Matt Smallish



Matt Smallish

Senior Product Designer

down arrow

Soldier, Scholar, Traveler...
Designer:

I have been obsessed with style and creativity for as long as I can remember. I have been all around the world, working and living in all types of roles with all kinds of people. It has been through these experiences that I started creating all types of experiences for people. The less access they had to excellent experiences the more determined I was to craft a solution.

Now I am a Product Designer with an absurdly wide array of experience. I am a Relentless Researcher and Adamant Advocate of providing the best experiences possible. There is nothing that will inhibit my pursuit of creating the best possible Products and Experiences for End Users!

I've been a...

  • Senior Product Designer
  • Army Chief Instructor
  • Undergraduate Adjunct Faculty
  • UX Researcher
  • UX Designer
  • UX Lead
  • Mobile App Designer
  • User Interface (UI) Designer
  • Interaction Designer
  • Information Architect
  • Design Researcher
  • Usability Analyst
  • Human-Centered Design Specialist
  • User Experience Strategist
  • Design Thinking Facilitator
  • User Advocate
  • Army Senior Leader
  • Public Affairs Specialist (Military)
  • Army Instructor
  • Higher Education Instructor
me & moo

Case Studies

FordPass
FordPass

Principal Product Designer Mobile App Feature

Bringing mobile control to Ford's Pro Power Onboard system

I led design efforts collaborating with cross-functional teams to establish Ford's mobile controls for the new in-vehicle power generator system.

ATIS
ATIS

Product Designer Enterprise Dashboard

Modernizing the US Army's training system

I conducted interview and research information into an intuitive user profile system for US Army personnel conducting training.

FordPass
FordPass

Principal Product Designer Mobile App Feature

Helping Ford Truck Owners safely connect their trailers

I conducted interview and research information into an intuitive user profile system for US Army personnel conducting training.

Tropical Travel Opportunity
Alaska Travel Opportunity

UI/UX Designer Responsive Website

Creating a World of Travel Connections

I designed and developed an interactive website for Now Boarding Travel, enhancing client engagement through user-centered design.

Ohio Voters
Ohio Voters

UI/UX Designer WCAG Accessibility

Providing Web Accessibility for Ohio residents

I played a key role in remediating accessibility issues for the Ohio Secretary of State website's front-end code and the PDFs.

...with some really awesome teams:

EMU logo
Ford logo
Now Boarding Travel logo
UM logo
Roscommon HL logo
Ohio SoS logo
Oracle logo
GM logo
us army logo
limited logo
atis logo
Detroit logo

I've learned some cool stuff along the way...


Card Image 1
BS Communication Technology - 2015

Eastern Michigan University
Design and Development for web, tv, and print; Minor in Spanish

Card Image 2
MS Information in HCI - 2019

University of Michigan
Human-Computer Interaction, UX Research & Design

Product Design
  • UX Research
  • UX Testing
  • Mobile App Design
  • Complex System Design
Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Workshopping
  • Multi-lingual🇪🇸🇫🇷🇩🇪
Leadership
  • Strategic Planning
  • Team Development
  • Project Management
  • Leading Large Teams
Certifications
  • Generative AI
  • Accessibility
  • Agile for Software
  • Product management

What's under the surface...


  • Eiffel Tower

    Wanderlust:

    I love to travel

    I have been traveling since before I can remember. My parents instilled in me a love of exploring and experiencing the world. I have traveled to 47 US States (sorry Hawaii, Kansas, and Oregon!), 2 of the 4 US Territories, and 22 countries (lived in 3 of them)! Now that I have my own family, we live for getting out and seeing everything the world has to offer!

  • Platoon of Soldiers

    Involvement:

    Helping where I can.

    Beginning with mission trips in high school, to remote, impoverished areas of Latin America, helping those less fortunate than myself is in my core. Since then I have done peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions with the US Army, as well as worked as a mentor in a wide array of settings. One of my drives in the UX field is understanding the needs and helping those in underserved and less fortunate areas.

  • Language & Learning:

    Understanding people and communities better

    I love learning. Specifically about world languages and how people work. I've studied at least 10 languages, I'm fluent in 2, and can get by in 4. I am passionate about it and I learn quickly. I'm consistently in the pursuit of learning more as I believe it makes me a better designer, team member, leader, and person in general.

  • Fitness:

    Can't stop, won't stop

    I've always enjoyed staying active and it has only evolved over time. If I'm not running, I'm in the gym, and if I'm not in the gym I'm hiking, swimming, biking, or some other activity that keeps me moving! (This includes pushing the limits by doing things like submitting applications to be involved in experiences like being on Survior!)

  • ...and I'm
    still
    going!