The experienced hand you didn't know you could ask for.

Some projects need a strategist. Others need someone who can open Figma and just fix it. I  do both.

I am Mike. I have spent 30 years leading product design and digital strategy for organizations like Rogers, Manulife, and CPP Investments. I work best alongside capable directors who simply need one calm, experienced person in their corner without the overhead of a full hire.

If your project is stuck or just needs a clearer direction, let's talk. I am currently available for remote and hybrid engagements.

Download my resumeAbout me

A little about me.

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. Since then, I have spent 30 years helping organizations like Rogers Bank and Manulife turn complicated workflows into elegant digital products. I built and ran a 12-person digital agency to deliver multi-million-dollar projects. 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 provide a completely different experience. 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 untangle roadblocks and resolve internal conflicts. I act as a trusted sounding board and an objective outlet. 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 will work hard to untangle your digital ecosystem, and we will actually have some fun doing it.

Let's create experiences that matter.

A little bit more about me
"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, Rogers Communications

End-to-end project person.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

I bring a founder's agility to corporate environments, finding creative solutions that accelerate time to market without sacrificing quality.

Cross-Disciplinary Mastery

My expertise spans UX strategy, product design, and front-end development, providing a holistic understanding of the entire product lifecycle.

Complexity Simplifier

I excel at transforming convoluted problems and dense regulatory requirements into intuitive, scalable, and human-centered solutions.

Just a few of my skills.

Strategy & Leadership

  • Product Strategy
  • Digital Transformation Consulting
  • UX Strategy & Planning
  • Stakeholder Communication & Management
  • Workshop Design & Facilitation
  • Project Leadership & Team Guidance
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Design Thinking & Problem Solving
  • Entrepreneurial & Founder Mindset
  • Business Acumen & Goal Alignment

UX & Product Design

  • User Research & Persona Development
  • Customer Journey & Experience Mapping
  • User Flow & Task Analysis
  • Information Architecture
  • Interaction Design (IxD)
  • Wireframing & Prototyping
  • User Interface (UI) Design
  • End-to-End Product Design
  • Design Systems & Brand Consistency
  • Usability Testing & Analysis
  • UX Audits & Heuristic Evaluation

Creative & Content

  • Art Direction & Creative Oversight
  • Brand Strategy & Positioning
  • Naming & Tagline Development
  • Messaging Architecture & Tone of Voice
  • Content Strategy
  • Copywriting & UX Writing
  • Microcopy & UI Text
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Social Media & Content Creation
  • Brand Guidelines & Style Guide
  • Identity Systems & Logo Design
  • Photography

Technical & Analytics

  • Front-End Development (CSS & HTML)
  • Responsive & Adaptive Design Principles
  • Web Accessibility Standards (WCAG)
  • A/B Testing & Conversion Optimization
  • Data & Analytics Interpretation
  • Technical Feasibility Assessment

Let's create something that matters.

I'm always open to discussing new opportunities or collaborating on interesting projects. Feel free to get in touch.

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Other ways to connect:

Email:

mikeh@mikeh.com

Phone:

+1-416-845-2583

LinkedIn:

/in/mikehyttinen

My Agency:

www.sprucepop.com