Stephen Hellens
Experience Designer
Stephen blends user experience design, web development, information architecture, product design, user interface design, consultancy, strategy and graphic design.
He is passionate about creating thoughtful, engaging digital solutions. He cares deeply about purposeful, meaningful work and dignity for all.
Stephen is an experience designer working in the third sector. He spent many years in the corporate world. He currently works part time at Heart of the City. It is a charity dedicated to the belief that every business can be a force for good.
He joined Heart of the City in September 2023. He provides his colleagues with design and technical support. He helps shape the experience for their newest venture, Minority Business Matters.
How Stephen could help
Contact Stephen if you would like support with creating engaging digital experiences, websites, or troubleshooting system issues.
Get in touch: email Stephen or check his Curriculum Vitæ. Check out Stephen's LinkedIn profile or see some samples of his work (password protected: email him for credentials).
Some background
Stephen had worked on high profile commercial projects at a digital agency. He wanted to focus on purpose-led initiatives. He always felt the tension between his work and his desired focus.
Stephen’s background is a User Experience consultant. He has several years' experience working in the commercial sector. He joined LBi (later Digitas) in 2007. It had been the largest independent creative and marketing agency network in Europe. He went on to work at The Guardian, Homebase and Argos.
In 2018 he joined the nascent product team at Ascential. They are a global information and data insight company. While there he became involved with diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives. He created an ambitious proposal to offer ethnic minority businesses free access to the company's e-commerce platform and advisory functions.
Stephen has a fine art background which transmuted over time into a love of graphic and later web design. He built his first website in 1996 when the web was still in its infancy. He designed and built websites for publications, arts bodies, individuals and independents.
He studied Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University. He is a parent governor at his children's primary school. He volunteers his time maintaining the school's websites.