I'm Martins — a design engineer in Toronto. 5+ years at startups, usually as the first or only designer. I design products, build the frontend, and ship. I don't wait for handoffs because I am the handoff.
How I work
I design primarily in Figma, but ideation and iteration can happen in any tool — Paper, Claude, pen and paper. The tool changes, the process doesn't: solve the problem, ship the solution. I build production UI in React and Tailwind, and I'm used to working directly with founders and engineers — fast iteration, async-first, no ceremony.
I explore generative AI tools obsessively — anything that changes how products get designed and built, I've probably tried it. When the team needs brand, marketing assets, or pitch decks, I do that too.
Stack
Figma, Claude, and whatever ships the idea fastest
React, CSS, HTML, Tailwind, Framer Motion
Token architecture, component libraries, shadcn/ui
Claude, Cursor, generative prototyping
Brand identity, marketing design, pitch decks
Previously
Writing
I Vibecoded a Mac App Because My MIDI Controller Couldn’t Transpose
How a frustrating hardware limitation became a weekend project that actually works.
Mar 19, 2026the thing they don't tell you about designing for an industry you know nothing about
every role I've taken, I walked in knowing almost nothing about the industry.video editing software.
Looking for
A founding designer role or a small design team at an early-stage startup. I'm at my best in lean teams where I work directly with founders and engineers — the kind of environment where everyone wears multiple hats and decisions happen fast. If you're building something ambitious and need a designer who ships — let's talk.
Get in touch
Martinsolaniyanux@gmail.comToronto, Canada