Proliminal by
Jacob Wessman
I am deeply passionate about creating digital experiences for people.
Most people specialise in one thing, but me? I am more like...everything but the kitchen sink — That's a good thing! I’ve spent most of my career in-house and behind the scenes. Helping teams shape their sales strategies, creating meaningful designs, or working alongside passionate people to build compelling communication campaigns. Or all of things at once! And yes, I am that person who obsesses over making websites both beautiful AND accessible.
I see the world through my own unique lens thanks to my autism - and let me tell you, it makes for some interesting design perspectives! My design journey started unexpectedly in 2014 while I was working in sales. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a passion, and by 2019, I had taken the leap into freelance design work.
My unique way of seeing patterns and possibilities helps me crack design challenges. Think of it as having a secret superpower – while I can't fly (which would admittedly be cool), I am passionate about creating designs that connect with people on a deeper level. I love seeing how thoughtful communication and design can bring people together and spark change.
SERVICES
I provide comprehensive digital designNGOs and businesses. Optimizing web design to enhance user experiences.
Research + Prototyping: Expertise in design research, user journey maps, UI design, prototyping, and project oversight.
Brand Design: Developing powerful brand identities that embody and communicate values and purpose.
Front-End Development: Proficient in web design, User experience enhancements, SEO & data configurations.
Think of me... like your whole digital toolbox: from making websites that actually work for your users, to wrestling technical errors into submission, to turning your email marketing from 'hello [no-name]' to 'wow.'
Need a website? Sure! I am proficient in: WordPress, Webflow, Framer or And if you've got a crazy idea that breaks the mould? Even better.
When it comes to making things run smoother: I am your person! Yes, I have developed: e-commerce setups, CRM automation, and email marketing campaigns.
Here's a peek at some projects beyond the everyday commercial work I do. I am constantly exploring different styles:
Design approach
My expertise lies in strategic integration of design concepts, ensuring concrete results through stages of exploration, interpretation, and facilitation.
01. Interpretation - Never assume: The exploration of each idea is seen as a pivotal part of my design process, where deep-grounded comprehension is prioritized over assumptions.
02. Facilitation - Removing yourself: The belief in self-detachment is upheld to expedite idea generation and solution finding — akin to refining a successful conversion rate, effective ideas evolve through a continuous process of testing, self-removal & gaining insights .
03. People focus - Design for humanity: A emphasis on empathy, with an aim to understand user motivations and expectations. This focus on people first design fuels the research and reveals potential design elements for implementation.
I hold an unwavering conviction to make design good and serviceable for all humanity.
I constantly dig deeper to understand how design can serve everyone more effectively, not just a select few. This isn't just work for me. It stands as a commitment to make design truly accessible and meaningful for all people. I am incredibly fortunate to work with organizations and businesses that share this vision. Seeing how thoughtful design transforms someone's daily life for the better, reinforces my belief that we create good design with built-in impact.
Design process. I have a profound love for research and clarity.
The process of hypothesising…is perhaps what I love most.
Before I start any design project, I find myself sketching—My pen traces potential user journeys across paper, following invisible breadcrumbs or potential user journey. What paths might someone take? What might delight them? What are the hidden insights I can discover about this core demographic? This process will ultimately inform the eventual human interaction elements. It's at this juncture that design takes its initial form or life. I've always found myself curious by the hidden processes and stories inherent in every design. Each sketch becomes a question: How might people actually use this: – product – website – brand? I visualise the user and how at they might navigate what I design. Even in branding projects—where some might focus solely on visual identity—I find myself considering the complete experience.
Design, for me, has never been about creating something beautiful in isolation.
It's about creating a whole experience. Leaving visual breadcrumbs that guide users exactly where they need to go—often without them even realising they're being guided at all — that for me, is the definition of good design. Inviable by design, but seen in thoughts and actions. My hope is not just making things look beautiful, but making them feel intuitive, and following the user journey till it becomes a complete experience — brand —product.
First steps:
- I love sketching out wireframes and mapping user journeys - following the breadcrumbs. Hypothesising... How might people actually use the website or product I am creating.
- Then into Figma, where pixels and possibilities come together. I am always re-drafting my briefs and seeking further clarity at each stage. Validation and exploration continues.
- What really gets me excited? Diving into the data or research and asking those 'what if' questions that sparks iterative change.
I am often pondering 'How can we make this flow better?' or 'What if we tried something totally unexpected here?' - You will always find me with a trusty notebook on hand (actually, I've filled so many that I have three boxes of them stashed away). These paper companions have saved countless spontaneous ideas from vanishing into the void. Because let's be honest - creativity doesn't wait for you to boot up your laptop.
Start your next project
Or email ⟶ jacob@proliminal.design
Designing for people. I simplify user journeys and make complex processes more efficient. My hope is to make digital design more insightful, practical, and human.
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