Hello there, kind human
I'm Paweł Hawrylak,
or Pablo
Born into a family of architects, married to an artist, with a daughter studying graphic design.
I love creating, tinkering, being curious, growing, moving and being in nature.
Overview
Currently directing a video game in a studio I co-founded, learning unreal engine, leading people, having lots of fun.
Values
Values shape me and give me purpose and meaning.
Start with why
"Design is a process of definition, fuelled by a ferocious will to understand" I once wrote in an over the top piece you could read here.
Build a structure
Whatever you're building it's great to understand it enough so that you can break it apart to the smallest piece possible. Only then can you achieve the true freedom to create something new.
Experiment and have fun
I like not knowing whether something is going to work. It's fun. It's innovative. It brings results.
Be responsible
Know the scope, the purpose, the team, the timeline, your limits, your desires. Act accordingly.
Be kind
There are few better things than a feeling of safety that stems from operating in a kind and inclusive environment.
Be authentic
Know and love yourself
Brief history
Studying spatial planning revealed a new world to me. Suddenly there were problems to solve, places to design, things to understand. Hierarchies, relationships, structures.
01
PhD Candidate & Architect Assistant
After becoming a master of spatial planning I decided to enrol as a PhD Candidate. At this moment I already had a 4 year old kid and I was working part time for my architect father, who was also a teacher on my University. I spend most of my time there teaching classes and organising workshops and summer schools. Biggest highlight of that time is the time I got to spend with students. Listening to their stories and arguments, hunched over printed concepts, discussing and sketching together. "Why a dominant here", "why this area is so big and what does it mean in relation to other areas", "why there are no parks"? Why, why, why? So many conversations igniting curiosity and pushing us towards Seeing the Connections. Organising workshops gave me also another gift: the design work like branding, visual design, editorials, web.
02
Design Studio (my own)
Before I ended PhD studies I launched a design studio — called haveasign — with my then partner. We had almost zero experience and we barely knew what we were doing, but with the limited resources we slowly garnered some clients. I think never have I learned so fast and so much then in those days. Every client and every job brought something new to overcome, new to discover, new opportunity to create something out of nothing. It was intoxicating. Decision to launch that studio still brings a lot of pride to my heart.
03
Digital Product Design at Monterail
After few years I knew I had a decision to make. Either grow the studio, or join other company. I chose the latter and in late 2014 I became an UI designer in Monterail. That was a strange new world to me. Many people, many roles, so much to learn, so invigorating. Soon after I arrived we realised that my experience from spatial planning translated well to the UX world and I switched to UX/UI position. Very soon after to a half-time Head of Design role. I got to grow our amazing team and had so many rewarding 1:1s. We kicked off a local meetup called UX Wrocław. I participated in many challenging projects where I honed my passion for understanding. I had an opportunity to collaborate on the future of the company and the people in it. Along with Head of People we created new Development Framework for my design team. I had my share of public speaking. But after 5 years a decision had to be made again and I went back to being an individual contributor. Now, as a Principal Designer, apart from design work I also research craft-related matters like design systems, interaction design, design-development collaboration, no-code and AI.
04
Massive Confusion
In 2018 I felt like I'm getting farther away from a dream from a time long past (after high school I applied to the Academy of Fine Arts, unsuccessfully) and decided to start creating non-client creative things. Let's call them digital art-like graphics. After many years, finally, in December of 2023 I broke some barrier and started creating art with my hands again. That makes me so happy and proud.
05
Parabola Games
After almost ten years as a Product Designer a chance to embark on an amazing creative adventure was offered to me. I could co-found a video-game studio and direct a game. With a bit of trepidation I took it.
Designing Success
I thrive doing good work. Good work means work in a team of wonderful humans who communicate and care for each other. Good work means striving for a great result. Good work means constantly zooming between the big picture and smallest detail. Good work means going as fast as you can at the beginning and building the structure for success from the moment we start the project. Good work requires a purpose.
Skillset
Product Design (UX/UI)
Graphic Design & Branding
Design R&D
Design Leadership
Design Systems
Fast validation
What can we do together?