— Independent product designer · Kyoto, Japan —

I help small teams
ship things that feel
considered.

Currently working with a stealth fintech and writing about design.
Previously: Stripe, Notion, and three startups you've probably used.

Ren Akiyama
"Design is what's left when you remove everything that isn't necessary."

— About —

A designer who'd rather show than tell.

I've been designing software for 11 years. I started in Tokyo doing brand work for hardware companies, moved into product design in 2017, and have been independent since 2022.

My work is mostly with founders and product teams at the seed-to-Series-B stage. I help define what to build, then design it. Engagements are typically 3 – 6 months, single-track.

I write quietly about craft on Studio Notes, garden tomatoes, and live with one cat (Mochi).

Studio notes

All writing →

— Currently —

Open for one project starting in September.

If you're a founder or product team working on something you care about, I'd love to hear about it. I take on roughly four clients per year.

Get in touch