my background

About me

I’m Santiago Suarez, a Senior Product Designer with 9+ years of experience crafting intuitive digital products, scalable design systems, and cross-platform web and mobile experiences.

My work sits at the intersection of strategic user research, visual systems, and technical feasibility. With a background in Computer Science, I bridge the gap between design and engineering, ensuring complex user flows aren't just beautifully designed, but efficiently built and scalable for business growth.

Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with fast-growing startups, agencies, and enterprise brands (including American Express, IHG, and Wyndham) to streamline product ecosystems and optimize user journeys. Today, I actively integrate modern AI workflows into my design process to accelerate discovery, shorten iteration cycles, and bring high-impact solutions to market faster.

When I step away from the screen, I enjoy capturing landscape or portrait photography and learning songs on the piano purely for fun.

Contact me

Experience

2025 – Present

UX/UI & Web Designer (Part-Time Contract)

Zero Gravity Marketing ↗

(Remote)

Led end-to-end UX/UI design for multiple client projects by implementing structured design systems and developer-aligned workflows that accelerated delivery timelines and enhanced team efficiency, while partnering with stakeholders to drive business growth through successful client acquisition and retention.

2016 – Present

UX/UI & Web Designer

Independent Contractor ↗

(Remote)

I have built responsive websites across multiple industries, focusing on usability, accessibility, and UX/UI best practices. I conduct website audits, develop brand identities, and create marketing materials to enhance engagement. My work leverages WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, and custom HTML/CSS to deliver tailored, high-quality digital experiences that support long-term business growth.

2023 – 2025

UX/UI Designer

iSeatz ↗

New Orleans, LA (Remote)

I led design efforts within an agile workflow, creating user-centered interfaces and maintaining a consistent design system. I implemented accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) across all desktop and mobile experiences, conducted design audits to ensure visual consistency, and collaborated with product managers to align designs with user stories and business goals.

2022 – 2023

UX & Visual Designer

Vianna Ochhino, LLC ↗

New York City, NY (Hybrid)

I optimized the e-commerce site through user research and A/B testing, improving conversion rates by 10%. I enhanced navigation, product filtering, and curated collections to increase product discovery and engagement, delivering a more seamless and visually appealing shopping experience.

2021 – 2022

UI/UX Designer

Blueprint Prep Test, LLC ↗

Los Angeles, CA (Remote)

I collaborated with the UX lead to design a responsive study planner interface informed by user interviews and usability testing. I improved the onboarding flow, calendar integration, and goal-setting modules to create an intuitive user experience. I worked closely with developers to ensure smooth handoffs and accurate implementation of UI designs.

2020

Brand & Web Designer

Send Hunger Packing ↗

New Jersey, NJ (Remote)

I developed a comprehensive brand identity, including logo and visual guidelines, which increased brand recognition by 15%. I created a scalable design system for web and digital products, reducing development time by 20%, and led a rapid website redesign that boosted traffic by 25%. I also designed marketing and social media materials to support engagement and brand awareness.

Skills

Design & Strategy

Product Design
• UX/UI Design
• Interaction Design
• AI-Assisted Workflow & Synthesis
• Design Systems
• Information Architecture
• Wireframing & Prototyping
• Accessibility (WCAG 2.2)
• User Research & Usability Testing

Tools & Platforms

• Figma
• Photoshop & Illustrator
• Sketch
• WordPress
• Shopify
• Jira & Asana
• Slack

AI Tools

• Figma Make
• ChatGPT
• Claude
• Google Gemini
• Lovable

Technical & Languages

• HTML & CSS
• JavaScript (Basic)
• English (Bilingual)
• Spanish (Native)

Certifications

New York City, USA

Accessibility: for UX Designers (WCAG 2.2)

Udemy

New York City, USA

Information Architecture (IA) Fundamentals

Udemy

Education

New York City, USA

Master’s in UX/UI & Interaction Design

Touro University Graduate School of Technology

2021

San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic

B.S. System & Computing Engineering

Universidad Católica Nordestana

2016

Recommendations

What my colleagues say about me

I had the honor of managing Santiago directly. In our time working together, he was a role-model at receiving and actioning feedback. He is constantly learning and growing, and it showed in the progress he made from Day 1 and beyond. He is a talented designer, who excels on projects where he can interact with mentors to continue to inspire him and encourage him to continue pushing toward his potential. His curiosity, openness, and incredible attitude are gifts in this industry and are his superpowers as a design employee.

Danielle Matherne

Vice President of Product Design at iSeatz

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Santiago. He's a very dependable and empathetic designer that produced some fantastic work. He quickly adapted to new software/workflow, and I would definitely recommend him to any company looking for a great human and great designer.

Scott Ray

Principal Product Designer at iSeatz

I worked with Santiago together on a big client involving multiple projects. I, as an accessibility specialist, always have to find a balance between code, design and accessibility. And Santiago has always been very open to suggestions to change the designs (even if it sometimes went against client's original requests). He had to come up with a lot of innovative solutions to accommodate accessibility requirements. In the process he became acquainted with WCAG which ensured things like checking colors contrast, target size, preference for native HTML widgets has become like a second nature.

Zivile Goodwin

Accessibility Specialist at iSeatz

I had the pleasure of working with Santiago. He consistently impressed me with his expertise, dedication, collaborative spirit, and UX recommendations. Santiago brings a solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge. Beyond Santiago's technical skills, he is a fantastic teammate who fosters a positive and productive work environment. I highly recommend Santiago to anyone looking for a talented and reliable product designer.

German Etcheverry

Product Designer at iSeatz

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