Michal Hempel

Designing digital products that work.

I’m Michal Hempel, a design practice lead based in Sydney, specialising in simplifying complex systems. Most recently I led a team of fifteen designers and researchers at Serko / Booking.com.

  • 2× Webby Honourable Mentions
  • 3× Bronze, Best Design Awards NZ
  • Good Design Award

Selected work

  1. myMSD: redefining self-service

    The redesign of the Ministry of Social Development's StudyLink and myMSD portals, built for around 2 million New Zealanders.

    Government, Finalist at Best Design Awards

  2. National news, radio and TV ecosystem

    Digital transformation of Mediaworks' entire media suite. Redesigned news consumption for the mobile-first generation.

    Media, App of the Year Canon Media Awards, Bronze at Best Design Awards NZ

  3. Co-operative Bank: focus on customers

    Transforming New Zealand’s niche community bank into a digital first-tier contender with an award-winning user-centric experience.

    Financial services, Canstar Blue 5-Star, Bronze Designers Institute Award, Webby Honorable Mention

  4. Metservice: weather app for everyone

    Metservice's app and website are among the most used in New Zealand. Presenting genuinely complex scientific weather data in a format that stayed appealing and easy to understand.

    Government, Bronze Pin at Best Design Awards, Good Design Award, Webby Honoree

  5. VTNZ: bringing a paper-based process online

    Replacing the paper version of New Zealand's standard driver test with a tablet-based solution for driving assessors.

    Work tablet applications, Bronze at Best Design Awards NZ

  6. Mobile workforce applications

    Two apps built for people working out in the field rather than at a desk, one verifying every address in New Zealand ahead of the Census.

    Mobile workforce

  7. Strategy for NZ Parliament

    Exploratory work with Alphero's principal consultants, testing ways of presenting legislation in a form the public could actually navigate.

    Strategy

Building the practice

My experience across agencies, startups, and product companies taught me that great design and great teams are inseparable. I build both — embedding research and strategy into how design works, not just what it delivers.

  • Established a Design Community of Practice and Center of Excellence improving company wide quality and consistency of design outputs
  • Managed multiple delivery modes across a number of work streams
  • Led a strategic initiative to transition to data and research led growth design practice
  • Charted a strategic direction for the improved, multi-brand design system
  • Led accessibility initiative to ensure compliance with EU Accessibility Act

Full CV and career history