What led you into design?
So much of what we do in life is tethered to our precious childhood. I grew up with the technology of the 90s, screens were still glowing green or grey, things were pixelated and the internet was shrieking through a modem.
I remember my first batman alarm clock, every morning it projected a Bat-Signal onto the ceiling and called “Gotham city is in trouble, call for batman”. That for me was magic, it made me happy. Around the same time I would look through Argos catalogues, dreaming about Casio watches, some could turn on and off a TV. One Christmas I finally got a Casio C-80 with a Calculator. Later as a teenager it was bike speedometers, then Samsung devices and one day the iPhone. Looking back, I realize that’s what led me to interface design. My dream job would be designing gadgets for Batman. (Bruce, if you’re reading this…)
What does a typical day look like?
I love the mornings and getting up early, but for a couple of years I’ve been struggling with insomnia. So my day typically depends on how well that night went. Some mornings start with me cancelling appointments at 5am and catching a few hours sleep in the early morning while on better days I wake naturally around 8.
If all goes well I’ll start the day with a sunny run or a coffee outside with my wife ❤️. That combo guarantees some solid work until lunch at a cafe or co-working. I’ll keep that momentum in the early afternoon and head back home to finish the day under the supervision of my cat. Evenings are for cooking with my wife, a walk together, and then sitting down to practice, whether it’s the piano, the saxophone, drawing, or a new language. I try to keep my evenings for learning something non-tech related. Around 22:15, my cat shows up like clockwork, ready to play before we all head to bed.
What's your workstation setup?
I can’t sit still. My setup is just a laptop that moves with me. From cafe in the morning, to a co-working space, and then back home. Nothing fancy, I just need some input and to see people around me. On that laptop, it’s Figma, Claude Code and Swift.
Where do you go to get inspired?
Sitting on a terrace watching people, at home in Berlin or terraces around the world, that is my happy space. Equipped with my journal, a coffee, sometimes a beer, maybe even a cigarette (only on holiday). The world just sinks in, characters, fashion, mimics, gestures, expressions it’s all there. My mind opens up, ideas appear, I wind down, I get inspired.
For design I like how people use their devices in public spaces. I’m always impressed by how advanced they are. Elderly people swiping through widgets even before I knew how to install one. It’s a reminder for me to consider and respect those behaviors while designing.
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
The Teenage engineering black series. The ultimate toy for adults.
The Roland AE-30 pro. A digital saxophone from space.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
Recently, I worked on a device for kids called NODI. A stripped down mobile device with a tiny screen and basic internet functionalities including talking, listening to stories and learning words. It’s designed to rest face-down, encouraging passive listening, with the screen only used when interaction is truly needed.
The founders of Humane called this type of tech ‘Ambient computing’. It’s a topic which is important to me in times where screens are getting bigger and more difficult to put down. That feels wrong and I appreciate those ambient, minimal initiatives (especially for kids). I’m proud to have contributed to something that rethinks our relationship with technology in such a meaningful way.
What design challenges do you face at your company?
As a freelancer I’ve had to learn to manage my own business, and that comes with a few challenges. I’m pretty good at building a local network, I go for coffees, stay in touch with people I enjoy working with, and in that sense I’m a bit old school. Usually no corporate contracts just handshake deals and long-term relationships.
But that approach also limits me. Most of my work comes from my immediate surroundings, and I struggle to reach projects further away. The biggest challenge for me is stepping outside my local network. There’s a ton of great projects around the world but I find it hard to put myself out there. It’s an area I know I need to improve: building a stronger online presence, maybe go to conferences, hang out online. Even this interview feels like a small win in that direction, so thank you for that.
What music do you listen to while designing?
Any advice for ambitious designers?
Build a network of friends, stay in touch with the people you enjoy working with, you’ll probably get to work with them again. Show your work without being to hard on yourself, the right people will see it. Be patient and say no, your gut feeling knows better. Build things.
About showing your work, some great advice from Tyler the creator in this clip.
Anything you want to promote or plug?
I recently launched my first iOS app with my wife: Cipher. Point your camera at any design object, building, symbol or pattern and Cipher tells you its story. Where it came from, what it means, who made it, and why it still matters. It connects to museum archives to surface real artifacts related to what you've scanned. It decodes the symbols, patterns, and motifs hidden in architecture, fashion, and design.
Download the App
I also just released a second App I've been working on for over a year: Protocol. A weekly planner for your To-dos, events and habits all in one place. It makes the most out of the iOS ecosystem with Health Kit, reminders, calendars, widgets and soon Apple Intelligence. A ongoing productivity tool I've been perfecting. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Download the App
And since I’m trying to reach beyond my local bubble, I’d love to connect with folks anywhere in the world. Twitter or LinkedIn is where you’ll find me.
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