personal background
Hey! I am David Martens, a branding and UX/UI designer who has dipped my toes in just about everything! I focus on blending creativity with
UX/UI designer who's dabbled in just
about everything to mix creativity with
strategy. If you want the full story,
check out the desktop version—this is
just the skinny.
strategy. Honestly, I've messed around a lot and dabbled in all design to figure this all out. My journey has been full of trial and error, and through all that at the end of the day, I can make some damn good visuals. I've always had a knack for making things look good. I started
my career in design by creating graphics for YouTubers as a kid, which lead me to perusing an education in graphic design at Purchase College
where I finished at the top of my program.
I started out designing graphics for
YouTubers as a kid, leading me to study
graphic design at Purchase College,
where I graduated at the top of my
class. My career has taken me through
signage architecture, e-commerce, and
running an apparel brand. Through trial
and error, I taught myself to manage
creative direction and lead the teams.
I earned my Master’s at Maryland
Institute College of Art, and with the
world turning more digital, I jumped
fully into UX/UI. I took courses, worked
through tutorials, and decided to
design my own portfolio from scratch.
Along the way, I picked up a Google UX/UI
certificate, and Framer became my
program for Product Design with Shades, a mobile news app.
Cornell program for User Experience Design
and an internship program for Product Design
with Shades, a mobile news app.
In short, I've grown from a self-taught
designer to a strategic UX/UI specialist,
blending aesthetics with functionality
to create designs that truly resonate
with users.
Throughout my professional career, I dove into a variety of jobs and fields, learning everything on the go. Whether it was tackling signage
architecture (something I had no prior experience in until I mastered it), figuring out the world of e-commerce, owning and running an apparel
business while managing creative direction, or collaborating with teams, I taught myself through experience- mistakes and all (because
growth comes from those, right?!). And damn, it was worth it. I went back to school for my master's at Maryland Institute College of Art,
earning a Master of Professional Studies in Business of Art and Design.
With the world changing and becoming more digital, I knew it was the right time to take a risk. I wanted to do UX/UI. I dreamed of it. It was
a passion of mine since college, but life brought me down a different path. So I quit my job to fully immerse myself in the field that I will
absolutely dominate. Nine to five every day, I was reading Irene Pereyra, Don Norman, Gothelf / Seiden, taking the Google UX/UI course, and
working through Figma tutorials. I decided not to use a website template for my portfolio because I wanted to design my own. One tool I've
really mastered is Framer, a game-changer for building websites. Along the way, I also earned my Google UX/UI Certificate, and currently I am
in a Cornell program for User Experience Design as well as a Product Design internship for Shades, a mobile news app. But the real learning
happened through all the hands-on work, messing things up, and figuring it out in real time. It's been crucial for me to design intuitive,
beautiful user experiences that work seamlessly, and it’s hard not to get excited about it when everything just flows.
resonate with users.
experience
Product Design Intern
Shades, California
(2025 - Present)
01
Founder / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Live Swell LI LLC. Babylon, New York
(2019 - Present)
02
LEAD DESIGNER / E-COMMERCE
GDS. Hauppauge, New York
(2021 - 2024)
03
LEAD DESIGNER
Lacrosse Unlimited. Hauppauge, New York
(2019 - 2021)
04
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP
Lessings Inc. Great River, NY
(JUNE 2018 - Oct 2018)
05
Creative Intern & Designer
Wilen New York | Direct Marketing Agency Melville, NY
(2013 - 2018 Summers)
06
education
Maryland Institute College of Art
Master of Professional Studies, Business
of Art and Design (M.P.S. BAD)
(2021 - 2023)
01
Purchase College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Candidate Graphic Design
Purchase, NY
(2016 - 2019)
02
Farmingdale College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Graphic Design
Farmingdale, NY
(2015 - 2016)
03
St. John the Baptist DHS
High School Diploma
West Islip, NY
(2011 - 2015)
04
certificates / awards
ECornell User Experience Design
Jan 2025 - Present
01
Google ux design professional certificate
Issued Apr 2024
02
Google ux design professional certificate
Issued Oct 2024
02
master figma from 0 to 100
Issued Apr 2024
03
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
04
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
05
windgate a& d scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2018 - 2019)
06
nancy jo abeles scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
07
awards of excellence scholarship
Annual Babylon, NY Art Festival
(2016)
08
Sustainability in design
Purchase College, NY
(2019)
09
abilities
• Figma
• Framer
• Invision Studio
• Spline
• Bezi
• Midjourney
• Corel
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• After Effects
• premier
• Light Room
• InDesign
• XD
• E-Commerce
• Motion Design
• interface design
• Responsive Design
• Content Strategy
• Wireframing
• Usability Testing
• apparel design
• Social Media Marketing
• Photography
• team management
anyways….
Outside of design, I'm big into CrossFit and working out. It keeps me balanced. I have a beautiful wife, and despite my golden retriever
and working out, it keeps me balanced. I
have a beautiful wife, and despite my
golden retriever energy, I'm still the
'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me
at the beach, hanging out with friends,
playing volleyball or spikeball,
enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
energy, I'm still the 'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me at the beach, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or
spikeball, enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
personal
background
Hey! I'm David Martens, a branding and
UX/UI designer who's dabbled in just
about everything to mix creativity with
strategy. If you want the full story,
check out the desktop version—this is
just the skinny.
strategy. Honestly, I've messed around a lot and dabbled in all design to figure this all out. My journey has been full of trial and error, and through all that at the end of the day, I can make some damn good visuals. I've always had a knack for making things look good. I started
my career in design by creating graphics for YouTubers as a kid, which lead me to perusing an education in graphic design at Purchase College
where I finished at the top of my program.
I started out designing graphics for
YouTubers as a kid, leading me to study
graphic design at Purchase College,
where I graduated at the top of my
class. My career has taken me through
signage architecture, e-commerce, and
running an apparel brand. Through trial
and error, I taught myself to manage
creative direction and lead the teams.
I earned my Master’s at Maryland
Institute College of Art, and with the
world turning more digital, I jumped
fully into UX/UI. I took courses, worked
through tutorials, and decided to
design my own portfolio from scratch.
Along the way, I picked up a Google UX/UI
certificate, and currently I am in a
program for Product Design with Shades, a mobile news app.
Cornell program for User Experience Design
and an internship program for Product Design
with Shades, a mobile news app.
In short, I've grown from a self-taught
designer to a strategic UX/UI specialist,
blending aesthetics with functionality
to create designs that truly resonate
with users.
Throughout my professional career, I dove into a variety of jobs and fields, learning everything on the go. Whether it was tackling signage
architecture (something I had no prior experience in until I mastered it), figuring out the world of e-commerce, owning and running an apparel
business while managing creative direction, or collaborating with teams, I taught myself through experience- mistakes and all (because
growth comes from those, right?!). And damn, it was worth it. I went back to school for my master's at Maryland Institute College of Art,
earning a Master of Professional Studies in Business of Art and Design.
With the world changing and becoming more digital, I knew it was the right time to take a risk. I wanted to do UX/UI. I dreamed of it. It was
a passion of mine since college, but life brought me down a different path. So I quit my job to fully immerse myself in the field that I will
absolutely dominate. Nine to five every day, I was reading Irene Pereyra, Don Norman, Gothelf / Seiden, taking the Google UX/UI course, and
working through Figma tutorials. I decided not to use a website template for my portfolio because I wanted to design my own. One tool I've
really mastered is Framer, a game-changer for building websites. Along the way, I also earned my Google UX/UI Certificate, and currently I am
in a Cornell program for User Experience Design as well as a Product Design internship for Shades, a mobile news app. But the real learning
happened through all the hands-on work, messing things up, and figuring it out in real time. It's been crucial for me to design intuitive,
beautiful user experiences that work seamlessly, and it’s hard not to get excited about it when everything just flows.
resonate with users.
experience
Product Design Intern
shades, california
(2025 - Present)
01
Founder / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Live Swell LI LLC. Babylon, ny
(2019 - Present)
02
LEAD DESIGNER / E-COMMERCE
GDS. Hauppauge, ny
(2021 - 2024)
03
LEAD DESIGNER
Lacrosse Unlimited. Hauppauge, ny
(2019 - 2021)
04
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP
LESSINGS INC. GREAT RIVER,NY
(JUNE 2018 - Oct 2018)
05
Creative Intern & Designer
WILEN NEW YORK | DIRECT MARKETING AGENCY MELVILLE, NY
(2013 - 2018 Summers)
06
education
Maryland Institute College of Art
Master of Professional Studies,
Business of Art and Design
(M.P.S. BAD)
(2021 - 2023)
01
Purchase College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Candidate
Graphic Design Purchase, NY
(2016 - 2019)
02
Farmingdale College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Graphic
Design Farmingdale, NY
(2015 - 2016)
03
St. John the Baptist DHS
High School Diploma
West Islip, NY
(2011 - 2015)
04
certificates /
awards
ECornell User
Experience Design
Jan 2025 - Present
01
Google ux design professional
certificate
Issued Apr 2024
02
Google ux design professional certificate
Issued Oct 2024
02
master figma from 0 to 100
Issued Apr 2024
03
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
04
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
04
windgate a& d scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2018 - 2019)
06
nancy jo abeles scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
05
awards of excellence scholarship
Annual Babylon, NY Art Festival
(2016)
06
Sustainability in design
Purchase College, NY
(2019)
07
abilities
• Figma
• Framer
• Invision Studio
• Spline
• Bezi
• Midjourney
• Corel
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• After Effects
• premier
• Light Room
• InDesign
• XD
• E-Commerce
• Motion Design
• interface design
• Responsive Design
• Content Strategy
• Wireframing
• Usability Testing
• apparel design
• Social Media Marketing
• Photography
• team management
anyways….
Outside of design, I'm big into CrossFit
and working out. It keeps me balanced. I
have a beautiful wife, and despite my
golden retriever energy, I'm still the
'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me
at the beach, hanging out with friends,
playing volleyball or spikeball,
enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
energy, I'm still the 'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me at the beach, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or
spikeball, enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
personal background
Hey! I am david martens a branding and UX/UI designer who has dipped my toes in just about everything! focusing on blending creativity with strategy. Honestly, I've messed around a lot to figure
UX/UI designer who's dabbled in just
about everything to mix creativity with
strategy. If you want the full story,
check out the desktop version—this is
just the skinny.
this all out. My journey has been full of trial and error, and through all that At the end of the day, I can make some damn good visuals. I've always had a knack for making things look good.
I started by creating graphics for YouTubers as a kid, which lead me to perusing an education in graphic design at Purchase College where I finished at the top of my class.
where I finished at the top of my program.
I started out designing graphics for
YouTubers as a kid, leading me to study
graphic design at Purchase College,
where I graduated at the top of my
class. My career has taken me through
signage architecture, e-commerce, and
running an apparel brand. Through trial
and error, I taught myself to manage
creative direction and lead the teams.
I earned my Master’s at Maryland
Institute College of Art, and with the
world turning more digital, I jumped
fully into UX/UI. I took courses, worked
through tutorials, and decided to
design my own portfolio from scratch.
Along the way, I picked up a Google UX/UI
certificate, and Framer became my
program for Product Design with Shades, a mobile news app.
Cornell program for User Experience Design
and an internship program for Product Design
with Shades, a mobile news app.
In short, I've grown from a self-taught
designer to a strategic UX/UI specialist,
blending aesthetics with functionality
to create designs that truly resonate
with users.
Throughout my professional career, I dove into a variety of jobs and fields, learning everything on the go. Whether it was tackling signage architecture (something I had no prior experience
in until I mastered it), figuring out the world of e-commerce, owning and running an apparel business while managing creative direction, or collaborating with teams, I taught myself through
experience- mistakes and all (because growth comes from those, right?!). And damn, it was worth it. I went back to school for my master's at Maryland Institute College of Art, earning a Master
growth comes from those, right?!). And damn, it was worth it. I went back to school for my master's at Maryland Institute College of Art,
of Professional Studies in Business of Art and Design.
With the world changing and becoming more digital, I knew it was the right time to take a risk. I wanted to do UX/UI. I dreamed of it. I quit my job to fully immerse myself in the field that I
will absolutely dominate. Nine to five every day, I was reading Irene Pereyra, Don Norman, Gothelf / Seiden, taking the Google UX/UI course, and working through Figma courses. I decided not to
use A website template for my portfolio because I wanted to design my own-going back to my roots. One tool I've really mastered is Framer, an game-changer for building websites.
working through Figma tutorials. I decided not to use a website template for my portfolio because I wanted to design my own. One tool I've
Along the way, I also earned my Google UX/UI Certificate, and currently in a Cornell program for User Experience Design. But the real learning happened through all the hands-on work, messing
things up, and figuring it out in real time. It's been crucial for me to design intuitive, beautiful user experiences that work seamlessly, and it’s hard not to get excited about it when
happened through all the hands-on work, messing things up, and figuring it out in real time. It's been crucial for me to design intuitive,
beautiful user experiences that work seamlessly, and it’s hard not to get excited about it when everything just flows.
resonate with users.
experience
Product Design Intern
Shades, California
(2025 - Present)
01
Founder / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Live Swell LI LLC. Babylon, New York
(2019 - Present)
02
LEAD DESIGNER / E-COMMERCE
GDS. Hauppauge, New York
(2021 - 2024)
03
LEAD DESIGNER
Lacrosse Unlimited. Hauppauge, New York
(2019 - 2021)
04
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP
Lessings Inc. Great River, NY
(June 2018 - Oct 2018)
05
Creative Intern & Designer
Wilen New York | Direct Marketing Agency Melville, NY
(2013 - 2018 Summers)
06
education
Maryland Institute College of Art
Master of Professional Studies, Business
of Art and Design (M.P.S. BAD)
(2021 - 2023)
01
Purchase College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Candidate Graphic Design
Purchase, NY
(2016 - 2019)
02
Farmingdale College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Graphic Design
Farmingdale, NY
(2015 - 2016)
03
St. John the Baptist DHS
High School Diploma
West Islip, NY
(2011 - 2015)
04
certificates / awards
ECornell User Experience Design
Jan 2025 - Present
01
ECornell User Experience Design
Jan 2025 - Present
01
Google ux design professional certificate
Issued Oct 2024
02
master figma from 0 to 100
Issued Apr 2024
03
Google ux design professional certificate
Purchase College, NY
Issued Oct 2024
04
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
05
windgate a& d scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2018 - 2019)
06
nancy jo abeles scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
07
awards of excellence scholarship
Annual Babylon, NY Art Festival
(2016)
08
Sustainability in design
Purchase College, NY
(2019)
09
abilities
• Figma
• Framer
• Invision Studio
• Spline
• Bezi
• Midjourney
• Corel
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• After Effects
• premier
• Light Room
• InDesign
• XD
• E-Commerce
• Motion Design
• interface design
• Responsive Design
• Content Strategy
• Wireframing
• Usability Testing
• apparel design
• Social Media Marketing
• Photography
• team management
anyways….
Outside of design, I'm big into CrossFit and working out. It keeps me balanced. I have a beautiful wife, and despite my golden retriever energy, I'm still the 'dad' of the friend group. You’ll
and working out, it keeps me balanced. I
have a beautiful wife, and despite my
golden retriever energy, I'm still the
'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me
at the beach, hanging out with friends,
playing volleyball or spikeball,
enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
often find me at the beach, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or spikeball, enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
spikeball, enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
personal background
Hey! I'm David Martens, a branding and UX/UI designer who's dabbled in just about everything
UX/UI designer who's dabbled in just
about everything to mix creativity with
to do with design.
check out the desktop version—this is
just the skinny.
strategy. Honestly, I've messed around a lot and dabbled in all design to figure this all out. My journey has been full of trial and error, and through all that at the end of the day, I can make some damn good visuals. I've always had a knack for making things look good. I started
my career in design by creating graphics for YouTubers as a kid, which lead me to perusing an education in graphic design at Purchase College
where I finished at the top of my program.
I started out designing graphics for YouTubers as a kid, leading me to study graphic design
YouTubers as a kid, leading me to study
graphic design at Purchase College,
at Purchase College, where I graduated at the top of my class. My career has taken me
class. My career has taken me through
through signage architecture, e-commerce, and running an apparel brand. Through trial
running an apparel brand. Through trial
and error, I taught myself to manage creative direction and lead the teams.
creative direction and lead the teams.
I earned my Master’s at Maryland Institute College of Art, and with the world turning
Institute College of Art, and with the
world turning more digital, I jumped
more digital, I jumped fully into UX/UI. I took courses, worked through tutorials, and
through tutorials, and decided to
decided to design my own portfolio from scratch. Along the way, I picked up a Google UX/UI
Along the way, I picked up a Google UX/UI
certificate, and currently I am in a Cornell program for User Experience Design and an internship
program for Product Design with Shades, a mobile news app.
Cornell program for User Experience Design
and an internship program for Product Design
with Shades, a mobile news app.
In short, I've grown from a self-taught designer to a strategic UX/UI specialist, blending
designer to a strategic UX/UI specialist,
blending aesthetics with functionality
aesthetics with functionality to create designs that truly resonate with users.
with users.
Throughout my professional career, I dove into a variety of jobs and fields, learning everything on the go. Whether it was tackling signage
architecture (something I had no prior experience in until I mastered it), figuring out the world of e-commerce, owning and running an apparel
business while managing creative direction, or collaborating with teams, I taught myself through experience- mistakes and all (because
growth comes from those, right?!). And damn, it was worth it. I went back to school for my master's at Maryland Institute College of Art,
earning a Master of Professional Studies in Business of Art and Design.
With the world changing and becoming more digital, I knew it was the right time to take a risk. I wanted to do UX/UI. I dreamed of it. It was
a passion of mine since college, but life brought me down a different path. So I quit my job to fully immerse myself in the field that I will
absolutely dominate. Nine to five every day, I was reading Irene Pereyra, Don Norman, Gothelf / Seiden, taking the Google UX/UI course, and
working through Figma tutorials. I decided not to use a website template for my portfolio because I wanted to design my own. One tool I've
really mastered is Framer, a game-changer for building websites. Along the way, I also earned my Google UX/UI Certificate, and currently I am
in a Cornell program for User Experience Design as well as a Product Design internship for Shades, a mobile news app. But the real learning
happened through all the hands-on work, messing things up, and figuring it out in real time. It's been crucial for me to design intuitive,
beautiful user experiences that work seamlessly, and it’s hard not to get excited about it when everything just flows.
resonate with users.
experience
Product Design Intern
sHADes, california
(2025 - Present)
01
Founder / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Live Swell LI LLC. Babylon, ny
(2019 - Present)
02
LEAD DESIGNER / E-COMMERCE
GDS. Hauppauge, ny
(2021 - 2024)
03
LEAD DESIGNER
Lacrosse Unlimited. Hauppauge, ny
(2019 - 2021)
04
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERNSHIP
LESSINGS INC. GREAT RIVER,NY
(JUNE 2018 - Oct 2018)
05
Creative Intern & Designer
WILEN NEW YORK | DIRECT MARKETING AGENCY MELVILLE, NY
(2013 - 2018 Summers)
06
education
Maryland Institute College of Art
Master of Professional Studies,
Business of Art and Design
(M.P.S. BAD)
(2021 - 2023)
01
Purchase College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Candidate
Graphic Design Purchase, NY
(2016 - 2019)
02
Farmingdale College, SUNY
Bachelor of Arts Graphic
Design Farmingdale, NY
(2015 - 2016)
03
St. John the Baptist DHS
High School Diploma
West Islip, NY
(2011 - 2015)
04
certificates / awards
ECornell User Experience Design
Jan 2025 - Present
01
Google ux design professional
certificate
Issued Apr 2024
02
Google ux design professional certificate
Issued Oct 2024
02
master figma from 0 to 100
Issued Apr 2024
03
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
04
school of arts scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
04
windgate a& d scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2018 - 2019)
06
nancy jo abeles scholarship
Purchase College, NY
(2017 - 2018)
05
awards of excellence scholarship
Annual Babylon, NY Art Festival
(2016)
06
Sustainability in design
Purchase College, NY
(2019)
07
abilities
• Figma
• Framer
• Invision Studio
• Spline
• Bezi
• Midjourney
• Corel
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• After Effects
• premier
• Light Room
• InDesign
• XD
• E-Commerce
• Motion Design
• interface design
• Responsive Design
• Content Strategy
• Wireframing
• Usability Testing
• apparel design
• Social Media Marketing
• Photography
• team management
anyways….
Outside of design, I'm big into CrossFit and working out. It keeps me balanced. I have a
beautiful wife, and despite my golden retriever energy, I'm still the 'dad' of the friend group.
have a beautiful wife, and despite my
golden retriever energy, I'm still the
'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me
You’ll often find me at the beach, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or spikeball,
enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.
energy, I'm still the 'dad' of the friend group. You’ll often find me at the beach, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or
spikeball, enjoying video games, or grabbing sushi.