, New York
, Bali
, NY
, Bali
Profile pic of Piet riding in a van
Profile pic of Piet riding in a van

Born in Holland (Michigan), biking in Brooklyn, scuba diving in Bali, surfing the world wide web.

Profile pic of Piet scuba diving
Profile pic of Piet scuba diving

About Me

About Me

About Me

I like working with people better than me on problems bigger than me for clients smarter than me.

I like working with people better than me on problems bigger than me for clients smarter than me.

I like working with people better than me on problems bigger than me for clients smarter than me.

I started studying design surrounded by the corn fields of West Michigan where I grew up. Craving a more rigorous art education, I moved to Savannah, Georgia to finish my degree in graphic design.

I moved to NYC the weekend after graduating from SCAD to live under my aunt and uncle's staircase in Hell's Kitchen (Harry Potter-style). That was the foot in the door I needed to spend the next 5 years in SoHo's branding studios, design firms, and product studios.

I realized that to really shape and ship digital product at scale, I needed to go in-house. I joined WeWork to lead design on their member app and eventually scale an entirely new pay-as-you-go product offering.

Since 2020 I've been freelancing and contracting full-time, designing products, brands, and experiences to enhance — not exploit — the human experience for early-stage startups and established brands via my company Human Nature Technologies Corp.

Beyond design, I love scuba diving, motorcycles, reading classic sci-fi, studying philosophy and nature, and traveling with my wife.

Profile pic of Piet on a scuba diving boat
Profile pic of Piet on a scuba diving boat
Profile pic of Piet on a scuba diving boat

Manta Point 🌏 Nusa Penida, Bali

Clients & Agencies

Clients & Agencies

Clients & Agencies

Experience

Experience

Experience

Design Lead & Founder

Human Nature Technologies Corp.

2021–Present

Design Lead & Founder

Human Nature Technologies Corp.

2021–Present

Design Lead & Founder

Human Nature Technologies Corp.

2021–Present

Lead Product Designer

Seed Health • Contract

2024–2025

Lead Product Designer

Seed Health • Contract

2024–2025

Lead Product Designer

Seed Health • Contract

2024–2025

Staff Product Designer

LinkedIn • Contract

2024

Staff Product Designer

LinkedIn • Contract

2024

Staff Product Designer

LinkedIn • Contract

2024

Product Designer

Meta • Contract

2022–2024

Product Designer

Meta • Contract

2022–2024

Product Designer

Meta • Contract

2022–2024

Lead Product Designer

Stash • Contract

2021–2022

Lead Product Designer

Stash • Contract

2021–2022

Lead Product Designer

Stash • Contract

2021–2022

Principal Product Designer

Afterpay • Contract

2021

Principal Product Designer

Afterpay • Contract

2021

Principal Product Designer

Afterpay • Contract

2021

Lead Product Designer

WeWork • Full-time

2018–2021

Lead Product Designer

WeWork • Full-time

2018–2021

Lead Product Designer

WeWork • Full-time

2018–2021

Senior Product Designer

Method • Full-time

2017–2018

Senior Product Designer

Method • Full-time

2017–2018

Senior Product Designer

Method • Full-time

2017–2018

Visual Designer II

Frog • Full-time

2014–2017

Visual Designer II

Frog • Full-time

2014–2017

Visual Designer II

Frog • Full-time

2014–2017

Digital Designer

Mucca Design • Full-time

2013–2014

Digital Designer

Mucca Design • Full-time

2013–2014

Digital Designer

Mucca Design • Full-time

2013–2014

I'm Piet — a freelance product design lead and strategist based in Brooklyn and Bali. Available in 2026.

Currently reading

A FEISTY AND SOBERING GUIDE TO DOING WHAT YOU LOVE AND (ALSO)(STILL)(SOMEHOW) PAYING THE BILLS
The War of Art
Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism
Memories, Dreams, Reflections

© 2026 Piet Aukeman · Made with Framer

I'm Piet — a freelance product design lead and strategist based in Brooklyn and Bali. Available in 2026.

Currently reading

A FEISTY AND SOBERING GUIDE TO DOING WHAT YOU LOVE AND (ALSO)(STILL)(SOMEHOW) PAYING THE BILLS
The War of Art
Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism
Memories, Dreams, Reflections

© 2026 Piet Aukeman · Made with Framer

I'm Piet — a freelance product design lead and strategist based in Brooklyn and Bali. Available in 2026.

Currently reading

A FEISTY AND SOBERING GUIDE TO DOING WHAT YOU LOVE AND (ALSO)(STILL)(SOMEHOW) PAYING THE BILLS
The War of Art
Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism
Memories, Dreams, Reflections

© 2026 Piet Aukeman · Made with Framer