Hi, I’m Mike Ballan, - The Design Hobo.
I design and build exceptional experiences for the web.

As a UI Digital Designer & Front-End Developer based in Surrey, England, my passion lies in crafting clean, user-friendly designs with a sprinkle of personality. Raised in the 80s by the Autobots, I’ve carried that same sense of creativity and adventure into my work.

When I’m not immersed in pixels and code, you’ll find me geeking out over films, comics, Lego, or adding to my ever-growing collection of graphic tees.

Hi, I’m Mike—a passionate UI Digital Designer and Front-End Developer based in Surrey, England. With extensive experience in branding, website creation, product design, and UI design, I thrive at the intersection of creativity and technology.

From a young age, I’ve always loved creating—whether it was drawing, building models, solving puzzles, or working on hands-on projects like Lego. Today, that same creative spark fuels my passion for designing intuitive user interfaces and tackling complex design challenges.

I bring a unique perspective to my work by blending design and development. As someone who understands both sides of the process, I enjoy crafting digital experiences from concept to completion. Whether I’m collaborating with designers or developers, my dual expertise ensures seamless communication and execution.

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Amazium Project

This is a project so close to my heart, I've been working on it for over 4 years and use it with almost every web project. Based on a 12 column grid it has everything you could need to make a site responsive but is as minimal as it could be too.

Visit website

Projects

Here’s a closer look at some of my projects—from branding and web design to development. I break down the process, the challenges, and how everything came together in the end.

Check them out and see how I bring ideas to life!

  1. Projects

    All my sites are designed for use on mobiles and tablets, and adapt to all screen resolutions

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  2. UI & UX

    I love creating strong, modern visual identities for people and here you can see a nice selection of them.

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  3. Artwork

    Here you will find all the random artwork ive been involed with as well as some of my drawings too.

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  4. T-shirts

    A collection of some of my tshirt designs that can be found over on Redbubble.com.

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Wearable Creativity

I've been designing tees for such a long time i thought it would make sense to add a small showcase for some of the designs as well as links to where you can buy them.

See all the designs

  1. Twin Pines Mall Inspired by Back to the Future

  2. Joi Inspired by Bladerunner 2049

  3. Cascading Stylesheets Inspired by CSS

  4. Lighthouse Lounge Inspired by The Gonnies

  5. HTTPSter Inspired by HTTPS

  6. No Internet Inspired by Jurassic Park & Google

Case studies

Great design is more than just visuals—it’s about solving problems, creating connections, and making an impact. In my case studies, I break down the process behind each project, from the initial concept to the final execution. Explore how strategy, creativity, and technical precision come together to craft meaningful brand identities, seamless digital experiences, and innovative solutions.

  1. Bamboutique

    The Dance Boutique

    Preserving tradition while embracing a fresh, modern identity.

    For The Dance Boutique, I created a logo that bridges the gap between its heritage and its exciting new chapter. By honoring the legacy of the company they took over, while infusing the design with a sleek, contemporary edge, the branding captures the essence of a dancewear retailer with decades of expertise and a forward-thinking approach.

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  2. Bamboutique

    Protegem Dance School

    Elevating movement through branding, website design, and marketing.

    With a bold and inspiring visual identity, a seamless online experience, and a strong community presence, Protegem Dance School has become a vibrant force for dance education and personal growth in Surrey.

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  3. Bamboutique

    Rainbow Pottery

    Elevating creativity through branding, website design, and marketing.

    With a playful and vibrant visual identity, a seamless website experience, and a strong marketing strategy, Rainbow Pottery has become a cornerstone of creative expression in its local community.

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  4. Bamboutique

    Nimble Pay

    Revolutionizing small business transactions with sleek branding, intuitive design, and an efficient online presence.

    For Nimble Pay, I developed a modern brand identity and a user-focused website to showcase their cutting-edge payment solutions. The project centered on creating a professional yet approachable aesthetic that resonates with their target audience—small businesses looking for smarter, faster ways to manage transactions.

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Artwork

There is nothing I like more than to just sit down in a room with my headphones on and draw, its my meditation and I wish I had more time in the day to do it.

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Say hello

I’m currently available for freelance work. If you want to talk about your next project or if you just want to chat you can email me or add me on one or all of the following sites.