Founding story

The Origin

To claim that Smotrów Design was born from a calculated global strategy would be an overstatement. In truth, our beginning was far more sincere.

Our story took root in the world of the legal profession when, at the age of fifteen, Nikita Smotrov joined Arbitis - a law firm in Kharkiv led by Oleg Smotrov and Maksym Selivanov. Both were seasoned legal professionals with more than twenty years of experience in intellectual property law.

Together, we began to explore an idea: to build a platform that would automate legal services and make them accessible to citizens through their devices. We envisioned a product capable of streamlining everything from business registration to trademark protection — transforming complex legal procedures into clear, efficient digital processes.

We moved from the simple to the complex, learning through action and refining our skills with every mistake. It was in this process that we discovered something far more significant than a business opportunity.

As we delved deeper into the creation of our first product, we saw firsthand that when an interface is meticulously planned - when things are made understandable, accessible, and elegant - it reveals a new sense of meaning for people. We observed how complex, intimidating tasks were transformed into seamless actions. This wasn't just about efficiency; it was about giving people the clarity and freedom to solve their everyday challenges better, allowing them to truly enjoy what they do and discover new opportunities for themselves.

This was the turning point for us. We were no longer just automating legal services; we were witnessing the profound influence that design and technology can have on the world.

What began as a single product opened the door to a much larger world. We understood that our approach — rooted in precision, system thinking, and human-centered design — had the potential to transform not only the legal sector, but any industry where technology intersects with human experience.

That realization became the foundation of what is now Smotrów Design.

The Turning Point

As our legal platform matured, it began to gain significant recognition. We were honored with several prestigious grants and awards, and validated our approach on numerous professional stages. Our work began to attract the attention of leaders from entirely different sectors. Companies - many with no connection to the legal world - started approaching us with a simple request: to help them build their own products with the same precision and care we had shown in our own.

Without even realizing it, we had reached a turning point. Long before the official birth of the Smotrów Design brand, we had already begun acting as a strategic bridge for others. We found ourselves applying our expertise to design, launch, and test digital ecosystems across a vast array of industries.

We realized that our ability to harmonize complex logic with refined human experience was a rare and valuable asset that could empower people in any field. What started as the growth of a single project had evolved into a broader calling: to use our capabilities to help others bring their most ambitious visions to life.

Smotrów Design

In January 2017, Smotrów Design was created. What began as a single initiative gradually evolved into a broader ambition - one that now extends across industries, markets, and continents.

Over the years, we have partnered with governmental institutions, fintech organizations, legal companies, ecological initiatives, healthcare pioneers, and other brands.Each collaboration has expanded our understanding of how technology and design can shape systems at scale. Working across cultures and disciplines, we have learned that meaningful products are never built in isolation — they are shaped through dialogue, responsibility, and shared vision.

Every engagement represents more than a project brief. It is a commitment - to bring structural clarity, technical precision, and thoughtful design into environments where complexity often dominates. We approach each challenge with the understanding that behind every system stands a human experience.

As we continue to experiment, refine, and evolve, our founding principle remains constant: to use design and technology not as decoration, but as instruments of progress.

The journey continues - with the same curiosity, discipline, and sense of responsibility that shaped our earliest work.