Hi, I'm Jan Digital product designer and occasional front-end developer from Mechelen, Belgium.

I help users tackle complex problems by designing easy-to-use and valuable digital products and experiences.

So what do I do, exactly?

Digital product designer, UX designer, UI designer, front-end developer, … Lots of titles, but what is it I actually do? 🤔

Well, during a typical project I may:

  • design functional and aesthetic interfaces.
  • conduct user tests to make sure that what's being made actually helps users.
  • write clear, consistent and user-focused microcopy.
  • help clients refine their ideas and make sure they build a product that solves a problem that's worth solving.
  • write a bunch of HTML, CSS and javascript.
  • create design systems that are built for scale, user-friendliness and smooth implementation.
  • make sure digital products don't exclude anyone by implementing accessibility standards and usability best practices.
  • validate the technical feasibility of design ideas with developers and jointly search for alternatives wherever necessary.
  • facilitate workshops.
  • help businesses crystallize their ideas into buildable and well-defined MVP requirements.
  • represent end-users in meetings with clients and development.
  • carry out usability audits on existing products to improve them.
  • present ideas and designs to clients.
  • …

Or any combination of the above!

References

I've been lucky to have worked with companies of all sizes, from BEL20 to start-up. Some examples include Colruyt Group, Colmar Group, Serax, …

Appti

Loyalty application for the Colmar hospitality group. We helped create a feasible MVP-scope, user tested different iterations and created the visual designs and design system of the app. We also created the Appti brand and added a friendly piggy bank-mascot. Since its launch, Appti has accumulated almost 50.000 users. 🚀
  • Appti visual
Visit Appti

Coming soon

Project for well-known Belgian retailer 🔒

Junto

Junto aims to improve the life of pharmacists by optimizing and simplifying their purchasing process. We took a functional but completely un-designed prototype and drastically improved its usability with a UX audit and user testing. Right now, the improved Junto is about to start a trial period in collaboration with a big pharma company.
  • Junto logo

OPENDOEK

OPENDOEK is the official Flemish federation for non-professional theatre. They are a complex organization with many sub-organizations, and their online presence was a jumbled mess of different websites and styles. I created a streamlined information architecture, flexible branding, designed the new website and did all front-end development. OPENDOEK now has a unified website that is succesfully used by over 20 of its regional and discipline-specific sub-organizations.
  • Appti visual
Visit OPENDOEK

General info

Work history

  • 2018–present

    Achilles Design

    Fulltime
    Digital product design, user research, UX design, UI design, project management, front-end development
  • 2016–2019

    Amorph

    Founder
    Branding, UX/UI design, front-end development, brand strategy, graphic design, project management
  • 2014–2018

    undercast

    Fulltime
    UX/UI design, branding, graphic design, front-end development, projectmanagement, follow-up and coördination of back-end development

Education

  • 2014

    Web design

    Syntra — terminated after receiving job offer
  • 2009–2013

    Master of visual arts: graphic design

    Sint Lucas Antwerp
  • 2012

    Internship

    Studio Luc Derycke
  • 2003–2009

    Latijn - Moderne talen

    Scheppersinstituut Mechelen
  • 2006–2009

    DKO Middelbare graad

    Academie Mechelen

Language proficieny

  • Dutch

    Mother tongue

  • English

    Fluent

  • French

    Average to good

  • German

    Notions

What else?

  • Music lover

    From 70s Brazilian boogie to cutting-edge contemporary jazz and way beyond.

  • Passionate cook

    But seldom follows a recipe.

  • Average swimmer

    What's missing in technique is made up for in enthousiasm. 😅

  • Art & design enthusiast

    With a soft spot for modernism.