About

I do UIs and the strategy behind them.

I’m Mark (left), a Dutch product designer who codes. Always have, it’s what got me hooked on design over a decade ago. Since, I’ve worn many hats working in startups and for myself. I’ve learned a lot about a lot.

I love collaborating with teams that outsmart the competition rather than outspend it. By working across design, engineering, and product, I help them build simple, effective, and reliable software.

I also love my dog Murphy (right). He mostly supervises.

Picture of Me Picture of my dog Murphy

What I do.

I’m a designer, not a decorator. A product builder, not a picture maker. And a code shipper, not a just prototyper.

Product strategy sets you up for success. I help you understand your customers first. Their goals. Their reality. We uncover the real problems worth solving. Then I work with you to decide what to include and what to leave out. This keeps the focus on what truly matters.

Product design for me is working end-to-end: From ideas to visuals to the finished product. I set direction, take ownership, and make calls without much oversight. I trust my intuition — honed by many years of product work — and listen closely to users, not just metrics.

Design engineering or simply put writing production-ready HTML, CSS, and JS. I love close collaboration with developers. To help improve accessibility, performance, reliability, and durability. And of course, bring delight in key places. I help you nail the front of the front-end.

You’ll ♥ working
with me if…

You want someone who takes ownership.
I don't need much oversight to do good work. I set my own direction, manage my own time, and know when to ask for input. You can trust me to build something (from scratch) and see it through.

You want progress over perfection.
I tend to solve problems with the simplest, easiest, cheapest solution that gets you 90% of the way there. Part of this is reframing and simplifying the task. Part of it is accepting “good enough” without being careless.

You want to launch on time and on budget.
I work with fixed deadlines and budgets. Throwing more time, money, or manpower at things is not the way. Variable scope is. It helps us create the best solution relative to your constraints.

If this resonates, reach out: contact@mrkdbrn.com

Book recommandations.

Here a small selection of books that taught me how to build better products and make smarter decisions.

“Working with Mark was a pleasure. He’s organised, efficient, and consistently delivers high-quality work. He ensures his solutions are strategically sound, and has a strong technical understanding of UX/UI implementation.”
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Jasper den Ouden
Product Strategy, UX & Co-founder

“Mark was far more than just ‘the designer’, he was a true partner in building products, consistently elevating the quality and pace of our work. He not only crafts great experiences but also ensures they get built the right way.”
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Jelle Spekken
Head of Technology

“Mark helped us set up a professional product team. He has an eye for detail, is thoughtful and very critical. What I found remarkable was how he kept both the business and user needs in consideration with every decision.”
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Vijay Durán Jiménez
CEO & Product Owner

“Mark’s designs were always backed up by data and impactful for both our customers and the company. His broad range of skills, from product strategy to development, make him a force multiplier for any product team.”
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Doménico Schwalb
Chief Product Officer