Creative Developer & Designer
Selected Work
Visual identity redesign for a Copenhagen-based architecture studio.
2024
Analytics platform for a Series B fintech startup.
2024
Curated online retail with 3D product exploration.
2023
Editorial CMS for an independent culture magazine.
2023
Brand Identity
I create brand identities built to last — cohesive systems spanning mark, type, colour, and tone of voice, designed to scale across every touchpoint.
Full visual identity from logotype to brand guidelines and digital templates.
2024
Tactile brand identity and packaging design for an artisan wine importer.
2023
Digital Products
From pixel to production — performant, accessible web experiences using modern tooling and a meticulous eye for detail.
Real-time analytics platform with custom chart components.
2024
Headless editorial platform with rich reading experience.
2023
Motion Design
Animation is not decoration — it's communication. I use motion to guide attention, reinforce hierarchy, and make interactions feel inevitable.
What I Do
Every engagement begins with deep listening — understanding your context, constraints, and ambitions before a single pixel is placed.
What I Build
Production-ready code written with care — performant, accessible, and built to last beyond the launch.
Thinking First
The best outcomes happen when design thinking enters the room early. I offer strategic perspective alongside craft.
About
I'm a creative developer based in New York, working at the overlap of visual design and frontend engineering. With eight years of experience, I've collaborated with studios and startups across three continents.
My approach is rooted in typographic precision, motion as meaning, and the belief that the best digital experiences feel inevitable — as though they couldn't have been built any other way.
Before going independent, I spent four years at a design consultancy in Copenhagen, leading product design for European fintech clients. That discipline shaped everything I do today.
Currently available for select freelance projects and creative collaborations.
What people say
"Alex brought a level of craft and intention that completely transformed how we present ourselves online. Truly exceptional work."
Co-founder, Meridian Studio
"The dashboard Alex designed is not only beautiful — it's the most intuitive product we've shipped. Our users noticed immediately."
CPO, Luma Financial
Capabilities
A considered toolkit — built from years of choosing depth over breadth, and staying curious.
Design
Development
Recognition
Writing
Jan 2025
On the tyranny of the grid
Why the best layouts know when to break the rules.
Nov 2024
Type as architecture
How typographic decisions shape the entire character of a digital space.
Sep 2024
The case for slower animation
Why restraint in motion design is almost always the right choice.
Jul 2024
Designing for nobody
The danger of designing for a hypothetical user who doesn't exist.
Availability
Currently available for new projects starting March 2025. I take on a limited number of engagements per year to ensure full attention on each.
Enquiries
Email hello@alexchen.co with a brief description of your project, timeline, and budget range.
Location
Based in New York, working globally. Available for on-site visits in New York and Copenhagen with advance notice.
Social