Erik is available for hire
Hire ErikErik van Veen
Verified Expert in Design
Digital Strategist and UX Designer
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Toptal Member Since
January 21, 2022
Erik has over 10 years of experience helping clients launch and grow digital products. He has worked as a lead designer, a managing partner of a digital agency, a freelance UX designer, and a strategist for multiple agencies. Erik's experience goes from solo projects and working with startups to leading large agile teams and working with multinationals reaching millions of users worldwide in B2C, B2B, and B2E.
Work Experience
Lead Senior UX Designer and Digital Strategist
2011 - PRESENT
Freelance
- Delivered the complete product design for a globally used HR and staffing platform.
- Managed the strategy and complete product design for a comprehensive tool that allows users to have total control over their home network.
- Consulted for the largest energy company in the Netherlands, reviewing their internal UX teams en products.
Technologies: Figma, Sketch, InVision, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Strategy, UX Strategy, Product Strategy, UX Design, Web UX Design, iOS UX Design, Mobile UX Design, UX Pattern Design, Holistic UX Design, Intuitive UX Design, Responsive UX Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Concepting, UI Design, Web UI Design, Leadership, Team Leadership, UX Leadership, Creative Design, Creative Strategy, UX Research, Design Reviews, Scrum, Agile, Agile UX, Lean, Lean UX, Adobe CC, iOS, Android, Principle, Zeplin, Jira, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Web App UX, Responsive, Responsive UI, Responsive Layout, Responsive Design, Responsive Web Apps, Mobile, Mobile UI, Mobile UX, Wearables, HTML5, CSS5, Tablet UX, Tablet UI, Tablet Design, iOS UI Design, Hybrid Apps, React, React Native, Flowcharts, Design Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, Business Model Canvas, Design, User Research, Validated User Research, Wireframing, User Experience (UX), Mendix, Low Code, OutSystems, Customer Journeys, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Interactive Prototypes
Lead Senior UX Designer and Digital Strategist
2019 - 2022
Soda Studio
- Delivered the mobile product strategy for the biggest retailer in DIY articles in the Netherlands and Belgium. I led a large creative team with over ten members in the design process for three new eCommerce apps.
- Delivered the design for a new platform for a bank that will help thousands of developers worldwide to write safer code while providing actionable insights to the teams responsible for cybersecurity.
- Took a massively successful platform used to manage flex offices and redesigned it for white label use with zero dependencies while establishing the product-market fit.
- Optimized the UX of multiple large eCommerce websites leading to significantly higher conversions and better experiences.
Technologies: Figma, Sketch, Principle, Photoshop CC, InVision, Strategy, UX Strategy, UX Design, User Interface (UI), UI Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Concepting, Design Leadership, Creative Design, Creative Strategy, UX Review, Expert Reviews, Design Reviews, Scrum, Adobe CC, Agile, Agile UX, Zeplin, Jira, Web, Web UI, Responsive, Responsive UI, Apps, App UI, App UX, Web App Design, Mobile, Mobile UI, Mobile UX, Wearables, HTML5, CSS5, React, React Native, Mendix, Tablet UX, Tablet UI, iOS, Android, Hybrid Apps, eCommerce, eCommerce UX, Travel, HR Tools, Sport Branding, UX Branding, Branding, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Sales, Team Leadership, Training, Coaching, Finance, Award-winning, Mobility, Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, UX Leadership, Lean UX, Lean IT, Product Strategy, Web App UX, Web App UI, Web UX, MVP Design, Animated Prototypes, Prototyping, Business Model Canvas, Design, User Research, Validated User Research, Wireframing, User Experience (UX), Low Code, OutSystems, Customer Journeys, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Interactive Prototypes
Founder and Lead Designer
2015 - 2019
We Seek Trouble
- Turned ideas and opportunities into successful products for our clients on a global scale, focussing on getting from cero to one.
- Invested in different promising products, becoming a strategic partner for multiple startups.
- Led the creative team and hands-on design on every project and the development team to bring designs to life quickly.
Technologies: Sketch, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, InVision, Zeplin, UX Design, Strategy, UX Strategy, Product Strategy, Team Leadership, Design Leadership, Leadership, UX Leadership, Prototyping, UI Design, UX Research, Copywriting, B2B, B2C, Stakeholder Interviews, Stakeholder Management, Figma, Adobe CC, Adobe, Business Models, Scrum, Agile, Agile UX, Lean, Lean IT, Lean UX, Principle, Jira, Web, Mobile, Tablet Design, Web UI, Web UX, Web App UX, Web App UI, Web App Design, Web App Testing, Responsive, Responsive UI, Responsive UX Design, Responsive Layout, Responsive Design, Wearables, CSS, HTML, Tablet UX, Tablet UI, iOS, Android, React Native, React, JavaScript, Hybrid Apps, Hybrid Frameworks, Design Systems, Information Architecture (IA), Business Model Canvas, Presentations, Board Presentations, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, Tech Sales, Branding, Remote Work, Remote Team Leadership, MVP Design, User Research, Validated User Research, Wireframing, User Experience (UX), Customer Journeys, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Interactive Prototypes
Chairman
2015 - 2017
StudentsInc
- Led the board of a student incubator in Utrecht, where many startups held office and followed our programs.
- Coached young entrepreneurs on a personal, leadership, and strategic level.
- Organized many different programs, conferences, and networking events and maintained relationships with partners.
Technologies: Workshops, Conferencing, Networking, UX Design, Leadership, Training, Coaching, Event Organization, Presentations, Hiring, Stakeholder Management, Sketch, Figma, Adobe CC, Customer Journeys
Founder and UX Designer
2014 - 2016
Kollabo
- Designed a platform for entrepreneurial students to form teams to execute ideas.
- Managed the platform that got nominated by TheNextWeb (TNW) and for a large investor pitch round.
- Formed partnerships with companies throughout the country to extend its services.
Technologies: Sketch, InVision, Zeplin, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Adobe CC, Leadership, Team Leadership, Remote Work, Prototyping, UI Design, UX Design, Strategy, UX Strategy, Product Strategy, Investing, React, Business Model Canvas, UX Research, Jira, Responsive, Responsive UI, Responsive Web Apps, Responsive UX Design, Branding, Mobile, Tablet Design, Web, Web UI, Web UX, Pitch Decks, Sales Pitches, MVP Design, UX Leadership, Design Leadership, Interaction Design (IxD), Information Architecture (IA), User Research, Validated User Research, Wireframing, User Experience (UX), Interactive Prototypes
UX Designer
2014 - 2015
Mirabeau
- Worked on concepts and strategies for a few of the biggest companies in the Netherlands as part of a dedicated pitch team.
- Redesigned a self-service system for a large health insurer resulting in less pressure on customer service, higher client ratings, and lower costs.
- Redesigned the lease funnel for Europe's number one lease company.
Technologies: Sketch, Photoshop CC, InVision, Strategy, UX Strategy, Product Strategy, Concepting, Interaction Design (IxD), UX Design, UI Design, Prototyping, UX Research, Pitch Decks, Presentations, Adobe, Illustrator CC, Mobile, Web, Web App Design, Tablet Design, Wearables, MVP Design, Jira, Responsive, Design, Wireframing, User Experience (UX), Web UX, App UI, App UX, Web App UX, Web App Testing, Mendix, Low Code, OutSystems, Interactive Prototypes
Quarter Master
2009 - 2011
Clipper Stad Amsterdam
- Sailed around the world while being part of a Dutch TV series in which we retraced the route of Charles Darwin. From this day and age, groundbreaking scientists joined to compare current findings to the time Darwin wrote the Origin of Species.
- Led a watch with numerous sailors from all over the world.
- Learned all about producing series in the onboard studio, defining the starting point of my career as a Designer.
Technologies: Team Leadership, Leadership
Education
2011 - 2015
Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Media Design
Hogeschool Utrecht - Utrecht, Netherlands
2006 - 2008
Vocational Education in Entrepreneurship and Management in Hospitality
Hospitality School Wageningen - Wageningen, Netherlands
Certifications
MAY 2015 - PRESENT
Individual and Team Coaching
Hogeschool Utrecht
MAY 2015 - PRESENT
UX Specialisation - Honours Graduate
Hogeschool Utrecht
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