Web Pilot
Drake's first product pilot program, validated with 100+ professionals during live tax season.
Michael Stewart
Research-grounded UX for complex systems, from discovery to delivery.
Legacy Tax
Modernizing a workhorse desktop app without disrupting the people who depend on it.
New Sales & Renewals
Making annual software renewal fast enough that users barely notice it.
Microclimate
Helping developers move from monolithic apps to microservices without getting lost.
Referrals
Designing a referral program that motivated partners without creating overhead for administrators.
Business Planning
Turning a time-consuming planning process into something partners would actually complete.
What I can do for you
Focusing on user challenges and business goals, I bring a research-grounded, systems-level approach to product design — from discovery through delivery.
UX Design
NN/g certified in UX Design. I bring a collaborative, iterative approach to simplifying complex software experiences, with a strong commitment to WCAG accessibility standards and a grounding in Design Thinking that keeps discovery and definition ahead of solutioning.
User Research
Research should answer the right questions, not just validate assumptions. NN/g certified, I use interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing, A/B testing, surveys, and prototypes to find the most cost-effective path to genuine user understanding.
Systems Mapping
Complex products rarely fail at the screen level. I map workflows end-to-end, across roles and touchpoints, to find where the real friction lives before any design work begins.
Cross-functional Alignment
The best thinking happens when disciplines work together openly. I partner with product, engineering, and stakeholders to generate better ideas, build shared understanding, and keep teams aligned from discovery through delivery.
Facilitation
Guiding teams through Design Thinking exercises, Jobs-to-be-Done discussions, and the writing of clear, goal-oriented user stories in an Agile environment.
Advocacy
Design does its best work when it has a voice in the right conversations. I help establish that presence by creating regular cadences for sharing work, gathering input, and keeping stakeholders informed of what the team is working on and why.
About Michael
Designer, researcher, and facilitator who knows that the best outcomes start with the right conversation.
I hold a B.A. in Peace & Conflict Studies from U.C. Berkeley, including a semester studying abroad in Mexico, with a focus on community-based education.
Studying how communities navigate conflict and competing interests turned out to be useful training for design work. It taught me to look for the system behind the problem, and to take seriously the different perspectives people bring to finding a solution.
I later earned an M.A. in Multimedia from California State University, East Bay, where my thesis team explored the cultural impact of digital media.
In 2023, I enhanced my skills by earning Nielsen Norman Group certifications in both UX Design and User Research.
Outside of design work, I enjoy spending time outdoors — cycling is my favorite pastime, though I also appreciate a good hike.
Originally from California, I now call Vancouver, WA home.
“Good design, when it's done well, becomes invisible. It's only when it's done poorly that we notice it.”
— Jared Spool