Welcome. I am a brand & product designer, writer, and illustrator. I have spent the last 20 years building consumer software at early-stage startups, tackling a full-range of design needs, from brand identities to end-to-end flows. I was the founding designer at Yelp, as well as a handful of companies that never found product/market fit. Currently I am Staff Product Designer at the climate and reforestation startup Terraformation. These days I design with AI in the loop — prototyping flows in code with Claude to validate ideas in days, not weeks.

When I'm not drawing rectangles, I stay busy being a new dad and finding fun, grassy spots for my dog to find sticks to chew on. You can find me tediously compiling playlists or adding to my ever-growing book quota in sunny Pasadena, CA.

Case Studies

Brand Identity Work

Michael navigated changing roadmaps and critical priorities with speed, calm, and a keen eye for detail. Beyond being a critical UX asset, he filled gaps in the PM team — driving vague requirements to clarity and aligning stakeholders without oversight. A true asset. Highly recommended.

Beth Mouriño Thurnher Beth Mouriño Thurnher Director of Product Management, Microsoft Founders Hub