Product Designer focused on buildable, real world products
Coming from a fast-paced startup environment as a sole UX designer, I’ve learned to make product decisions with limited time and imperfect data. I focus on simplifying complexity and making clear trade-offs between user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. Now, I am looking to bring that startup speed and pragmatism to complex, enterprise-scale challenges.
Experience (Professional & Academic)
As the sole UX Designer at Athalos, I owned UX end-to-end, from framing product problems to collaborating closely with developers during implementation. Alongside this, I worked on real-world academic projects with external partners, shaping how I make UX decisions under constraints and align stakeholders around practical solutions.
How I work
I don't design in isolation. I start by understanding the problem from a user, product, and technical perspective to focus on what actually needs solving.
By understanding front-end constraints and technical trade-offs, I create solutions that are not just visually precise, but realistic to ship and maintain. I work closely with developers from day one, ensuring that important trade-offs happen during the design phase, not as a surprise in code.
"Christiaan brings a distinct and authentic perspective to UX design, providing valuable insights into user flow and fostering innovation within the team. His contributions have positively influenced both the project and our collaborative environment."
My Design Philosophy
While I have a deep appreciation for UI craft and meticulously structured Figma files, I believe great design goes far beyond the canvas. Design is a strategic decision-making tool used to balance user needs and business goals, rather than just hiding behind “best practices.”
I focus on learning fast: asking the right questions, testing assumptions early, and working close to implementation. I frequently use tools like Gemini and Claude to build functional prototypes, because some decisions only become clear when you see an idea actually work (or break) in a live environment.
Ownership & Craftsmanship
The craftsmanship between a great idea and a great product.
Why designers need to think and act like founders.
Design is strategy
Helping teams make clear trade-offs instead of optimizing for visuals alone.
Details with purpose
Prioritizing fast learning and building what matters before refining the final details.
The kind of teams I thrive in
I do my best work in highly collaborative, cross-functional teams where designers, engineers, and stakeholders align early. I am looking for environments where I can leverage robust structure and systems thinking to shape complex products. For me, design doesn’t stop at handoff; staying involved through implementation is how ideas turn into realistic, shippable solutions.
Outside of work
I stay intensely curious about how products grow, emerging technology (especially AI), and continuously improving how ideas move from concept to reality.
In my opinion, the best design podcast out there. Listening to top-tier designers from Big Tech consistently inspires how I approach my own work.
Product Designer focused on usable, feasible products
Designing with implementation in mind.
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