About

Portrait Lutz Schmitt

Hello, I'm Lutz Schmitt

I'm a graduated Designer - Diplom-Designer (FH) - and professional dilettante. I design digital environments, services and human-machine-interaction for public and private living. I work as a freelance designer and consultant for User Experience and Service Design, with a nag for privacy. I prefer making decisions based on actual research and insights, instead of gut-feelings or opinions.

Beside, I'm available as speaker, author, coach and facilitator. I can facilitate all sorts of design related activities for teams or stakeholders. I offer one day trainings on various topics like my workshop "Magic Moments".

I'm a regular speaker on international conferences, as well as local community events. I talk about design theory, privacy, intimacy or whatever grabbed my attention. I'm also a hilarious comedian, according to some who cared to listen to "Being an Evil Mastermind". Occasionally, I haven written and performed Dada-poems.

I participate in and organize LARP events, and I'm the author of several LARP scenarios. Some of them are available here. Sometimes I'm just the cook.

I love what I do and I'm good at it.

Curriculum Vitae

Designing is a way of thinking and not a craftmanship. Nonetheless, during the years I got involved into the crafts of Interaction Design, Game Design, Cooking, Information Architecture, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Typography, Finance Management, Art Direction, Event Direction, User Research and some more. Some I mastered at some I stayed a humble apprentice. Some jobs paid my rent, some earned me experience.

2018 - ongoing: Freelance Designer & Consultant
2021 - 2022: Senior Manager User Experience & Service Design, BetterDoc
2014 - 2017: Head of Consulting Unit Interaction, nexum AG
2008 - 2014: (Senior) Consultant UX, nexum AG
2006 - 2007: Co-Founder and Programme Manager, Cologne Game Lab
2000 - 2008: Freelance Designer (Web, Interface, Multimedia)
1999 - 2000: Trainee Web Design, 01 Digitales Design GmbH

Public Speaking & Teaching

I'm a regular speaker at industry and community events on various topics for many years. Most of my talks and workshops are available in German and English.
Check here for upcoming appearances. Don't hesitate to get in touch, if you want me to join your event.

Excerpt of previous public appearances

Event Organisation

While it is a shitload of work, organising events is very rewarding.
In 2015 I had the opportunity to co-chair the EuroIA Summit in Madrid together with Stuart Curran and Peter Bogaards.

For a while I directed and produced the Cologne edition of the Design for Conferences: