Every project needs both. Not everyone can deliver both.
I'm Mike Hyttinen, founder of Sprucepop. I have spent 30 years working across product design and digital strategy for organizations like Rogers, Manulife, and CPP Investments. I work best alongside capable leaders who simply need one calm, experienced person in their corner without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Whether you're at the start or somewhere in the middle, let's talk. I am currently available for remote and hybrid engagements.
I did not follow a traditional path. I started in my high school media lab, taught myself to design and code, and built my first web company in the 1990s. That founder journey taught me how to take a high-level executive vision and actually execute the final product.
Corporate environments are full of internal politics. I have the strategic background to see the entire playing field and the calm, empathetic approach to help you navigate it. I bring an unbiased perspective to resolve internal conflicts and clear the path forward. Sometimes I am a design leader navigating strict banking compliance. Other times I am a low-rent therapist helping you vent about corporate bottlenecks.
I do not deliver fluff, unless it is my dog, Ryder. I grew his Instagram community to over 100,000 followers and secured commercial deals with global brands like Netflix and Dyson. That hands-on experience gives me real-world insight into audience engagement and authentic storytelling.
I bring an entrepreneurial agility to your corporate environment. We will find creative ways to move faster without sacrificing the quality of the final product.
My background spans strategy, product design, and technical development. You get one partner who understands the complete product lifecycle and can hold the thread from executive vision all the way through to engineering.
I take convoluted digital problems, strict compliance requirements, and dense regulatory constraints and turn them into something people can actually use.
My work spans UX strategy, product design, and customer journey mapping. I build scalable design systems and UI frameworks that keep teams aligned and reduce engineering rework. I facilitate stakeholder workshops, run usability testing, and deliver high-fidelity prototypes. Whatever the project needs to move forward with confidence.
I'm always open to discussing new opportunities or collaborating on interesting projects. Feel free to get in touch.
The reviews are in...
"Mike understands all aspects of design and user experience — from technical to visual to audience considerations. His expertise, drawing on experience with major brands, was key to our launch."
Laura Lavie
"Big thanks to Mike Hyttinen for giving differentworks a look that feels innovative, grounded, and deeply human…
This is PERFECT. I love it…
You are a complete genius. please keep going!"
Dinah Laredo
"Mike delivered solutions that were as unique as the original ask. We launched solution after solution, each time, learning and building from previous executions. Truly collaborative, it was always a pleasure working with Mike."
Joel Herzog