About | Notion

Hey there, I’m Chris Hetem 👋

I’m a product designer and digital creator with 10+ years designing and building digital experiences.

I work with early stage companies or greenfield projects to turn complex & ambiguous ideas into simple, intuitive digital experiences. I take a holistic approach to my work by zooming in on the details and zooming out to ensure it all fits together.

With a broad set of skills, I bring a varied and unique blend of experience to my work leaning on lessons learned from product design, product development, user research, and entrepreneurship.

A behind-the-scenes shot from Tauranga Startup Weekend where I pitched an idea, formed a team, tested, learned, and adapted before our team ultimately took out the win after a late-game pivot based on insights learned throughout the weekend.

Driven by my curiosity and desire to make a positive impact on the world, I love solving new and challenging problems that make a real difference. I believe you can never ask too many questions, no ideas are silly, and that play is an important part of work.

"Working with Chris has been fabulous and he's a real pro at making the impossible possible!"

– Diane, My Nectar Health

Interests

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, reading & writing, cooking, hiking, camping, traveling, learning new things, and experimenting with new ideas and various side projects.

Surfing is my main hobby and has brought me to some pretty amazing places such as Costa Rica, Panama, America, Australia, and New Zealand where I now live.

When I’m not designing in the digital realm, you can find me connecting with the natural world usually through surfing or hiking. I find this balance allows me to appreciate the best of both and bring in fresh perspectives.

Now

I’m currently designing a business advisory platform at The Gap as part of a cross-functional product team helping to discover, design, and deliver reimagined solutions to help small businesses worldwide.