Why your next designer should be a partner, not a vendor
The transactional model is broken. Here is what changes when you bring in a strategic Product Design Partner instead of a freelancer.
Notes on product design, partnership, and craft.
Long-form writing for designers I mentor and founders I work with.
Website cost in Switzerland: freelance vs agency in 2026
From CHF 3'000 to CHF 250'000+ for the same line item. What actually drives the gap, real Swiss market ranges in 2026, and how to figure out where you should sit.
7 product designer portfolio mistakes that block senior roles
After 30+ portfolio reviews, the same patterns kill the conversation. None of them are about visual design — they are about how you frame your work.
How to actually measure design ROI: a founder framework
Activation rate. Time-to-value. Retention by cohort. Three metrics that turn a design investment into a board-room conversation — and survive scrutiny.
Process over deliverables: how senior designers work with founders
Figma files do not ship products. Decisions do. A peek behind the curtain on how a decision-first design process actually unfolds at startups.
When (and how) to make your first design hire as a founder
You probably need this person earlier than you think — but probably not in the role you are imagining. Three options ranked, with budget and timing.
Building a design system from zero in 6 weeks: a startup playbook
A practical playbook from a recent Series A engagement: tokens, components, governance, and the long list of what to skip in v1.
The 7 design tools I actually use in 2026 (and the ones I dropped)
After ten years of trying every shiny new app, I narrowed it down to seven. Plus the eight notable drops, and why my list shrinks every year.
How to brief a designer: a 4-part template for founders
Most briefs are wishlists. The good ones share the constraints. Here is the four-section template I use with founders to scope work that actually ships.