AI avatar vid, because why not?

I bring calm & clarity to the chaos.

Hi, I’m Joshua Schmitz, Designer and Engineer.

A client once told me I was “the best designer he ever worked with.” I suspect he really meant was that I was the best listener.

Driven by curiosity, I dive into complex problems to uncover the human struggle behind them. By using a thoughtful design process that connects user needs with strategic goals, I turn ideas into products that feel both intentional and impactful.

My professional work spans two decades of creative effort, from editorial & composition for a local newspaper to brand, identity, marketing campaigns, websites and native & even Gen AI apps for Fortune 500 companies. Along the way, I’ve earned two national design awards: an Addy for UI/UX in 2015 and a People’s Voice Award in 2020 for my work on CBRE’s One Vanderbilt Avenue and St. Jude’s mobile app.

Now, what you need is a design leader forged by the intensity of agency deadlines, someone with a proven record of turning complex challenges into actual outcomes. You need a designer who digs deep to find the heart of a problem, refines every detail without losing sight of the big picture, and fosters collaboration over ego, so every voice can contribute to the vision. In short, you need me. With the experience, credentials, and perspective of twenty years, I’ve learned to turn fear into action and failure into growth. I’m more ready than ever to tackle challenges and create meaningful, lasting design solutions.

Career Achievements

30
Design systems
& styleguides
16
Fortune 500 clients
& employers
100s
Hundreds of successful
product launches
Countless failures (lessons)
& iterations
2
National Awards
Explore My Projects

What previous clients, supervisors, & direct reports have to say:

Skill rundown

"Yeah, it all sounds great when [I] lay it out like that, but I didn't know what I was doing half the time, and I nearly always had help." ~ Harry Potter

Strategy Beaker

Product Strategy
& Research

  • Usability Testing
  • Competitive Analysis
  • User Interviews
  • Mapping & Taxonomy
Rebel Branding

Branding
& Consistency

  • Visual Language Development
  • Logo & Identity
  • Brand/Style Guides
  • Design Systems
Gameboy

Product
Design

  • User Interface & Experience
  • Flows & Wireframes
  • Interface/Interaction Design
  • Journey Mapping
Product Rocket

Aerospace Engineering
(NEW!)

  • Design, Prototyping, & Surfacing
  • Materials & Stress Testing
  • Controls & Systems
  • Catia, Solidworks, & Blender
Dev Svg

App & Game
Development

  • HTML, S/CSS, & JS
  • Unity & Unreal Engine
  • Sprite & Level Design
  • Combat Design & Choreography
Earth

Fine Art & Music
(Always)

  • Guitar, Vocals, & Voice Acting
  • Screenprinting & Printmaking
  • Metalwork & Sculpture
  • Architectural & Environmental Design
Resume