Designer,
Strategist &
Team Lead
Design is a mindset.
About
I am Christian – a designer, strategist, and team leader with a proven track record of success in creating impactful design solutions and leading high-performing teams.
With a focus on human-centered design and design thinking, I have honed my skills in creating strategies that are both effective and user-friendly. I am committed to creating engaging and impactful user experiences, and I am especially astute at devising simple and effective design solutions in complex conditions. In addition to my expertise in design, I am also skilled in assembling and growing teams, as well as developing people.
I’ve worked in a wide range of industries, including automotive, financial services, e-commerce, and deep tech.
Outside of work I am driven by a curiosity to discover the unfamiliar and am constantly in pursuit of the new. I am really into music, art & design, typography, and Scandinavia. Otherwise, I can be found engaging in one of my various outdoor activities, like snowboarding, hiking, surfing, or swimming.
Work Expertise
More than 15 years of experience
Experience
Raisin
VP Design
Mar 2024 - Present
Raisin is a leading online platform that revolutionizes the way people can manage and optimize their savings and investments by offering easy access to a diverse range of competitive products from banks across Europe and US.
I lead design, injecting innovation and a focus on human needs into every facet of our platform.
Vay
VP Product, Design & Brand
Jan 2023 - Feb 2024
Director of Product, Design & Brand
Aug 2020 - Dec 2022
Vay is a deep tech startup and working on a new approach to driverless mobility. The mission is to reshape how people autonomously move in metropolitan areas – making getting from A to B safer, more sustainable, and accessible for everyone.
I led the global product, design, and brand team intending to deliver a holistic experience in the teleoperation space as well as to the end user.
N26
Head of Design
Feb 2018 - Jul 2020
Lead Designer
May 2017 - Jan 2018
N26 is one of the highest-valued fintech startups in the world and provides mobile banking services and lets customers manage and control their banking details via a smartphone application easily.
I led the global design, bridging brand design, product design, and user research. I’ve scaled the team from 6 to more than 60 people across multiple locations, established a design-driven culture in the company, repositioned the brand, built a large-scale design system, and fundamentally influenced product development.
IDEO
Senior Lead Designer
Feb 2016 - Apr 2017
Lead Designer
Feb 2015 - Jan 2016
Senior Interaction Designer
Feb 2014 - Jan 2015
Interaction Designer
Jan 2012 - Jan 2014
IDEO is an international design and consulting firm founded in Palo Alto, California. With the invention of Design Thinking, the company has become a leading innovation enabler in products, services, management, and organizational design.
I created concepts, prototypes, and visual designs for digital products and services. I was leading teams for a variety of clients within the tech and automotive industry, e-commerce, retail, and financial services.
Telekom Innovation Laboratories
Product Designer
Dec 2010 - Dec 2011
Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T-Labs) is the R&D unit of Deutsche Telekom, where international experts and scientists work together on blockchain technology, smart city concepts, artificial intelligence, and new media experiences.
I have created concepts and designed and developed mobile interfaces to future-proof ideas in preparation for large scale.
IXDS/PwC
Product Designer
Dec 2008 - Nov 2010
IXDS (acquired by PwC) is a design consultancy at the intersection of experience, business, and technology. Engineers, designers, and consultants design, prototype and activate innovative products and services.
I was researching, prototyping, and designing the implementation of in-car interactions for Volkswagen, creating interactive applications for museums, and working strategically on security software.
Mercedes Benz
Web Designer
Jun 2008 - Dec 2008
Mercedes-Benz is a global automobile company of Daimler AG. The Berlin headquarters is responsible for local marketing, retail, and sales concepts.
I was maintaining the company website of the Mercedes-Benz branch in Berlin and created interactive marketing campaigns.
New Roses
Brand Designer
Jan 2006 - May 2008
New Roses Corporate Communications is a brand, strategy, and graphic design agency based in Berlin, bridging strategy consultancy to build strong brands./p>
I was responsible for the new media department, creating concepts, designing, and developing websites as well as digital and print campaigns.
Tutor Activities
University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Thesis Assessor
2020
Thesis Assessor For Interface Design Program
University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Lecturer
2018
Lecturer “Crafting User Interfaces” For Bachelor Of Arts (Interface Design)
Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design
Examiner
2015
Examiner For Final Interaction Design Thesis Presentations
Education
University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Bachelor
2006 – 2011
Bachelor Of Arts With Honors, Interface Design
Malmö University (Malmö Högskola)
Master
2009 – 2010
Master (Term Abroad During Bachelor Study)
New Roses
Apprenticeship
2004 – 2006
Apprenticeship As Media Designer For Digital And Print Media (IHK)
Interviews & Podcasts
Read and listen about my perspectives
-
28 Jun 2022Meet Christian Hertlein, Director of Design and Brandby Vay -
23 Sep 2019How N26 created a design-centric culture from day oneby Workshopper -
29 Oct 2018How to organize design teams and promote design cultureby BeyondUsers -
20 June 2019Business Metrics of Designby Framer -
02 Jan 2019Work and life at digital underdog within the banking landscapeby WorkWithUs -
12 Dec 2017Christian Hertlein — Head of Design at N26by N26