Michael
Schmölz
AI-driven UX engineer
Lead UX & Product Designer
Product Strategist
From concept
to shipped
product
Cologne, Germany
linkedin.com/in/michaelschmoelz
Hi, I'm Michael — UX Engineer, Product Strategist & AI Optimist. I combine deep product thinking with AI workflows to deliver seamless digital experiences straight into production-ready code. Curiosity-led, team-focused, end-to-end responsible.
Strategy to
shipped code
- AI
- AI use cases in products, AI-assisted design, working prototypes in production-ready code
- UX & UI
- UX, UI, interaction and motion design, prototyping, information architecture, user journey orchestration
- Product
- Product ownership, strategy, roadmaps, requirements, design sprints, Scrum and SAFe
- Design systems
- Multibrand design systems, design tokens, design operations, governance, accessibility
- Research
- Contextual interviews, usability testing, heuristics, A/B testing, AttrakDiff, journey mapping
Concept, design and build from one hand — and a team player throughout.
Skills and toolset in the era of AI
AI fluency
AI product design, conversational and generative UI, agentic workflows, Claude Code, Claude Design, Figma MCP/Make, Google AI Studio, Higgsfield, Weavy
Experience
UX, UI and interaction design, information architecture, prototyping, micro-animation; Figma, Framer, ProtoPie, After Effects, Lottie, TheyDo, Miro
Code and orchestration
Vibe coding, Git and GitHub, release pipelines, Netlify, Contentful, Webflow, WordPress, TYPO3
Product
Product strategy and ownership, business ideation, requirements engineering, roadmaps; Scrum, SAFe, Flight Levels; Azure DevOps, Confluence, Asana
Systems
Multibrand design systems, design tokens, governance, DesignOps, WCAG; Figma variables, Tokens Studio, Knapsack, Specify, Frontify
Research
Contextual interviews, usability testing, heuristic evaluation, A/B testing, AttrakDiff; design sprints, design studio, customer journey mapping
Clients and roles
- EnBW
- 2022 – 2026 · UX lead, product strategist, interim PO · customer portal, multibrand design system, AI use cases
- MILK.
- since 2005 · UX/UI concept, micro-animation, prototyping, product owner · agency website
- Yello
- 2018 – 2021 · UX, UI, interaction design · user journey orchestration, AI use cases, conversational self-service
- HalloDealer
- 2016 – 2018 · Co-owner, product lead, UX lead · white-label app for car dealers, Scrum team of 16
- preis24.de
- 2015 – 2018 · UX, UI, interaction design, usability · tariff comparison portal
- Gigaset
- 2014 – 2018 · UX, UI, interaction design, motion design · consumer electronics
- NRW Ministry
- 2014 – 2015 · UX, UI, usability · NRW state ministry for climate protection and environment
- BBDO
- 2011 – 2014 · UI, interaction design, Flash development · international advertising network
- Havas
- 2011 – 2013 · UX, UI, interaction design · international advertising network
- Ogilvy
- 2009 – 2011 · UI, interaction design, Flash development · international advertising network
- BUTTER.
- 2007 – 2011 · UX, UI, interaction design, brand design, advertising campaigns · Düsseldorf agency
- Echtzeit
- 2004 – 2007 · Art direction, visual design, Flash development · digital agency
Freelance since 2005 — agencies first, then products and platforms.
Trained in design
and technology
- 2026
- AI Fluency and Claude developer courses, Anthropic Academy
- 2013
- Usability consultant, artop — Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- 2003
- Bachelor IT scientist, multimedia informatics — bib International College
- 2000
- Communication design apprenticeship — Leighton & Krasnenko, Cologne
Awards
Cannes Lions
Gold
The Webby Awards
Honoree
New York Festivals
Finalist
ADC Europe
Nomination
ADC Germany
Red Dot
Dope Award
Beyond
the screen
Architecture and interiors are my second craft: I designed our house, built much of it myself and make our furniture by hand.
Making
Architecture, interior design, furniture, woodworking, gardening — craftsmanship in every sense.
Moving
Running, cycling, climbing, swimming, surfing, hiking and camping.
Culture
Music, art, professional literature, investigative journalism, sustainable living, new technologies, food
Contact
- Based in
- Cologne, Germany
- linkedin.com/in/michaelschmoelz