The Hidden Costs of a Messy Design System
April 14, 2026·6 min read
Systems
Multidisciplinary Designer
Crafting design that
thinks, feels,
and connects.
I design digital products, brand identities, and experiences that balance clarity with emotion — 7 years, 40+ projects, 3 continents.
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Selected Work
Start a ProjectProjects
2025Product
Case StudyProduct Design
Meridian Banking App
End-to-end redesign of a challenger bank’s mobile experience, reducing onboarding drop-off by 34%.
2024Brand
BrandingBrand Identity
Bloom Wellness Brand
Full visual identity system for a health-tech startup — logo, color, type, and digital assets.
2024Design
SystemsDesign Systems
Forma Design System
Scalable component library for a SaaS platform used by 4 product teams across 2 time zones.
2023Brand
Print & DigitalBrand + Environmental
Patio Restaurant Identity
Warm, tactile brand identity for a farm-to-table restaurant in Austin, including menus and signage.
Facilitated
Workshops
I design and facilitate workshops for teams at all levels — from early-stage startups to Fortune 500s.
14MAR
WorkshopIn-Person
Design Thinking for Non-Designers
A hands-on day teaching product managers and engineers to think like designers — from problem framing to low-fi prototyping.
Full Day · 6 hrs
28 participants
San Francisco, CA
22FEB
MasterclassVirtual
Visual Storytelling with Data
How to turn complex datasets into compelling visual narratives. Covers chart selection, annotation, and narrative structure.
3 hrs
94 attendees
Online · Zoom
08JAN
SprintHybrid
Brand Identity Sprint
An intensive two-day sprint where teams build a complete brand identity from scratch — strategy, naming, visual language, and pitch.
2 Days
12 teams
Berkeley + Remote
Thinking Out Loud
All PostsWriting
28May
Process8 min read
Why Good Design Starts with Listening, Not Sketching
Most designers reach for their stylus before they understand the problem. Here's why slowing down at the start is the fastest path to great design — and how I changed my process after a painful lesson on a fintech project.
Recent Posts
Color Theory Is Not Enough: Why Emotional Context Matters
March 3, 2026·5 min read
Visual Design
Running Workshops That Actually Change How Teams Think
January 19, 2026·7 min read
Facilitation
Writing Stats
24
Articles
14k
Readers
3yr
Writing
The Person Behind the Work
About Me
I'm Maya Chen, a multidisciplinary designer based in San Francisco. I've spent the last 7 years working at the intersection of user experience, brand strategy, and visual craft — helping startups find their voice and enterprises rediscover clarity.
Before going independent, I led design at Stripe and IDEO, where I learned that the best design work begins with genuine curiosity about people — not assumptions about aesthetics.
When I'm not designing, I'm facilitating workshops, writing about design thinking, or traveling to places that challenge my visual vocabulary.
Capabilities
UX DesignBrand IdentityDesign SystemsFigmaPrototypingUser ResearchWorkshop FacilitationMotion DesignIllustration
7+Years Experience
40+Projects Shipped
12Workshops Run
3Continents
Currently
Freelancing with select clients on product redesigns, brand identities, and design system audits. Taking on 2–3 projects per quarter.
Inquire about availability
Let's Work Together
Have a project
in mind?
I'm selective about the projects I take on. Tell me what you're building and let's see if we're a good fit.
Or reach out directly
Response time
Usually within 48 hours