Name: Martin Knight
Company Role: UI/UX Designer

What is something other professionals have to deal with in your industry that you want to fix?

I think one of the most interesting challenges we as designers face is approaching projects from a users perspective and validating our assumptions. One of the many advantages of working with a team of awesome designers is that we’re constantly analysing and sharing each others work to root out biases and consider all eventualities. It’s a multidisciplinary role, but what really defines and focuses our apps is the collective approach we practise.

What do you do at Perigee?

As a UX/UI designer at Perigee I’m involved with the entire design cycle, from brainstorming new concepts, user research to wireframes, mockups, development and user testing. That’s one of the benefits and challenges of working with a small design team, the ability to be active on multiple fronts; on the same day you can be busy designing a suite of new icons while also researching new ideas for cool new app features.

What’s your story?

I’m originally from Ireland but spent most of my life travelling around Europe working for different design companies and tech industries. In 2016 I returned to University in Dublin to complete a Bachelor of Science Digital Technologies, Design and Innovation. When I moved to Malmö a few years ago one position in particular stood out - UI/UX at Perigee. It proposed a challenging role that offered the opportunity to be both creative while exploring developing new app features.

Your top 3 favorite podcasts/books?

As a designer, I’ve enjoyed reading the following books (in no specific order):

• Ways of Seeing - John Berger
• Design for Real Life - Eric A. Meyer, Sara Wachter-Boettcher
• Don’t Make Me Think - Steve Krug

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

Spending time with my family. I’m relatively new to Sweden so love nothing more than packing up at the weekend and hitting the road to explore my new home. I enjoy swimming all year round in the baltic and kayaking in Sweden’s thousands of lakes when time permits. Other than that, recording when time allows for it - I’ve worked on several soundtracks and theatrical compositions.

What are you passionate about?

My family, first and foremost - they’re the spring in my step.

How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

I love that we’re a group of people from all different walks of life and backgrounds, we all bring our own individuality and approach. As such, being involved in close-knit multidisciplinary teams, I feel it’s important to promote a positive, friendly and respectful attitude in the studio. So these are the traits I’d hope I can be recognised for - unfortunately my “Dad jokes” might be gaining a bigger reputation...

What has been your favorite project at Perigee?

I always loved illustration and iconography creation so I’ve been heavily involved in that department - specifically I had a really interesting task to illustrate a suite of mood and symptom ideas for Cycles, I also really enjoyed teaming up for the new website designs and focusing on the iconography. On a more technical note some of the in-app experience features have been really interesting to be involved with. It’s difficult to pin-point one area because we’re tasked with so many diverse challenges - one day you can be editing audio and the next there might be tweaks to animations sequences - the challenges are always changing which make it interesting.

What skill(s) have you developed while working at Perigee?

A lot. I’ve worked a lot with web and visual identity before, so plunging into the app arena was a real eye opener. I would say my visual design has improved since working closely with the other designers at Perigee and my understanding and identifying of key app functionality through research and testing has greatly improved. But honestly there’s always something new to learn and this position provides plenty of inlets, then it’s up to us how far we want to explore a new skill!

Like what you heard? Want to work with Martin? Check out our latest designer positions: https://careers.perigee.se/