Matthijs Willems
About Me
Creative Technology Lead and multi-disciplinary designer fascinated by digital innovation, web engineering, and rich user experiences. With over a decade of agency experience scaling from multimedia design to senior development and technology leadership, I bridge the gap between ambitious creative concepts and robust, scalable technical implementation. Beyond architecture and coding, I've mentored developers through one-on-one sessions, defining individual growth goals, providing technical guidance, and supporting high-performing technical teams using modern workflows (VSCode, Cursor, AI-assisted programming tools).
Skills & Expertise
Employment History
Creative Technology Lead
Greenhouse Group / GroupM / StudioM / Nexus Creative / WPP Media
2021 – PresentLeading the creative technology department across enterprise web applications, digital campaigns, and interactive experiences. Mentoring developers through one-on-one sessions, defining goals, providing guidance, and supporting their professional growth. Directing technical architecture using TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, AWS, GCP, Terraform, GitHub, and AI-assisted programming tools (Cursor, Claude, Gemini, Copilot).
Medior to Senior Creative Developer
StudioM / GroupM / Greenhouse Group
2016 – 2021Developed richmedia content, interactive web apps, plugins/extensions and automations for creative platforms. Championed modern frontend tooling, code quality standards, and seamless design-to-code workflows.
Creative Multimedia Designer
Greenhouse Group, Eindhoven
2015 – 2016Crafted storyboards, engaging digital motion graphics, video content, and front-end development work for display creatives for prominent national and international clients.
Multimedia Designer
Vacansoleil, Eindhoven
2015 – 2018Designed multimedia marketing assets, visual storytelling content, and promotional digital materials.
Cofounder
Estatic Design, Strijp-S
2011 – 2012Designing and building websites: Portfolio, Wordpress, Shopify, Interactive experiences
Merchandiser & Administrative Roles
Mail Delivery / Leenbakker / Rabobank
2007 – 2015Various jobs next to studying.
Side Hustles
Matthijs Willems Design
2012 – PresentWebsites / Logos / Corporate Identity for small companies and freelancers
AI-for-a-Day.com
2025No subscription, tokens based AI platform for image generation.
Education
Industrial Design Master TU/e (MSc)
Graduated with excellence
Industrial Design Bachelor TU/e (BSc)
VWO Pleincollege van Maerlant (N&T)
Selected Projects
UnwrapYourTaste
WPP MediaHighly interactive and dynamic website to generate favorite subs based on music genre / Spotify. Created with Next.js, GSAP Scrolltrigger and the Spotify API.
Client Amplifiers
WPP MediaBuild a complex automation web app used across the organization for clients. Automates flights, daily budgets, and line-item activation for display, social, dooh, and video based on triggers.
Plugins and Tooling
WPP MediaCreated tooling and plugins to help junior developers build complex HTML5/JS creatives, such as 3D cubes, panorama views, and custom interaction metrics.
CervicWear
TU/e ID M2.2Developed a wearable lightweight solution for office workers with cervical disorders, providing peripheral feedback on neck posture. Graduated with excellence.
Creatrack
TU/e ID M1.1Developed an app giving teenagers creative freedom to build tracks by attaching interactive media to user-placed GPS points, addressing daily exercise goals.
Lumisense
Philips & TU/eDeveloped for the Philips Design Competition addressing ageing population challenges in China. Selected among top teams to develop at Zhejiang University, winning 2nd prize.