Yunus Aktaş is a multidisciplinary designer and founder of Umbrella Digital, working across web development, UI/UX, branding, and immersive digital experiences. Based in Ankara, Türkiye, his work focuses on combining minimalist aesthetics with functional, high-performance digital systems that feel intuitive, atmospheric, and visually refined. In this first-person interview, he shares his thoughts on simplicity in design, visual hierarchy, AI-driven interfaces, and the importance of balancing clarity with strong visual identity.
“You can’t make everything loud.”
What drew you into design as a discipline, and what keeps you engaged in it today?
I love the process of turning chaos into order. To me, design is like digital alchemy—taking raw ideas and refining them into a premium, functional experience. What keeps me hooked is the challenge of making something look high-end while keeping it incredibly simple.
When working on a project, what signals tell you that a design is doing its job well?
A design is doing its job when it becomes invisible. If a user achieves their goal without having to stop and think about how to use the interface, I know I’ve succeeded. Smooth flow is the best feedback.
Which part of your workflow tends to slow you down the most, and why?
The “conceptual phase” is usually where I spend the most time. Getting the dark mode balance, noise textures, and overall mood just right takes effort. But once that core aesthetic is locked in, the rest of the build flies.
When designing for attention, how do you decide what deserves the most visual priority?
You can’t make everything loud. I pick one primary action—the one thing I want the user to do—and give it the most contrast and space. Everything else is intentionally dialed back to support that single focus.
Can you share an example of a design decision that didn’t perform as expected? What did you learn from it?
I once designed a menu using only minimalist icons without labels. It looked stunning, but users were lost. It taught me that clarity should never be sacrificed for “cool” visuals. If they can’t use it, it’s not good design.
What changes in tools, technology, or user behaviour do you think will redefine design in the near future?
We’re moving away from just drawing screens and toward building autonomous, AI-driven systems. Design will become more about setting the logic and “personality” of an interface that can adapt itself to the user in real-time.
What mindset or habit has been the most valuable in your growth as a designer?
Constantly asking, “Can this be simpler?” Also, staying deep in the tech stack. Knowing how the code works under the hood makes me a much more effective designer because I know exactly what’s possible.
Key Facts
- Name: Yunus Aktaş
- Location: Ankara, Türkiye
- Founder: Umbrella Digital
- Experience: 10+ years in design and development
- Specialties: UI/UX design, web development, branding, frontend systems, graphic design, and digital product experiences
- Focus Areas: Minimalist interfaces, immersive dark-mode aesthetics, AI-integrated systems, and high-performance web experiences
- Background: Graphic Design – Akdeniz University
- Industries: Branding, digital products, web experiences, creative development, and scalable business systems
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