A UX designer working at the intersection of productivity tools and cultural history. Minimal interfaces, careful typography, and a quiet preference for things that just work.
I'm MAIK, a UX designer with a soft spot for productivity software and cultural history projects. Most of my work sits where those two worlds meet: interfaces that help people do focused work, and reading experiences that respect the source material.
My approach is Swiss-influenced and restrained. I build with grids, hairlines, and type, not decoration. I care about consistency, accessibility, and interfaces that feel calm even when the task underneath is complicated.
I work mostly in Figma and Sketch, and I prototype in code when a static frame won't tell the whole story. Lately I've been interested in subtle sound feedback, circular timers with alternating cycles, and inline citations that expand to show their source.
Six areas I keep sharp. The first three are where I'm most useful in a sprint; the last three are where I'm happiest spending a quiet afternoon.
Flows, states, and transitions that make a tool feel predictable. I prototype interactions early, usually in code, because a static frame hides the hard parts.
Tokens, components, and documentation that a team can actually maintain. I prefer a small system used consistently over a large one used loosely.
Type scales, reading measure, hierarchy, and inline citations that expand on tap. Beautiful reading is functional, not decorative.
Keyboard-first flows, visible focus, ARIA where it earns its place, and contrast that holds up. Accessible interfaces are better interfaces for everyone.
Clickable frames get you so far. I build working prototypes - timers, dials, forms with validation - to test whether an idea survives contact with real input.
Interviews, competitive scans, and plain-language synthesis. I write findings as short documents with clear next steps, not slide decks.
Working on a productivity tool, a reading experience, or something with a bit of cultural history in it? I'd like to hear about it.