We are an independent studio designing and engineering complex digital data systems.
Overview
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
Product Design, System Design, Frontend Engineering
OPERATIONAL SCOPE
Global
FOUNDED
2011
HEADQUARTERS
Amsterdam
Zimmerman is an independent design and technology studio. We design and build digital products, systems, and interfaces for organisations working with complex information.
Our practice focuses on clarity, structure, and implementation. We work across the full lifecycle of digital systems — from early definition to production — ensuring that what is designed can be built, and what is built remains coherent over time.
We operate internationally, collaborating with public institutions, research organisations, and global teams.
Operating Principles
Clarity
We reduce complexity without erasing nuance. Our designs help users orient themselves, understand relationships, and interpret data with confidence.
Responsibility
Data is never neutral. We design with awareness of the political, social, and ethical implications embedded in data systems.
Transparency
We value openness in systems, methods, and communication — supporting trust through legibility and consistency.
Utility
Our tools are built for real users, real constraints, and real workflows. If it isn't usable, it isn't finished.
Care
We design with care for users, data subjects, and long-term impact, prioritizing sustainability over short-lived trends.
Approach
We follow a structured and transparent process that moves from understanding to implementation.
DISCOVER
Audit & Research
DEFINE
Architecture Setup
DEVELOP
Build & Prototype
DELIVER
Test & Evolve
Experience Track
Stakeholder Interviews
User Needs Analysis
Use-Case Prioritization
User Journeys & Flows
Sitemapping & Navigation
Low-fi Wireframing
High-Fidelity Prototypes
Design System Assembly
Interactive UI Components
Acceptance Testing (UAT)
Accessibility Auditing
Platform Training
Data & API Track
Data Source Auditing
Standard Profiling (IATI, XML)
Ecosystem & Legacy Mapping
Data Flow Architecture
Public REST/GraphQL Specs
Headless CMS Structuring
Ingestion Pipeline Build (ETL)
Data Middleware & Backends
Search Indexing (Apache Solr)
Automated Payload Validation
Open-Source Deployment
API Rate Limiting & Monitoring
Contact & Consultation
For implementation inquiries, technical specifications, or partnership discussions.