kia ora, I’m Stefan.

I've been designing and researching digital products and user experiences for over five years, crafting solutions to the problems of customers and businesses large and small.

And when I'm not fleshing out flows and pushing pixels, I'm noodling on a personal project (that typeface will be finished one day), blobbing on the couch with a video game (Minecraft is still cool, right?), or writing science fiction.

Take a look at my work Say hello!

the work.

I'm skilled in researching and designing usable, inclusive experiences and products for the web and native mobile, and have an eye for fine detail and visual harmony.

With a Master of Design Innovation and more than five years of experience in product design and product management behind me, I bring a rounded, informed, and novel approach to identifying and solving the problems of customers and businesses.

I have worked extensively with building and maintaining cross-platform design systems, helping bring them to life and get engagement and use from wider teams.

I have organised and facilitated user research, and I pride myself on a pragmatic, data-informed approach to my work, weighing both qualitative and quantitative sources.

This extends to supporting and enabling effective teams, from planning and running cross-disciplinary co-design workshops and professional development sessions for others, helping design teams develop effective operations, to one on one mentorship.

currently, Trade Me

Senior Product Designer, 2018 – present

In my time at Trade Me, I've worked on the new-look responsive website, and the iOS and Android apps, where I've helped identify, research, ideate, solve and iterate to deliver successful solutions to real customer problems.

I've also planned and facilitated co-design and professional development workshops with cross-discipline groups, and helped work to maintain the web version of, and create the native iOS & Android versions of the Tangram design system.

Read more about Trade Me

previously, Pop-in Portraits

(Contract) Experience Designer & front-end developer roles, 2017 – 2020

I contracted as a designer and front-end developer, working to a tight launch timeframe, for a professional family photography booking service, Pop-in Portraits. This work was within the constraints of a chosen design system and existing technical platform, with a need for an approachable, on-brand experience.

Since the first launch of this work, I have followed up with small enhancements and new feature introductions. This included gradually overhauling some of the less finessed aspects of the product, bringing together user experience, establishing microcopy standards, and polishing the brand presence, all while balancing the needs of the business and consumer customer groups.

See a case study

this, that, and the other.

The things that don't fit neatly into a box, 2016 – present

I've worked on a range of contract and freelance projects, including a collaborative effort to produce the interface, website, and marketing collateral (complete with a booth design) for a "virtual politician" presented at the Government D5 Conference in 2018. I've also worked on an Augmented Reality (AR)exhibition experience for the National Library of New Zealand.

In 2018, I completed a Master of Design Innovation degree, with the thesis "Hello, computer: Approaches for designing speech-based user experiences". This comprised theoretical work and the development of a prototype speech-interaction device for the presentation of poetry at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Dive in

say hey, how’s it?

If you're interested, I'm happy to discuss further detail on my work, and share more detailed examples on request. I'm always keen to hear about new and exciting opportunities, so feel free to reach out with an email, or slide into the DMs.

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