My Story

I’m Marco, a growth-driven UX and Product Design with over ten years of experience working with remote and distributed teams. Growing up in a design-oriented household with a father who was an early adopter of CorelDRAW, I was immersed in the world of digital creativity from an early age. This background has shaped my passion for creative innovation and problem-solving, allowing me to combine my loves for design, technology, and culture to create digital products that foster self-expression and innovation for the greater good.

I specialize in designing end-to-end products across fintech, AI, and Web3, leading small design teams in both startups and established companies. Most recently, I led design at Blockswap Labs, managing a team and contributing hands-on as an IC. My work spans consumer products, financial platforms, B2B SaaS, and blockchain technology.

10+ years in business
2+ mn users impacted
3 awarded projects
3 teams managed

I love creating experiences that resonate on a human level and contribute to a larger vision of global accessibility and empowerment.

As a seasoned Designer, I blend strategic vision with user-centric design principles to drive organizational success and enhance user satisfaction. My approach blends a deep understanding of user motivations, business objectives, and the specific dynamics of each product or service environment.

I enjoy working closely with clients & teams, steering projects towards solutions that exceed expectations and business goals. The weirder the team, the better. I am deeply involved in every phase of the design process, from initial concept through to detailed execution.

My expertise leans in creating digital products, advising on product strategy and user experience across all digital touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and impactful user journey.

Web3 Expertise

I started as an investor in 2016 and began collaborating with crypto projects in 2017. Since then, I've delivered live wallets, exchanges, and websites while working as a consultant in finance. In 2021, I made the switch to full-time Web3, leading design for DeFi projects at Blockswap Labs. My hands-on experience spans everything from designing digital wallets to creating user-friendly exchanges, always focusing on enhancing user engagement and simplifying complex processes.

Remote Working

I’ve been working in a hybrid setup since late 2017 and switched to full-time remote work since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborating with international teams across various time zones. My experience includes leading design projects for startups and established companies in fintech and Web3. At Blockswap Labs, I managed a remote design team, coordinating with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders spread across different continents. This setup has taught me how to maintain clear communication, stay organized, and deliver high-quality work independently and collaboratively, regardless of location.

A snapshot of my design process

Though each project is unique, I have a established a 6 step process that helps me design better and on time. This process may vary based on the team I'm part of because it's crucial to share and agree a universal vision for the product development.
  • 1

    Understand the Business

    Dive deep into the company's goals using OKRs and KPIs to align design objectives with business success.

  • 2

    Emphasize with the Users

    Utilize Design Sprints, Hypersprints and Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) frameworks to identify user needs. Collect insights from customer care feedback, app comments, and direct interviews.

  • 3

    Ideate and Conceptualise

    Facilitate How Might We (HMW) sessions and Crzy 8's brainstorming workshops to generate innovative solutions. Develop personas, scenarios, and user flows to shape the design process.

  • 4

    Prototype and Experiment

    Create low-fidelity sketches and wireframes, advancing to Figma for design system creation and high fidelity mockups to interactive prototypes with tools like Proto.io. Employ iterative design methods to refine concepts based on usability testing with tools like Maze.

  • 5

    Validate and Test

    Conduct rigorous usability testing to validate design decisions. Measure effectiveness through OKRs, KPIs, and user satisfaction metrics to ensure designs meet business goals.

  • 6

    Iterate and Optimize

    Continuously iterate on designs using agile methodologies, usually on a 1-2 week sprint basis. Incorporate feedback from stakeholders, users, and data analytics to optimize the user experience and drive business outcomes.

Looking for more details?

Check some of my projects and case studies

Go to Portfolio