About Us
Our Founder
Mara Thorsrud is a UX design leader and strategist who brings psychology, empathy, and storytelling together to create meaningful user experiences. With a background leading design for global brands like Shutterfly and Sleep Number and consulting for brands like Estée Lauder, Mara is passionate about how behavioral insights can transform the way teams innovate. She’s known for her ability to make complex ideas simple and spark conversations that connect data, design, and human behavior.
Our Approach
Distinct Vintage works across it all: Brand and identity, marketing sites, native app and product design, design systems, and increasingly the AI tools that help teams move faster. We've rebranded fintech startups and shaped apps for companies like Shutterfly, Sleep Number, and Pocket Radar.
What stays constant is the lens. Every decision starts with how people actually think, feel, and behave.
Our mission
To help teams turn complex, messy problems into experiences that feel clear, human, and intentional.
Great design isn't decoration. It's the work of understanding people deeply, then removing everything that stands between what they want and what your product asks of them. Whether that's a new brand, a better app, or an AI tool that didn't exist yesterday, the goal is the same. Make it feel effortless, and make it matter.