About Mike Hyttinen

Principal, User Experience and Creative Consultant

Mike is a Senior Consultant with over 10 years of experience in user experience, design, and marketing. He has a solid understanding of all aspects of the web creative process, development, and management and has directed and produced over $750,000 in sales and marketing-related projects. Mike is a recognized user experience authority and has appeared on television (CTV, Much Music), in print (Canadian Internet Handbook), and on public speaking panels (‘Maximizing Web Usability’ conference, 1999) advocating best practices in user experience and design. He has high-profile freelance and employment experience with recognized global retail, financial, and entertainment organizations (CIBC, Alliance Atlantis, World Vision, Club Monaco, Caban, Food Network, Sony Music, TD Bank, BMW, Kraft, and Kellogg’s).

Biography

Mike has worn many hats in the past 12 years of his online career, and has experience in nearly every aspect of online marketing, design and development. He is an advocate for user-centred design and is passionate about delivering highly effective, usable, and profitable web solutions. He has promoted user experience methodologies to a diverse group of organizations in the entertainment, retail, and financial services industries.

In 1995, Mike co-founded web development company Caught in the Web. The start-up targeted work in the media and entertainment industry and Mike helped lead the initial growth of the firm with the successful win of its first client, Warner Music.

A desire to focus on end-user interaction led Mike to a senior development position with Quadravision Communications. There he led development teams constructing the look and feel for many major financial services firms including TD Bank, New York Life and Fleet Bank.

In 1997, Mike returned to the entertainment industry setting the creative vision for Sony Music's New Media Department. Mike led a multi-disciplinary design team, and helped create a global presence for the company's roster of domestic and international artists, including Celine Dion, and Our Lady Peace. He worked closely on internal programs and staff training, fostering awareness and encouraging Internet use within marketing promotions, developed standards, and set long-term goals for the company. He helped define and architect an innovative e-commerce initiative for Sony Music, creating a profitable new revenue channel for the organization. Mike's work with Sony has led to numerous awards and accolades throughout the industry.

A sought-after user experience professional and designer, Mike now operates under his own consulting group Bluenotion, a boutique online consultancy that provides user experience solutions. Through Bluenotion, Mike has helped several companies build a stronger online presence. CAMH, Cineplex Entertainment, World Vision, Club Monaco, Caban, Alliance Atlantis, CTV, Globe And Mail, Kellogg's, Kraft Foods, and Universal Music have all worked with Mike and Bluenotion in recent years.

Mike has spoken on panels advocating best practices in web usability, has been published in the Canadian Internet Handbook, and has made television appearances on Much Music and CTV. His work has been recognized internationally, winning several awards including Applied Arts, South By Southwest, and the Much Music Video Awards.