Design Director.
Principal Product Designer
working from zero to one
and beyond.

I’m Milan, a Design Director and Principal Product Designer working on complex products from early concept through production.

I’m often brought in early, working directly with founders and engineers as the first or sole product designer, then staying through launch and product evolution.

Since 2009, I’ve worked independently through Automat Studio, my design practice through which I’ve led long-term embedded engagements.

My work spans early-stage startups, public-sector platforms, and products for Fortune 500 brands across AI, fintech, health, consumer products, and complex software.

Design Director.
Principal Product Designer
working from zero to one
and beyond.

I’m Milan, a Design Director and Principal Product Designer working on complex products from early concept through production.

I’m often brought in early, working directly with founders and engineers as the first or sole product designer, then staying through launch and product evolution.

Since 2009, I’ve worked independently through Automat Studio, my design practice through which I’ve led long-term embedded engagements.

My work spans early-stage startups, public-sector platforms, and products for Fortune 500 brands across AI, fintech, health, consumer products, and complex software.

Design Director.
Principal Product Designer
working from zero to one
and beyond.

I’m Milan, a Design Director and Principal Product Designer working on complex products from early concept through production.

I’m often brought in early, working directly with founders and engineers as the first or sole product designer, then staying through launch and product evolution.

Since 2009, I’ve worked independently through Automat Studio, my design practice through which I’ve led long-term embedded engagements.

My work spans early-stage startups, public-sector platforms, and products for Fortune 500 brands across AI, fintech, health, consumer products, and complex software.

How I work

How I work

Hands-on

I stay directly involved from early product decisions through detailed UX/UI, design systems, and implementation support.

For larger scopes, I can bring in a small group of senior collaborators while remaining responsible for the design direction.

Embedded

I work closely with founders, product leads, and engineers as part of the product team. Staying close to the work gives me the context to make decisions quickly and follow the product as it evolves.

Designed to ship

I design within real technical and business constraints, balancing what can ship now with a clear longer-term direction for the product.

I’m comfortable improving products incrementally without losing sight of the larger system.

5.0

Verified Clutch rating

Verified Clutch rating

Trusted by teams across SaaS, AI, healthcare, media, public sector, and consumer products.

Trusted by teams across SaaS, AI, healthcare, media, public sector, and consumer products.

30+

Zero-to-one products launched

Zero-to-one products launched

Across startups, public-sector platforms, and products for Fortune 500 brands.

Across startups, public-sector platforms, and products for Fortune 500 brands.

96%

Returning clients

Returning clients

Most partnerships lasted years, not months.

Most partnerships lasted years, not months.

17+

Years independent

Years independent

Working independently through Automat Studio since 2009.

Working independently through Automat Studio since 2009.

What I do

What I do

Product and brand are often part of the same problem.
I design both as one system.

The strongest transformation happens where brand and product meet. We design both as one system.

Product and brand are often part of the same problem.
I design both as one system.

0

1

2

3

Product Design

Product Design

Complex products, made understandable.

I work from product definition and UX architecture through interaction design, production-ready UI, prototypes, and scalable design systems.

01

Product strategy & UX direction

01

Product strategy & UX direction

02

UX architecture & user flows

02

UX architecture & user flows

03

Workflow & interaction design

03

Workflow & interaction design

04

UI design & prototypes

04

UI design & prototypes

05

Design systems & implementation support

05

Design systems & implementation support

Brand Identity

Brand Identity

A clear identity around what the product is and why it matters.

I build brand systems that extend from positioning and identity into the product, website, launch, and sales communication.

01

Strategy & positioning

01

Strategy & positioning

02

Identity systems

02

Identity systems

03

Messaging & narrative

03

Messaging & narrative

04

Website & digital presence

04

Website & digital presence

05

Launch & sales materials

05

Launch & sales materials

Typical engagements

Typical engagements

Zero to one

From an early idea or technical capability
to a product ready to build and launch.

From an early idea or technical capability to a product ready to build.

Product evolution

Rethinking an existing product as requirements, users, and complexity grow.

Rethinking an existing product as requirements and complexity grow.

Ongoing ownership

Long-term design ownership as the product and team continue to evolve.

Senior design ownership as the product continues to evolve.

5.0

★★★★★

Most design teams execute within known patterns. Automat Studio builds new ones when no pattern exists.

Ed Davis

Product Manager, Stakwork

5.0

★★★★★

They don't just make things look good; they understand the business lifecycle.

Slaviša Nenadić

CEO, Bits

5.0

★★★★★

We see it as having a senior designer without hiring in-house.

Marco Nikolic

CEO, Mediakons

Recognized in the real world.

My work has been recognized where it matters: in the markets, institutions, and communities it was built for.

Designed for the long run

I design products and systems to keep working as they evolve. Some have remained in production for well over a decade, alongside client relationships that have lasted just as long.

Official Gazette Website

Official Gazette Website

15

Years in production

Years in production

Senza

Senza

9+

Years in market

Years in market

Longest client partnership

Longest client partnership

17+

Years of repeat trust

Years of repeat trust

Trusted on high-stakes systems.

I’ve worked on legal information platforms, public institutions, municipal infrastructure, and payment systems where clarity, reliability, and sound judgment matter.

5.0

★★★★★

A very strong partner for complex projects that require both design skill and real judgment.

Miloš Majstorović

Art Director, E-Glasnik

Not sure where to start?

Let’s talk.

Not sure where to start?

Let’s talk.

Not sure where to start?

Let’s talk.

© 2026

© 2026

© 2026