Michael Ian Roche

“I had the privilege of both working alongside and later supervising Ian Roche during our time at OpenCities, and I can confidently say that he is one of the most talented and dedicated designers I’ve ever encountered. I first met Ian when I was on the panel that hired him, drawn to his exceptional design skills, sharp aesthetic sense, and deep understanding of UX principles. What I didn’t fully realize at the time was just how integral he would become to our team. Ian was not just an outstanding designer—he was an exceptional team member. His willingness to help, eagerness to learn, and relentless drive to elevate the quality of our work played a significant role in our success. Ian’s impact was profound. He was instrumental in elevating OpenCities’ design standards, enabling us to attract and secure much larger clients with higher demands for sophisticated design and UX. His ability to collaborate effectively with developers to push the boundaries of our content management system resulted in delivering more innovative and valuable solutions for government clients and their residents. Even after my role shifted following an acquisition, Ian remained a trusted colleague. I frequently relied on his expertise to guide new designers and spread his infectious passion for great UX and design. As the organization evolved, so did Ian’s contributions. He took the initiative to create a comprehensive design system in Adobe XD, raising the bar for UX, design, and client interactions to new heights. Ian is not only a gifted designer but also a natural leader and an exceptional team player. His readiness to step into leadership roles is evident in his ability to mentor others, drive projects forward, and continually seek ways to improve. I wholeheartedly recommend Ian for any role where top-notch design, leadership, and team collaboration are valued. He will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to any organization.”

“Ian and I first met at Verse.io where we worked in parallel, myself as a Product Manager and Ian as Creative Director. Fast-forward a few years and Ian is now an integral part of the team at Mithril Media. Together, we have collaborated on a broad range of projects and Ian has been instrumental in the design phases of some of the best websites that Mithril Media has produced. Ian has a knack for being able to bridge the gap between client and technical requirements, always paying mind to the intentionality of his designs. He regularly communicates to ensure that the design concepts he creates are within the scope of the project and don't end up painting the developer into a corner. All the while, he keeps the client and even more importantly, the end-user's needs in mind. With Ian on the team here at Mithril Media, we have added larger logos to the portfolio and consistently produced better results.”