Tidbits

End-to-end Designer

I am engaged in every stage of the design process, from discovery through post-release iteration. I adopt a holistic approach to each initiative, ensuring that every aspect of the user experience is meticulously crafted and continuously refined.

1% Better Than Yesterday

I am my biggest competition, and stagnation is not an option. I strive to improve every day, even if just by 1%, constantly pushing myself to achieve greater heights.

Always up to date

I ensure I stay up to date with the latest design tools, particularly Figma. I frequently organize workshops for my team, teaching them how to leverage the newest updates and features, ensuring we all remain at the cutting edge of design.

Excellence by Design

I never settle for good; I always strive for the best possible solution. I am committed to delivering exceptional user experiences and outstanding UI, ensuring every initiative achieves the highest standards of design excellence.

Teamwork Gets You to the Finish Line

Design work is never a solo endeavor; I rely on my team to deliver the best results. From fellow designers to product managers and engineers, I involve everyone in the design process and value their input.

Together, we achieve excellence.

I am Not the User

I consistently involve users throughout the design process, whether through interviews or usability tests. Understanding user problems and motivations is crucial for crafting effective design solutions.

About me

I am a meticulous and process-driven designer deeply passionate about product design.

I found a love for design and problem-solving after finishing my bachelor's. I was feeling very lost, not knowing what to do with a Fine Arts BA, so I decided to take a post-graduate in digital design. From that point onwards, it was love at first "problem to solve."

My career has solidified my belief that design brings clarity. It helps to clarify the (real) problem we are trying to solve and the best possible solution (given technical, time, and business constraints).

For the past six years, I have had the opportunity to work in companies at multiple stages (early-stage start-ups, scale-ups, and enterprises) and in different phases of product development and maturity. Currently, I am the Lead Product Designer at Unbabel, where I manage a small design team and design a SaaS B2B translation platform.

I have also found a passion for mentoring and teaching young designers. For the last two years, I have been privileged enough to mentor three designers, and I am most proud of creating a safe space for them to fail and flourish.

What people say about me

Your work is incredible and it was always a pleasure to go over all the designs with you and implementing them. I can only hope that my work flow with designers in the future is as half as great as it was with you.

Luís Bernardo, Front-End Developer (Colleague)

Mariana […] is an exceptional manager, designer, and individual.
As my manager, Mariana possesses a rare combination of leadership, empathy, and vision. She not only provided me with guidance and support during my internship but continued to mentor and inspire me as I transitioned into a full-time role. Her ability to cultivate a positive and collaborative work environment makes every team member feel valued and empowered. […]
As a designer, she consistently delivers innovative and impactful solutions to complex design challenges. Her attention to detail and passion for excellence set the bar high for our team, pushing us to constantly strive for better solutions.

Helena Maia, Product Designer (Direct report)

I’ve known Mariana as a very hard working and smart colleague, always interested in learning new things while, at the same time, aiming to achieve the best solutions to whatever challenges that may appear in her path.
Mariana is very organized, pro-active, a great team player and always has an excellent critical attitude towards her work.
[…] Mariana […] (is) someone I can rely on to have a honest but constructive feedback.

André Carmo, UX/UI Designer (Colleague)

Mariana took extra time at NOS to teach autolayout to her colleagues without expecting anything back even though it was not part of her tasks. I can proudly say that thanks to her and her investment not only made me a better product designer but also benefited the company by deliver faster and more efficiently. Mariana is so far one of the best skilled designers I've met and is always happy to share her knowledge with others.

Sara Lopes, Product Designer (Colleague)