Impact Design: shaping user experience at the heart of a company

As a 3D graphic designer and VFX supervisor, Bertrand Desurmont spent twenty years in audiovisual post-production before joining Homiwoo. Since 2017, he has been shaping the solution's visual identity and user experience with a core conviction: design is not merely an aesthetic layer; it is a strategic driver.

An unconventional journey

Special effects for the feature film Junkyard Dog (Chien de la casse), commercial films for Rolex, Chanel, or Lacoste, and TV broadcast design for C8 and NRJ12: Bertrand Desurmont’s background is as impressive as it is proof of his expertise. Yet, it was in a young company specializing in data science and artificial intelligence applied to real estate that he chose to settle down.

In 2017, he met William and Adrien, the founders of Homiwoo, who were looking for a graphic designer to create the visual identity of their fledgling startup. "The challenge of building a project from scratch in a field that was completely new to me immediately motivated me," Bertrand explains. As the third person to join the adventure, he even became a partner.

Wearing two hats in pursuit of a global vision

At Homiwoo, Bertrand holds a hybrid role as Solution & Data Designer, split equally between two complementary missions.

As a Data Designer, he oversees all visual communications: social media content, booth designs for trade shows, sales pitches and presentations, as well as producing promotional videos and interviews. "I handle everything, from concept to final edit," he sums up. An annual calendar allows him to anticipate production needs around key real estate events.

As a Solution Designer, he works on the user experience of the Homiwoo platform—an online solution providing access to complex real estate data: dynamic maps, analytical reports, and asset portfolios. His role is to design interfaces that are beautiful, functional, and technically feasible, in close collaboration with the tech and business teams. "I have to balance my work between these two departments, identify what is feasible, and best meet the customer's use case."

Design as a bridge between complexity and clarity

In such a data-driven company, the role of design was not a given. Yet, it has become a true competitive advantage for Homiwoo. The results speak for themselves: the initial redesigned solutions—new maps, new reports—received overwhelmingly positive client feedback. "It immediately confirmed that there was real value in putting more emphasis on design," Bertrand notes.

For him, design serves several essential functions. It structures information, organizing large volumes of complex data to make them clear and readable. It guides action, steering the user toward the most relevant elements for decision-making. It builds trust, signaling professionalism and credibility. "Good design is design you don't even notice: the user focuses on their needs, not the tool."

Innovating down to his own tools

Among his most notable achievements, Bertrand points to Homiwoo’s 2026 New Year's video—a short film produced entirely with artificial intelligence, from visual concept to final render. "It was a concrete way to demonstrate our mastery of technological innovation, fully aligned with our positioning," he says. The result exceeded expectations: high engagement on social media and a flood of positive feedback from a user community that loved the creative touch.

Bertrand also mentions ongoing work on interactive mapping tools and comparable property analysis reports—demanding projects that require "finding the right balance between richness of information and simplicity of use."

Bertrand Desurmont looks to the future with ambition. He wants to see design continue to play a strategic role at Homiwoo: "I'd like design to become even more central."

It is an ambition that nearly a decade at Homiwoo—from the very first mockups to today's interfaces—gives him every right to champion.