Mathias Kerke

Passionate brand designer

"As a person and an employee I’m inspired by usability and aesthetics," says Mathias Kerke, who joined the Smartbutlers team in spring 2019. "I think both are excellent starting points for any area of life." Usability emphasizes purposefulness and logic, while aesthetics appeal more to the recipient’s emotions.

"The carefully considered interplay of these two creates the foundation for a good user and customer experience." According to Mathias, mapping, comparing, testing and monitoring are extremely important to ensure the result is meaningful.

Creative business graduate and former carpenter

Mathias says he is a creative problem solver. He has the skill to turn ideas into visual concepts and to create an executable whole. "My education and work history have given me a solid foundation for investigative and fact-based work, which is primarily important in consulting. By combining facts and creativity you can achieve highly competent results."

"My story at Smartbutlers began when I took on my Master’s thesis as a commissioned project. That way two birds were killed with one stone: carrying out an interesting development project and completing my MSc degree." Previously Mathias has worked, among other things, in construction as a carpenter and in B2C sales and customer service. Through these roles he has learned a lot about problem solving, project work and the nuances of communication. "But above all I’ve learned to meet customers as people and to understand human differences."

From extreme sports to photography

When he was younger, Mathias spent ten years in competitive sailing, which taught him perseverance and goal-oriented work. "These days I enjoy sailing in a more relaxed way, cruising the Turku archipelago with friends and family."

"After competitive sailing ended, extreme sports didn’t disappear from my life. Today my passions are freeriding and surfing, which serve as a form of meditation for me. Fast situations require a clear mind and total focus."

Travel is also an important part of Mathias’s life, as it enables board sports and broadens perspectives, bringing inspiration to both hobbies and work.

"When the boards and boats are in the yard, I spend my time on creative projects like photography and woodworking. They provide a counterbalance to my active lifestyle and give space for self-expression."