Mikołaj Rutkowski

( About me )

I am a UX Designer & Researcher with a background in Psychology. My career has evolved from deep research at a top design agency to designing complex B2B ecosystems in-house. I specialize in bridging the gap between business requirements, technical constraints, and user needs. Having worked across industries like FMCG, Fashion, Banking, and Education, I bring a versatile, data-driven approach to every product I touch.
Off-duty: A tech enthusiast with a soul for the analog. I’m an avid collector of vinyl records and a fan of niche, non-mainstream music. When not designing, I’m likely exploring classic automotive engineering—appreciating the timeless design and mechanics of vintage cars.

10+

Projects

10+

Projects

3

Certificates

3

Certificates

5+

Years experience

5+

Years experience

What I Do

PRODUCT STRATEGY

ux design

USER RESEARCH (IDI & TESTING)

B2B PRODUCT ECOSYSTEMS

WORKSHOP FACILITATION

DATA ANALYSIS (CX)

AI WORKFLOW OPTIMIZATION

Case Study ->

Eurocash360

The Challenge

Designing a unified omnichannel platform for 45,000+ store owners by merging two fundamentally different business models: Cash & Carry and Distribution.

Both systems had distinct:

  • purchasing logic

  • pricing structures

  • user behaviors

Users rarely crossed between them, leading to fragmented experiences and missed business opportunities.

The challenge was not just technical integration, but redefining how users think about ordering stock — without overwhelming less digitally experienced users.

At the same time, the platform had to:

  • simplify a massive product catalog

  • make complex pricing and promotions understandable

  • work within strong legacy system constraints

Designing a unified omnichannel platform for 45,000+ store owners by merging two fundamentally different business models: Cash & Carry and Distribution.

Both systems had distinct:

  • purchasing logic

  • pricing structures

  • user behaviors

Users rarely crossed between them, leading to fragmented experiences and missed business opportunities.

The challenge was not just technical integration, but redefining how users think about ordering stock — without overwhelming less digitally experienced users.

At the same time, the platform had to:

  • simplify a massive product catalog

  • make complex pricing and promotions understandable

  • work within strong legacy system constraints

My Role

I worked as a UX Designer with a strong focus on process, logic, and system simplification.

I operated as a bridge between:

  • business

  • product

  • data

  • development

My responsibility was to translate complex business requirements into clear, usable flows — often challenging assumptions along the way.

I worked as a UX Designer with a strong focus on process, logic, and system simplification.

I operated as a bridge between:

  • business

  • product

  • data

  • development

My responsibility was to translate complex business requirements into clear, usable flows — often challenging assumptions along the way.

Process & Approach

Understanding the system

I started with deep UX audits of existing applications and created detailed documentation of current functionalities.

This allowed me to:

  • identify inconsistencies

  • understand hidden dependencies

  • ensure critical business logic wasn’t lost

Research & insights

I conducted:

  • IDI interviews

  • usability testing

  • field research

  • workshops with internal teams and customer support

Key findings:

  • Final price mattered more than process

  • Users had low tolerance for complexity

  • Many users had low digital confidence

  • Users didn’t think in systems — only in outcomes (“I need to stock my shop”)

Navigating complexity

One of the biggest challenges was aligning:

  • complex business rules

  • technical constraints

  • user mental models

Instead of directly translating business logic into UI,
I focused on simplifying and abstracting it.

This often required:

  • pushing back on overly complex requirements

  • rethinking how promotions and pricing are presented

  • finding balance between accuracy and clarity

Understanding the system

I started with deep UX audits of existing applications and created detailed documentation of current functionalities.

This allowed me to:

  • identify inconsistencies

  • understand hidden dependencies

  • ensure critical business logic wasn’t lost

Research & insights

I conducted:

  • IDI interviews

  • usability testing

  • field research

  • workshops with internal teams and customer support

Key findings:

  • Final price mattered more than process

  • Users had low tolerance for complexity

  • Many users had low digital confidence

  • Users didn’t think in systems — only in outcomes (“I need to stock my shop”)

Navigating complexity

One of the biggest challenges was aligning:

  • complex business rules

  • technical constraints

  • user mental models

Instead of directly translating business logic into UI,
I focused on simplifying and abstracting it.

This often required:

  • pushing back on overly complex requirements

  • rethinking how promotions and pricing are presented

  • finding balance between accuracy and clarity

Key UX Decisions

Simplifying instead of mirroring

Rather than exposing system complexity,
I designed flows that hide internal logic and reduce cognitive load.

Unifying the experience

Instead of presenting two systems,
I designed a single, consistent ordering experience that works across models.

Making pricing understandable

Promotions and pricing were highly complex.

I focused on:

  • clearer structure

  • better visibility of final cost

  • reducing ambiguity

Designing for accessibility

Given the target group, I prioritized:

  • clarity over density

  • guidance over flexibility

  • predictability over advanced features

Simplifying instead of mirroring

Rather than exposing system complexity,
I designed flows that hide internal logic and reduce cognitive load.

Unifying the experience

Instead of presenting two systems,
I designed a single, consistent ordering experience that works across models.

Making pricing understandable

Promotions and pricing were highly complex.

I focused on:

  • clearer structure

  • better visibility of final cost

  • reducing ambiguity

Designing for accessibility

Given the target group, I prioritized:

  • clarity over density

  • guidance over flexibility

  • predictability over advanced features

Execution

I owned the UX process end-to-end for selected features:

  • designed user flows and processes

  • created detailed documentation for development in Jira

  • collaborated closely with developers during implementation

  • supported testing and iteration

I also:

  • participated in MVP prioritization

  • ran workshops to align teams

  • continuously refined solutions based on feedback

I owned the UX process end-to-end for selected features:

  • designed user flows and processes

  • created detailed documentation for development in Jira

  • collaborated closely with developers during implementation

  • supported testing and iteration

I also:

  • participated in MVP prioritization

  • ran workshops to align teams

  • continuously refined solutions based on feedback

The Outcome

The result was a unified B2B platform that:

  • combines two purchasing models into one coherent experience

  • simplifies complex business logic for end users

  • improves clarity of pricing and promotions

  • enables broader adoption across different user segments

The solution reduced friction in key flows and created a more accessible and scalable system.

The result was a unified B2B platform that:

  • combines two purchasing models into one coherent experience

  • simplifies complex business logic for end users

  • improves clarity of pricing and promotions

  • enables broader adoption across different user segments

The solution reduced friction in key flows and created a more accessible and scalable system.

Key Learnings

Good UX often means challenging business complexity, not translating it

  • Designing for less digital users requires extreme clarity and simplification

  • Cross-functional collaboration is critical in large systems

  • Simplicity is a result of many difficult decisions, not fewer features

Good UX often means challenging business complexity, not translating it

  • Designing for less digital users requires extreme clarity and simplification

  • Cross-functional collaboration is critical in large systems

  • Simplicity is a result of many difficult decisions, not fewer features

Case Study ->

MODIVO — UX Research / E-commerce App

The Challenge

Identifying critical friction points in the end-to-end shopping journey of the Modivo mobile app. As the Research Lead on this project, I was responsible for uncovering why users were dropping out of the funnel and how to align the interface with their high expectations for a premium fashion brand.

Identifying critical friction points in the end-to-end shopping journey of the Modivo mobile app. As the Research Lead on this project, I was responsible for uncovering why users were dropping out of the funnel and how to align the interface with their high expectations for a premium fashion brand.

My Process

I led a structured usability testing process with 12 diverse respondents (iOS & Android):

  • Study Leadership: Defined recruitment criteria and managed the end-to-end research flow, focusing on users with high purchasing power.

  • Usability Testing: Conducted in-depth sessions to test the homepage, product discovery, filtering systems, and the checkout process.

  • Synthesis & Analysis: Categorized findings into positive reactions, minor issues, and critical blockers (e.g., misaligned filters and confusing sizing information).

  • Strategic Recommendations: Translated user frustrations into prioritized design changes, such as refining the "Model vs Product" toggle and fixing the cross-category filtering logic.

I led a structured usability testing process with 12 diverse respondents (iOS & Android):

  • Study Leadership: Defined recruitment criteria and managed the end-to-end research flow, focusing on users with high purchasing power.

  • Usability Testing: Conducted in-depth sessions to test the homepage, product discovery, filtering systems, and the checkout process.

  • Synthesis & Analysis: Categorized findings into positive reactions, minor issues, and critical blockers (e.g., misaligned filters and confusing sizing information).

  • Strategic Recommendations: Translated user frustrations into prioritized design changes, such as refining the "Model vs Product" toggle and fixing the cross-category filtering logic.

The Outcome

Delivered a comprehensive report that served as a roadmap for the design team. By identifying that filters were actually lengthening the purchase process due to irrelevant options, we provided a clear path to reducing cart abandonment. The study also validated high-value features, ensuring that the development team focused on what truly mattered to the premium customer.

Delivered a comprehensive report that served as a roadmap for the design team. By identifying that filters were actually lengthening the purchase process due to irrelevant options, we provided a clear path to reducing cart abandonment. The study also validated high-value features, ensuring that the development team focused on what truly mattered to the premium customer.

Case Study ->

KFC — In-Store Guerilla Research & UX Optimization

The Challenge

Understanding real-world user behavior and pain points within the KFC digital ecosystem. The goal was to validate the usability of self-service kiosks and the mobile app in a high-pressure, fast-paced restaurant environment.

Understanding real-world user behavior and pain points within the KFC digital ecosystem. The goal was to validate the usability of self-service kiosks and the mobile app in a high-pressure, fast-paced restaurant environment.

My Process

I conducted on-site Guerilla Research to capture authentic user feedback:

  • Field Research & Recruitment: Proactively engaged with diverse customers in-store, facilitating on-the-spot sessions in exchange for incentives.

  • Contextual IDIs: Conducted In-Depth Interviews to uncover why certain UI elements caused friction during the ordering process.

  • Stakeholder Presentation: Translated raw qualitative data into a strategic set of UX recommendations, which I presented directly to the Design department and client's business team.

I conducted on-site Guerilla Research to capture authentic user feedback:

  • Field Research & Recruitment: Proactively engaged with diverse customers in-store, facilitating on-the-spot sessions in exchange for incentives.

  • Contextual IDIs: Conducted In-Depth Interviews to uncover why certain UI elements caused friction during the ordering process.

  • Stakeholder Presentation: Translated raw qualitative data into a strategic set of UX recommendations, which I presented directly to the Design department and client's business team.

The Outcome

Provided a bridge between theoretical design and real-world usage. My recommendations led to tangible UI adjustments that simplified the checkout flow, directly addressing the frustrations observed during the field tests. This project demonstrated the high ROI of quick, qualitative field research in optimizing global-scale products.

Provided a bridge between theoretical design and real-world usage. My recommendations led to tangible UI adjustments that simplified the checkout flow, directly addressing the frustrations observed during the field tests. This project demonstrated the high ROI of quick, qualitative field research in optimizing global-scale products.

Case Study ->

PEKAO S.A. — Banking UX & Innovation

The Challenge

Managing and making sense of a massive volume of unstructured user reviews from the Google Play Store and App Store. The goal was to transform thousands of individual comments into actionable insights that could guide the bank’s product roadmap.

Managing and making sense of a massive volume of unstructured user reviews from the Google Play Store and App Store. The goal was to transform thousands of individual comments into actionable insights that could guide the bank’s product roadmap.

My Process

I developed a comprehensive data categorization framework to track user sentiment over time:

  • Taxonomy Development: Created a system of categories such as UI Clarity, Performance (Speed), and Feature Specifics to tag incoming reviews.

  • Dynamic Dashboarding: Built a tool that correlated user ratings (stars) with specific app versions and timeframes.

  • Trend Analysis: Mapped how changes in the app's architecture directly influenced user satisfaction across different demographics.

I developed a comprehensive data categorization framework to track user sentiment over time:

  • Taxonomy Development: Created a system of categories such as UI Clarity, Performance (Speed), and Feature Specifics to tag incoming reviews.

  • Dynamic Dashboarding: Built a tool that correlated user ratings (stars) with specific app versions and timeframes.

  • Trend Analysis: Mapped how changes in the app's architecture directly influenced user satisfaction across different demographics.

The Outcome

Delivered a strategic feedback tool that allowed the product team to see exactly which app updates improved UX and which caused friction. This data-driven approach replaced "gut feeling" with evidence, helping prioritize bug fixes and feature enhancements based on real user pain points.

Delivered a strategic feedback tool that allowed the product team to see exactly which app updates improved UX and which caused friction. This data-driven approach replaced "gut feeling" with evidence, helping prioritize bug fixes and feature enhancements based on real user pain points.

Work experience

UX Designer

Eurocash

2022 - Now

UX Designer

Eurocash

2022 - Now

UX Researcher

Flying Bisons

2021-2022

UX Researcher

Flying Bisons

2021-2022

Innovation Intern

Pekao S.A.

2020-2021

Innovation Intern

Pekao S.A.

2020-2021

UX & Service Design Intern

SWPS/Luxmed

2020

UX & Service Design Intern

SWPS/Luxmed

2020

SEO Intern

Accenture

2019-2020

SEO Intern

Accenture

2019-2020

Courses

AI Product Heroes

AI Product Heroes

2025

AI Product Heroes

AI Product Heroes

2025

UXalliance

UX-PM Level 2

2022

UXalliance

UX-PM Level 2

2022

Hycom DIgital

Projektowanie zmiany

2020

Hycom DIgital

Projektowanie zmiany

2020

Education

Master's Degree

Psychology

2016-2021

Master's Degree

Psychology

2016-2021

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