What led you into design?
It was probably a mix of my curiosity about technology and the joy of creating something out of nothing. As a child, I spent hours experimenting with creative programs like Paint and GIMP (yes, GIMP!) on my parents’ computer. There was something magical about seeing my ideas come to life on the screen — it always filled me with excitement. Still, I never really imagined myself pursuing a creative career. I used to play professional soccer until the age of 18 and envisioned a future in sports.
Due to an injury during my final year of high school, I was forced to rethink my future plans. Looking back, it was one of the key turning points in my life because it made me question who I am and where I could see myself in a few years' time. I eventually decided to study Interaction Design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Schwäbisch Gmünd. During my studies, I discovered my great passion for creative programming and design engineering.
What does a typical day look like?
My day usually starts at around 8am with a cup of coffee while I catch up on the latest messages and emails. Then, Jonathan (my co-founder) and I quickly sync up on the day's most important tasks.
In general, I try to stay away from meetings so I can fully focus on the work in front of me. My most productive hours are early in the morning and late in the evening, so I structure my deep focused work around those times. Whenever possible, we meet friends or inspiring new people for lunch; otherwise, we visit our favorite café just a few minutes from our home in Berlin.
In the afternoon, I like to step away from my desk and get some exercise. Since moving to Berlin, I’ve really come to love cycling – either heading out on my road bike or taking a spinning class. It helps me clear my mind and recharge. After dinner, we usually dive back into work, often spending a few more hours on design projects – which I genuinely enjoy.
What's your workstation setup?
Where do you go to get inspired?
One thing I’ve learned over the past few years – and still need to remind myself of – is that inspiration for me rarely comes from spending more time in front of my laptop. Instead, I get inspired by stepping away: going for a walk, doing sports, or talking to other inspiring people.
Hearing different perspectives is incredibly refreshing and helps me avoid getting stuck in the design bubble. Clearing my mind of everyday work is often what sparks new ideas.
At the same time, I like to collect products, screenshots, and photos that I find inspiring in a personal archive on Cosmos. Whenever I browse through it, it reconnects me with ideas and moments that have sparked something before.
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
One product that instantly comes to mind is the Vitra Physix – it’s actually my desk chair, and it makes me happy every time I see it. I really think a chair can either break or make your setup, so I’m super happy we found this one :)
Also, even though I didn’t discover it super recently, I have to mention the work of Rauno Freiberg. His way of thinking about software has been a massive inspiration for me, especially when I first got into design engineering and creative coding. He’s doing absolutely amazing work.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
The piece of work I’m most proud of is definitely founding SPACING together with Jonathan. It’s been an amazing ride so far, and I’m super excited to see what we can build together on this journey.
To mention something specific, our company website is one piece of work I am really proud of. I still remember Jonathan and me sitting next to each other, brainstorming about the look and feel of SPACING, and the moment one of us had the idea for the current website. We were so excited that we ended up building it in a couple of days.
Another project that I would like to mention is BEN. Last year, two of my friends, Julia and Tim, and I designed an app to tackle the spread of fake news through an educational approach. I am really proud of our efforts and the outcome.
What design challenges do you face at your company?
The challenge that comes with working with different founders is constant context switching. You need to be able to switch quickly between projects, giving each one the fresh perspective and full focus it deserves.
Every founder has different expectations and working styles, so adapting quickly is key. At the same time, that’s what makes the work so exciting: you meet inspiring people and get to work on a wide range of products and teams.
Another personal challenge for me was balancing the roles of designer and co-founder. As someone who values high attention to detail, I had to learn that delivering the most polished design isn’t always what creates the most value. Sometimes, strategic guidance and a fresh outside perspective make an even bigger difference.
What music do you listen to while designing?
Any advice for ambitious designers?
My biggest advice is: never stop learning and evolving.
Maybe it sounds a bit cheesy, but I genuinely believe it’s true. If you want to learn a new skill, start a personal project that forces you to use it – you'll figure it out along the way. I really think execution is the best way to learn, and that applies not just to creative or coding skills, but also to things like stakeholder management and decision-making.
There's another piece of advice I'd love to share, but it isn't actually from me. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to host a panel with Tim Brown. Something he said really stuck with me, and I would like to share it with other designers:
“No matter how hard it might feel sometimes, whether it’s acquiring the skills, winning the work, getting the job, or whatever: That privilege of creating the world for others, that is mind-blowing. And I think… very few people in the world get to do that. But we’re lucky enough to be able to do it. So here’s the thing: Enjoy it. It’s not so serious.”
Tim Brown
Anything you want to promote or plug?
I want to give a huge shoutout to Patrick Haede, co-founder of Superscale and without a doubt SPACING’s biggest supporter from day one. It’s a real pleasure working with him — Patrick brings so much positivity and encouragement, no matter how much is on his plate. I’m genuinely grateful for his trust in us and excited to keep building great things together.
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