Discovery Through Real Use
We start by understanding who will actually use the app and in what situations. Not demographics, but real contexts. Commuting? Late at night? Under time pressure? This shapes everything.
Building Interfaces That Actually Work
We started ConnectGridWeb in 2019 because we kept seeing the same problem. Companies were launching apps with interfaces that looked impressive in pitch decks but confused actual users. Buttons that didn't feel clickable. Navigation that required a manual. Features buried three layers deep.
Our approach is different. We spend time watching real people use digital products. Not in controlled lab settings, but in coffee shops, on trains, in actual life. That's where you learn what really matters.
Based in Tottori, we work with clients across Japan who want mobile experiences that feel natural. The kind where users just get it without thinking too hard.
What Drives Our Design Decisions
These aren't corporate values we put on a poster. They're the principles we argue about in project meetings and use to resolve tough design calls.
User Context Over Assumptions
We don't design based on what we think users want. We observe how people actually interact with their devices throughout the day and design for those real moments.
Clarity Beats Cleverness
A button that clearly says what it does will always beat a clever icon that needs interpretation. We choose obvious over impressive every time.
Speed Matters More Than Features
Users abandon apps that feel slow. We'd rather ship three fast, responsive features than ten that lag. Performance is a design decision, not just a technical one.
Test Early, Adjust Often
The best designs survive contact with real users. We prototype quickly, test with actual people, and adjust based on what we learn. Pride doesn't improve products.
Consistency Creates Comfort
When users learn one pattern in your app, it should work the same way everywhere. Surprising users might sound fun, but familiar interactions build trust.
Simple Doesn't Mean Basic
Making something simple is hard work. It means removing everything that doesn't serve the user's goal. We do the complex thinking so users don't have to.
The People Behind the Pixels
Small team, diverse perspectives. We've worked at startups that crashed, agencies that scaled, and products that actually changed user behavior. All those experiences shape how we approach design today.
Linnea Vesterholm
Creative Director
Spent eight years at digital agencies in Stockholm before moving to Japan in 2018. Believes the best interface is one you don't notice. Gets unreasonably excited about micro-interactions.
Dmitri Kalennikov
Lead UX Architect
Former product designer at two failed startups and one successful exit. Those failures taught him more than the success. Advocates for user research even when budgets are tight.
How We Actually Work
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Rapid Prototyping
We build functional prototypes fast. Not pixel-perfect designs, but working flows you can tap through on a device. This reveals problems that static mockups hide.
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User Testing Without Scripts
We watch people use the prototypes without giving them instructions. The confusion they experience is valuable data. We fix the confusing parts, not train users to work around them.
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Iterative Refinement
Design isn't done when it looks good. It's done when it works smoothly for real users in real situations. We refine based on evidence, not opinions.
