Mikhail Belstar

About Mikhail Belstar

I’m a Principal Product Designer who thrives at the intersection of storytelling, systems, and scalable UX. With over 16 years of experience designing for platforms like iOS, Android, tvOS, Android TV, Roku, and web, I specialize in building cross-platform product experiences that are emotionally resonant, technically sound, and aligned with business growth.Currently at Intuit, I lead design for TurboTax’s mobile platform, driving product initiatives that use GenAI to boost simplicity, trust, and Gen Z engagement. I partner across monetization, engineering, marketing, and design systems to ship high-impact features—from native onboarding flows to real-time Live Activities via Dynamic Island.Previously at MasterClass and WarnerBros, I led the design of OTT and mobile streaming experiences, including apps that reached tens of millions of users globally. From launching Daily Highlights to rebuilding TV apps with double-digit engagement lifts, I’ve shaped content discovery, habit formation, and retention strategies that blend media and utility.I care deeply about product thinking, holistic systems, and the craft of interaction design. I mentor other designers, host workshops on strategy and behavior design, and advocate for inclusive experiences that scale.Looking ahead, I’m energized by the future of content platforms—especially where AI, personalization, and new modes of interaction (TV, spatial, mobile) converge.

Experience

1. Principal Product Designer

   Intuit

   Aug 2023 — Present · US

   Lead cross-platform product design strategy for TurboTax’s native mobile apps (iOS & Android), focusing on growth, Gen Z engagement, user trust, and UX innovation. I collaborate deeply with Monetization, Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Design System teams to create cohesive, high-performing mobile experiences at scale.Key Initiatives & Impact:• Mobile App Offer Strategy:Designed a strategic mobile-first onboarding and pricing experience aimed at expanding “Free” eligibility and boosting Gen Z user conversion. Collaborated cross-functionally to streamline customer journeys and reduce friction across key audience segments.• Dynamic Island (Live Activities on iOS):Introduced an innovative persistent UI leveraging Apple’s Dynamic Island to improve transparency and engagement for Full Service users. The real-time visibility of tax expert interactions reduced user anxiety and increased trust and product satisfaction.• Documents Tab with Bulk Upload:Led the design and launch of a simplified document upload experience featuring multi-file bulk support and automatic data extraction. Increased checklist adoption and compliance while improving conversion rates through intuitive UX.• Design Systems & Platform Strategy:Partner closely with Engineering and Design System leaders to maintain native parity across platforms. Conduct quarterly audits to document design standards, identify system gaps, reduce design debt, and accelerate development cycles.• GenAI-Powered UX:Advocate and strategist for integrating generative AI into mobile UX flows—delivering snackable, engaging, confidence-inspiring experiences specifically tailored to younger audiences and mobile-first interactions.

Education

• Tomsk University of Business

  Master's degree, Graphic Design

Skills

• Prototyping
• Interaction Design
• Web Design
• Xcode
• User Experience
• Logo Design
• Wireframing
• Typography
• Swift
• Adobe Photoshop
• Motion Design
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Storytelling
• User Interface Design
• Mobile Applications
• User Interviews
• Sketch
• Html5
• Graphic Design
• User Interface
• Ios Design
• Usability
• Advertising
• After Effects
• Photoshop