Hi, I’m Ivan. I’m a design leader who loves solving problems with good writing.

Based in London, I’m currently Head of Content Design at MoonPay.

I also take on small bits of freelance work through my agency, Merritt Studios.

About me

I’m a design leader who works with startups and scaleups across a range of industries, including FinTech.

For the last ten years, I’ve been working to build apps and services that are more human, enjoyable, and useful.

A lot of my career has been spent at Wise (formerly TransferWise). As employee #29 there, I was lucky enough to build an international bank from scratch. Wise is now used by millions to save millions on their cross-border payments.

Since then, I’ve worked in People Tech before moving onto Web3 and decentralised finance. I’m currently Head of Content Design at MoonPay — the world’s largest, and most trusted way to buy, sell, and convert digital currencies and assets. 

I also run writing workshops for startups and teach a yearly class at the University of Tartu about the power of good copy. I’ve edited a book about design (and kittens), and was a member of the British-Estonian Chamber of Commerce for 2 years. 

Experience

  • Leading creative teams since 2019

  • Constructing flows for B2C and B2B apps and services

  • Designing for international audiences

  • Creating and contributing to design systems

  • Running research, setting project direction.

Approach

I see my role as having three parts to it:

  1. To solve high-impact problems for users, the business, and everyone in-between.

  2. To set the standard for design quality — by building a culture that rewards building the right things, the right way.

  3. And finally, to empower and up skill designers around you to do their best work. 

Yes, there’s always a time to get your hands dirty in Figma. But I believe it’s far more important to set a strategy, get buy-in, work with engineers, and give my team space to thrive. Because that’s how you chip away at those big problems faster.

  • Helping build better habits at work

  • Adding delight to banking

  • Designing systems that scale

  • Getting more people into design

Recent roles

MoonPay, Head of Content Design, 2023-present

Mo, Head of Product and Design. 2022

Wise, Product Design Lead. 2020-2021

Wise, Content Design Lead. 2019-2020

Wise, Content Designer. 2015-2019

Projects

Tartu University, Marketing MA lectures. Since 2018

Joint Academy writing and brand workshop. 2021

Mapillary (now a Facebook company) writing and brand workshop. 2019

Anyone Can Design, Even a Kitten (Editor). 2018