Michael Propp

Director, UX

Throughout Michael’s 27+ years of experience, he’s built and led design teams and partnered with executives and product owners to deliver innovative and results-driven design, establishing cohesive brand experiences on the web.

One

Simplicity is achieved through iteration and user research

Two

Curiosity empowers creativity

Three

Strong relationships are essential to driving a vision

Four

Empathy is critical to solving design problems

My Life

Early in my career, after many years of late hours, lots of coffee, and putting my job first, I developed a foundational skill set that carries with me today. The core aspects include a need to earn the trust of my peers every day, be proactive in project communication, and embrace/give feedback. Because I love what I do, I also want to balance every day between work and family. Being married to a wonderful woman and the proud father of two, I find that an even temperament combined with a drive to excel brings harmony to working with people. I’ve looked to achieve harmony by being present while on the job to maximize my time spent working during the day, which allows me to “unplug from work” when I leave the office.

I lived in Denver, Colorado, for the majority of my design career. I had a lot of success working with great companies and individuals who produced lasting friendships that have endured and captured the heart of my soul mate, Kristin. The outdoors are second to none in Colorado, and I immediately fell in love with the mountains. Riding the slopes of Vail, Breckenridge, and Winter Park will never get old. Other hobbies and interests include golfing, hiking, biking, and Denver Broncos Football. After Denver, Kristin and I moved to Chicago, forged ahead on a new path, and took my design thinking to new heights in the “windy city.” Chicago gave me the business experience I had been craving and proved to be a great way to expand my skill set into a purely UX-focused path while I was a part of the UXSears team. After Chicago, it was back in Michigan, which allowed my wife and I to be closer to family and friends so our children could grow up and know their families more intimately. Working on a Global UX initiative for Ford spoke to me as the proper challenge to take my UX career to the next level. After a short stint with Team Detroit (now GTB), MRM came knocking, where I’ve spent my recent years defining and leading a global design system for General Motors.

As I prepare and proactively build a path for the future, my nine years at MRM have made me confident I can hit the ground running on day one for any challenge that may lie ahead. Armed with design strategy, progressive ideas, and a team-first attitude, I strive to bring an inclusive leadership that empowers teams to produce great work. With solid support from my family, I am enjoying the present and looking forward to my next journey, because there’s still a lot to learn and achieve.