HELLO

I'm Michael Muff, a Yorkshire-based designer who spent 9 years turning complex enterprise problems into interfaces that work under pressure.

Started as an uncertain intern. Grew into a designer who bridges design and development, serving 20,000+ users across 9 countries through daily collaboration with developers and stakeholders.

Then came redundancy during organisational restructuring in early 2025. Sometimes being essential doesn't protect you from bigger shifts. That's life.

The months since have been about growth - traveling, expanding my network, learning from everyone I can. Exploring AI tools, staying current with the industry, preparing for what comes next.

Now I'm ready to bring it all to a new team.

CONNECT CONTACT
Michael Muff - Designer

HOW I GOT HERE

I started making football forum signatures in Photoshop long before my degree at Leeds Met. Turns out messing about for your mates can actually become a career.

The KIS project (later DYMENSiON) took me on as an intern in 2015 with zero enterprise software experience. That uncertainty became my advantage - when you don't know your "lane," you learn everything.

Working in a small, tight team meant I'd sit with developers debugging CSS in the morning, join sales calls at lunch, support helpdesk users in the afternoon, then iterate designs based on their feedback. I didn't start knowing how to code - I learnt HTML/CSS by implementing my own designs. I learnt what users struggled with by managing the helpdesk. Everything came from doing, not formal training. That close collaboration became my superpower.

Promoted to Digital Channel Designer in 2017, then Senior Digital Channel Designer in 2022. The platform I started working on as an intern grew from a UK-only tool to serving 20,000+ users across 9 countries. I grew alongside it.

Then came organisational restructuring in early 2025. That's the reality of working in companies that change and evolve.

Here's what 9 years taught me: The best solutions come from collaboration, not isolation. When designers, developers, and business stakeholders work together daily - not just in handoff meetings - you build things that actually work. I miss that energy. I want it again - especially the chance to work with other designers, something I've rarely had the opportunity to do.

WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT

I Bridge Design and Code

I push HTML/CSS to Git repositories and understand database constraints. When I say "this will work," I've already validated it technically. A developer once told me I was "the easiest designer they'd worked with."

I Learn From Everyone Around Me

Developers taught me technical constraints breed better solutions. Support taught me where users actually struggle. I'm constantly absorbing and eager to learn more - especially from other designers.

I Solve Problems I've Actually Lived

The England Supporters app redesign came from years of personal frustration. The best insights come from genuine conversations - whether that's in the pub after a match or in a proper research session.

I've Seen Projects Through Long-Term

Most designers move on after launch. I lived with my designs for years - iterating based on real usage, understanding what actually lasts. Nine years on one platform taught me to build sustainable products, not just ship features.

MY PHILOSOPHY

Collaboration beats solo genius

The best solutions come from designers, developers, and stakeholders working together daily - not just in handoff meetings. I thrive in that environment.

Constraints breed better solutions

Technical limitations, budget realities, tight timelines - these aren't obstacles to good design, they're guideposts. Working within real-world constraints creates solutions that actually ship and work.

Learn from everyone, share freely

Nine years taught me great teams aren't about protecting knowledge - they're about everyone teaching everyone. I'm always learning and always happy to share what I know.

Users tell you what matters

Support tickets, conversations, real usage - these reveal what actually needs fixing. The best design responds to genuine user problems, not assumptions or trends.

Build for tomorrow, not just today

Nine years on one platform taught me the best design decisions consider maintenance, scalability, and evolution - not just the initial launch. Quick wins matter, but sustainable solutions last.

Ship beats perfect

Done is better than perfect. Balancing quality with reality is how you actually deliver. Nine years, zero missed deadlines proves it works.

OUTSIDE OF DESIGN

England Away

More annual leave for England away days than beach holidays. Prague, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen - if England are playing there, I've been.

Bradford City Faithful

Supporting since birth. We're not challenging for trophies just yet, but that's not the point. Loyalty matters.

Gaming Rivalries

Beating mates at FIFA whenever I get the chance. The competitive streak is real and carries into everything I do.

Stubborn Bearded Collie

Training a puppy who completely ignores the carefully-designed training plans. Turns out design problems are definitely much easier to solve.

Music Obsessed

Constantly discovering new music that somehow unlocks creative breakthroughs. There's a connection I can't quite explain, but it works.

Always Exploring

New cities, new perspectives, new problems to understand. Curiosity drives everything I do, both in work and beyond.

RECOGNITION

Kings Monthly Ambassador Award (3 Times)

May 2024

For consistently delivering effective and compelling digital content on behalf of the entire Group.

February 2024

"Michael's assistance not only saved my team and me a substantial amount of time but also proved exceptionally helpful in finding a solution, especially given the tight deadline we were working under."

January 2020

"Provides the marketing team with high quality design work which allows us to keep our design agency costs down to a minimum."

WHAT'S NEXT

After 9 years as a one-person design team, I'm ready for what's next.

Joining an established design team would be excellent - I've rarely had the chance to work with other designers, and I'd love that collaborative energy. But I'm equally comfortable continuing as an embedded designer working closely with engineering and stakeholders. What matters most is genuine collaboration, whether that's with other designers, developers, or both.

I'm exploring design roles where:

  • I can learn from experienced designers whilst contributing execution skills
  • Technical understanding is valued, not seen as stepping outside your lane
  • Continuous learning is encouraged and knowledge is shared freely
  • Execution beats ego - everyone's focused on shipping great work
  • Collaboration is genuine, not just a buzzword

What I bring: A designer who thinks like a developer, collaborates without drama, learns eagerly from colleagues, and is genuinely motivated to make everyone's job easier. I've proven I can deliver reliably, but what I'm most excited about is joining a talented team where I can both contribute and grow.