Miel is available for hire
Hire MielMiel Wellens
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Location
Shanghai, China
Toptal Member Since
February 14, 2022
Miel loves UX-based innovations, digital spaghetti coding, and prototyping. He has built sophisticated IoT products, streamlined user flows, and 3D-printed his own eyewear. Miel is always eager to experiment and innovate in most product and service-based industries with or without hardware as long as the focus is on solving real user problems.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Design Director
2021 - PRESENT
Freelance Contractor
- Led the consumer IoT design strategy for a Fortune 500 company.
- Localized digital, physical, and phygital products for global brands entering the Chinese market.
- Headed the digital strategy and future vision exploration for a global brand, entering multiple markets in Japan, India, China, Europe, and the US.
- Mentored startups and scaleups from business models and hackathons to successful launches in the medical and consumer markets.
Technologies: Management, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Miro, UX Workshops, Workshops, Clients, Figma, KeyShot, Product Design, Design Thinking, Qualitative Research, Innovation Strategy, Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design, Internet of Things (IoT), User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), UX Research, UX Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Excel 365, Usability Testing, User Journey Maps, User Flows, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Web App UX, Innovation, Web Design, UX Testing, Wireframing, 3D, SketchUp, Mobile UX, Mobile UI, iOS, Design Leadership, Prototyping, User Research, Software Design, UI Design, Machinery, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Early-stage Startups, Branding, Website Redesign, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Audits, User Interviews, Ethnographic Studies, Web App Design, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, Team Leadership, Service Design, Consumer Products, 3D Product Modeling, Music, Audio, Desktop App Design
Design Manager
2019 - 2021
ZHEJIANG AISHIDA ELECTRIC CO.
- Defined the UI/UX strategy and implementation for our industrial robotics brand QJAR.
- Grew our team from 12 to 18 designers to work on industrial digital design, research, and strategy.
- Developed advanced embedded digital concepts for electrical appliances.
Technologies: Adobe Experience Design (XD), Management, User Research, User Workshops, Figma, KeyShot, Product Design, Design Thinking, Qualitative Research, Innovation Strategy, Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design, Internet of Things (IoT), User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), UX Research, UX Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Excel 365, Usability Testing, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Innovation, Web Design, UX Testing, Wireframing, 3D, SketchUp, Mobile UX, Mobile UI, iOS, Design Leadership, Prototyping, Software Design, UI Design, Machinery, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Branding, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Audits, User Interviews, Ethnographic Studies, Web App Design, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, Team Leadership, Service Design, Consumer Products, 3D Product Modeling, Music, Audio, Desktop App Design
Design Manager
2018 - 2019
S.Point Design Co.
- Headed a team of six to deliver products and services for the global Fortune 500 companies and startups in Shanghai.
- Led the digital strategy and improved the product of a dental medical player to successfully enter the Chinese, European, and US markets.
- Participated in the co-creation process of Colgate through user and trend research for the Chinese market.
Technologies: Adobe Experience Design (XD), PowerPoint Design, Rhinoceros 3D, User Workshops, Design, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, KeyShot, Product Design, Design Thinking, Qualitative Research, Innovation Strategy, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design, Internet of Things (IoT), User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), UX Research, UX Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Excel 365, Usability Testing, User Journey Maps, User Flows, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Web App UX, Innovation, UX Testing, Wireframing, 3D, SketchUp, Mobile UI, Mobile UX, Design Leadership, Prototyping, User Research, Software Design, UI Design, Machinery, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Early-stage Startups, Branding, Website Redesign, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Audits, User Interviews, Ethnographic Studies, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, Team Leadership, Service Design, Consumer Products, 3D Product Modeling, Music, Desktop App Design
Product and System Designer
2015 - 2018
Philips
- Led the category of smart accessories for Philips Hue, the leader in smart consumer lighting.
- Participated in the design exploration programs to build the future of smart lighting and prototype new experiences beyond products and screens.
- Established the UX process within the NDPL process to streamline advanced product development for smart products.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Rhinoceros 3D, KeyShot, Arduino, JavaScript, HTML5, 3ds Max, Max/MSP/Jitter, Product Design, Design Thinking, Qualitative Research, Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design, Internet of Things (IoT), User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), UX Research, UX Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Usability Testing, User Journey Maps, User Flows, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Web App UX, Innovation, Web Design, UX Testing, Wireframing, 3D, SketchUp, Mobile UX, Mobile UI, iOS, Design Leadership, Prototyping, User Research, Software Design, UI Design, Machinery, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Early-stage Startups, Website Redesign, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Audits, User Interviews, Ethnographic Studies, Web App Design, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, Team Leadership, Service Design, Consumer Products, 3D Product Modeling, Desktop App Design
Product Designer
2009 - 2015
IDEARTOR
- Established an eCommerce internal B2B platform for retailers to see the collections of eyewear designs. Built an eCommerce and marketing website for all available designs and accessories.
- Defined the online identity and redefined both online and offline experiences.
- Helped the brand launch globally, from starting the collection to refining accessories and all the marketing communication materials needed.
Technologies: Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Flash, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Product Design, Design Thinking, Marketing, Business to Business (B2B), Qualitative Research, Innovation Strategy, Design, Industrial Design, UX Research, UX Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Web App UX, Innovation, Web Design, 3D, SketchUp, Design Leadership, Prototyping, Software Design, UI Design, Machinery, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Branding, Website Redesign, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Interviews, Ethnographic Studies, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, Service Design, 3D Product Modeling, Audio, Desktop App Design
Designer | Freelance Contractor
2013 - 2014
Philips
- Brainstormed, defined, designed, and launched products on the Disney licensing platform for the Disney-Philips partnership.
- Supported marketing in high-quality photorealistic product rendering for online and offline purposes. Used computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and Siemens NX.
- Explored digital mass-customization platforms for three internal joint ventures.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, KeyShot, NX for Design, Arduino, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design, Industrial Design, 3D Rendering, Sketching, 3D Modeling, 3D Design, Ideation Workshops, Design Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, User Journeys, Innovation, Web Design, 3D, SketchUp, Prototyping, UI Design, Software Interfaces, Industrial Equipment, Industrial & Manufacturing, CAD, Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Ethnographic Studies, Process Optimization, Design Consultation, 3D Product Modeling, Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM), Audio, Desktop App Design, Siemens NX
Education
2012 - 2014
Master's Degree in International Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation
Hasselt University - Hasselt, Belgium
2011 - 2013
Master's Degree in Product Design
LUCA | School of Arts - Bruxelles, Belgium
2006 - 2009
Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia and Communication Design
HOWEST - Kortrijk, Belgium
Certifications
AUGUST 2020 - PRESENT
Insights for Innovation
IDEO U
APRIL 2020 - PRESENT
Designing Strategy
IDEO U
AUGUST 2018 - PRESENT
UX Master Certification | Interaction Design
Nielsen Norman Group
JANUARY 2017 - PRESENT
Design for Excellence (DfX) | Level 1
Philips
Experience
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