX team and across the business.

  • Senior/lead Interaction Designer at Microsoft
    May 2014 - Nov 2014 · 7 mos

    Led Concept Proposal, User Experience and User Research of several products within Nokia core Programs of Imaging, Browser, Wereables and Data Sensing, working closely with key stakeholders (Business, R&D, Market Research…), for series Nokia X (Android Open Source) and Lumia (Windows Phone). For the wearable Program I have been responsible for the creative direction and User Experience, including steering during concept stage Industrial Design and CMD, coordinating the team effort towards a unique comprehensive User Experience for a new range of innovative products. Reporting to Head of User Experience. Author of 4 global patent filings

  • Senior/lead Interaction Designer at Nokia
    Jan 2013 - Apr 2014 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Led Concept Proposal, User Experience and User Research of several products within Nokia core Programs of Imaging, Browser, Wereables and Data Sensing, working closely with key stakeholders (Business, R&D, Market Research…), for series Nokia X (Android Open Source) and Lumia (Windows Phone). For the wearable Program I have been responsible for the creative direction and User Experience, including steering during concept stage Industrial Design and CMD, coordinating the team effort towards a unique comprehensive User Experience for a new range of innovative products. Reporting to Head of User Experience. Author of 4 global patent filings.

  • User Experience Architect at LBi London
    Sep 2011 - Jan 2013 · 1 yr 5 mos

    User experience architecture, from strategic definition and creative design, concept and visioning to detailed design, wireframing, prototyping and specifications. Worked on 18 different projects across many accounts, including most of top agency clients, defining successful online experiences and vision projects. Clients include: Barclays retail site, Tesco Direct new responsive website, Compare the Market, Barratt Homes… Covered roles from senior to lead level.