Karl Emil James Koch. Equal parts designer & developer
Design Engineer at DuckDuckGo
Today
I’m currently the inaugural Design Engineer at DuckDuckGo, leading the design and frontend of our AI-Assisted Answers as part of our core Search product.
Featured Projects
Recent Thoughts
Music I've Written
Principles
Less, but better
Focus on simplicity and quality in product design, avoiding feature bloat and superfluous decoration.
Humans, not 'Users'
Design for real people and their needs, not abstract "users."
Facts, not assumptions
Base design decisions on research, data and experience, not guesses.
Honesty above metrics
Prioritise doing the right thing over just optimising metrics, or moving the needle.
Conversations, not monologues
Engage in two-way dialog with customers, don't just broadcast.
Handshakes, not handovers
Collaborate closely across teams, avoid silos and handoffs.
Function over form
Prioritise practical usability and value over just aesthetics.
Process, not guesswork
Follow a systematic design and development process.