I’m Tatu Ritanen, a designer, and this is my personal portfolio.
I have 25 years of experience designing all kinds of things, both digital and beyond, for companies big and small. I specialize in customer experience, product & UI & UX design, branding, and overall creating digital concepts and products for all kinds of industries.
My clients range from promising startups to large corporations.
I love to design products that are functional and beautiful.
I help my clients develop digital products, improve customer experience, and upgrade their brand to thrive. By incorporating generative AI, I make smarter design decisions and create more impactful products. My design embraces an AI-powered future, ensuring it’s both relevant and ready to evolve with new technologies.
I’m a creative designer at heart, passionate about simplifying complex challenges to make them more relatable and appealing.
What do I actually do?
I'm a full-stack designer. I always think strategically about the business case. I keep the users at the center. I conduct research and analyze. I love Amazon's "working backwards" approach. I lead workshops. I design scenarios, user flows, prototypes, UX, and finally the beautiful UI. I design brands and develop strategies for launching them.
I believe the devil is in the details, even though I consider the Big Picture.
Hire me as a…
Lead Product/ UX/UI designer
I can help you create a new product or service from the ground up or take an existing one to the next level.
Senior Creative
I specialize in developing brands and designing visual materials across multiple platforms and formats.
Creative Advisor
Need a fresh perspective? I audit and analyze your product or service to offer insights that help solve your toughest challenges.
Long story short
I began my career as an Art Director and Competence Coach of Design in an IT company. Since then, I have held diverse roles such as (UI&UX&Visual) Designer, Creative Director, and Concept Designer in digital and brand agencies. In addition, I have co-founded a design studio, which we subsequently sold to Alma Media Company, worked as a creative freelancer, and returned to entrepreneurship by co-founding a new design studio.
I have been part of several start-ups, some more successful than others, and have contributed my expertise to the esteemed teams at The Sexy Beast and Superson.
Throughout my career, I have worked with clients across a broad range of industries, including both B2B and B2C. While most of my work has been in Finland, I have also had the opportunity to work internationally a lot.
My projects have included leading creative teams and designing brands, web pages, e-commerce sites, intranets, extranets, digital solutions, (mobile) apps, games, edugames, animations, films, product launches, ad concepts, illustrations, storyboards, events, presentations, and teaching professionals and students.
What motivates me is having a sense of purpose in my work (meaningful projects and responsible clients), collaborating with talented individuals, relaxed atmosphere, constantly learning, and keeping the bar high.
At the moment
I'm very interested in AI, robotics, machine learning, and how we as humans should use new technology for a better future. And how good UI & UX connects us to technologies that might make our life easier, be it B2B or B2C. And of course I have changed my way of working with AI tools.
At the moment I mainly work through my design studio Ritanen, Kormano & Co with my designer colleague & co-founder Toni Kormano.
Most of the time we work as a two-man creative team for our clients mixing and sharing duties. Sometimes we are solo ghost creatives for bigger tech, ad & marketing companies. Or work as solo creative consultants or designers for our clients.
Professional history
Ritanen, Kormano & Co
Co-founder / Lead Designer (2016-Present)
My role: Project leader, Creative Director, Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Concept designer and Workshop master
Bottom line: Where I work now
Groweo
Head of Design (2023-2024)
My role: Senior UI & UX Designer
Bottom line: As a hired gun for software design & development project for couple of months
Mucho Mojo
Founder / Lead Designer (2014-Present)
My role: Project leader, Creative Director, Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Concept designer and Workshop master
Bottom line: My freelance work
Block
Partner / Lead Designer (2022-Present)
My role: Advisor, Creative Director, Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand) and Concept designer
Bottom line: An advisor and service designer for a start-up
Think Helsinki, think!
Co-founder / Lead Designer & Creative (2015-16)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand) and Concept creator
Bottom line: An event of science and critical thinking (plus standup comedy) and a passion project
Eventmore
Partner / Lead Designer & Creative (2014-18)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand) and Concept designer
Bottom line: An event service start-up
Pluto Finland
Lead Designer (2013-14)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Concept designer and Workshop master
Bottom line: Brand & phenomenon maker
Alma 360
Concept Designer (2010-13)
My role: Concept designer, Project leader, Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand) and Workshop master
Bottom line: B2B Content & concept unit for Alma Media Oyj
Titanik Helsinki
Co-founder / Designer (2006-10)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Concept creator and Project leader
Bottom line: My first design studio
Nitro
Designer (2006-07)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand)
Bottom line: Digital Agency
A4 Media
Designer / Creative Director (2004-06)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Creative director
Bottom line: Digital Agency
Helsingin sähköinen toimisto
Digital Concept Designer (2002-04)
My role: Concept designer and Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand)
Bottom line: Digital Agency
Nedecon (Endero / D-Factor)
Designer (1998-2002)
My role: Lead Designer (UI/UX/Brand), Concept creator and Project leader
Bottom line: New media company