Product Designer

Simplifying complexity
to create systems that scale

Recently specializing in enterprise observability platforms, helping engineering teams understand, monitor, and respond to what matters.

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Case Studies

Michael Haskell

Designing for complexity

The best enterprise tools feel like consumer products.

Enterprise users face the same pressures everyone does: divided attention, constant context-switching, and insufficient insight into what matters most. I focus on providing elegant solutions that help people quickly comprehend and make decisions — so they can move on to the work that really needs their time.

My approach follows three phases: preparation — thorough research, user interviews, and subject matter expert input; comprehension — reviewing existing solutions to understand how others have approached the problem; and simplification — reducing requirements to the minimal inputs necessary for maximum output, leveraging existing system data to reduce cognitive load.

Systems Thinking Design Systems User Research Front-end Development Data Visualization Enterprise UX

Bridging design and engineering

Having spent years as a front-end engineer, I understand how things get built. I design with implementation in mind, favoring patterns that are easily extendable even when we don't know what's coming next. When needed, I dive into code — writing email templates, demonstrating CSS animations, or showing junior engineers what's possible with common practices.

I think in systems. When approaching complex product areas, I start by mapping workflows and connections — boxes and arrows showing how features interconnect. That top-down view lets me understand the whole before focusing on individual components piece by piece.

Designing for humans

With a degree in psychology and a background in the creative arts, I've always been attuned to how people experience the world — and the delight they feel when things just work. I meet users where they are, maintaining legacy workflows when they're sufficient and letting user feedback change my direction when evidence points elsewhere.

I'm relentless about finding the right outcome, regardless of personal preference. If something doesn't work, I maintain only what provides value. No sacred cows.

How I work

I'm extremely collaborative. I don't know what I don't know, and I'm humble enough to understand it takes many people to craft successful outcomes. I seek the most correct solution while never letting perfect become the enemy of good.

I thrive in cultures of relentless optimism and excitement to discover new things — teams where getting the right answer matters and egos are left at the door. I value honesty and principles above most other traits, and believe straightforward communication is the most effective path to answers.

What I bring

I enjoy being a force multiplier — bringing out the best in others and helping people understand they're empowered to make decisions and push things forward. I bring high energy, a positive attitude, a quick wit, and a relentless pursuit of excellence to everything I do.

Ultimately, this is a team game. I seek comprehensive solutions but I'm willing to pare back anything unnecessary when the time is right. Collaboration is as important as anything else.

Let's work together

I'm always interested in hearing about new opportunities and challenging problems.

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