At Altery, I've collaborated closely with the Head of Design to shape the processes and practices of a four-strong design team. I introduced new file management, documentation principles, and user-centred design processes into the daily workload. I also brought order to design production, reviewing and compiling all existing UI interfaces into a by-then inexistent UI library/proto-design system, with appropriate documentation for component use. As a Fintech startup, I was involved in everything from UX to UI and even front-end development. However, my main focus was researching and designing a more efficient and successful business client onboarding process and corporate website in direct collaboration with the business development director. I also conducted regular UX reviews of the entire production work.

I came in on a six-month contract, during which time I led a strategic piece on the Future of News to identify the areas of growth and new features for the News section of the Workspace data Platform. In my short term with them, I also reviewed the UX work on the current production and helped design some of the new features defined in the strategic piece.

At Designit, I oversaw the production design of BP Strala, a proof-of-concept mobile app for a blockchain-based solar energy community market. I transformed initial design concepts into a functional product tested with 100 users in a real-life use scenario. My experience includes working on strategic and digital transformation projects for clients such as Dyson, Dublin Airport Authority, Jaguar Land Rover, Refinitiv, Lloyds Bank, and Cynergy Bank. The responsibilities went from user research to user testing, UX design and review, and kickstarting design systems by developing detailed and documented component libraries for Sketch and Figma.

At Wipro Digital, I have been developing highly complex intranet systems for BP in collaboration with Designit, not only co-leading the strategic design/user research stage of the projects but also performing Design reviews to maintain a high standard in terms of usability and user-centred design principles. Other responsibilities include performing Usability tests.

As Senior UI/UX, I acted internally as the Champion of UX, helping the Managing Director re-shape the Creative Department to follow UX and Usability best practices by developing internal protocols and ways of working for UI, UX and Development. From Product Strategy to Project Management, from sketches to high-fidelity prototypes, I have developed new projects for the healthcare industry, from CME (Continuing Medical Education) e-learning platforms to disease awareness and event websites, including some of the top congresses in the UK for Healthcare Professionals.

As a Senior Web Designer, I helped the company deliver several digital products for the healthcare industry. I developed a proprietary delegate management system (DMS) that allowed PCM to efficiently manage all the bookings of their multiple healthcare events. I was responsible for designing (and building using WordPress) most of the digital products developed by the boutique agency and managing and mentoring a team of in-house (and sometimes freelance) web developers and graphic designers.

As Team Lead in FBAUP's Center for Studies in Design and Art (CEDA) Design Lab, I oversaw the entire design production from initial brainstorms to final deliverables – including communication with project stakeholders — of multiple web and print projects, mainly for the Academic and Art industries. Working with a multidisciplinary team of designers, illustrators, developers, copywriters, and photographers in a highly creative and collaborative environment, I have implemented a User-Centred Design iterative process and methodologies approach to digital projects, following best practices and standards in usability and accessibility, while working on my MA in Usability. Focusing on user research, information architecture, prototyping, visual design, and user testing, I also led front-end development for several projects.

The Design Lab was an R&D unit providing scientific and technical expertise for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, which was part of my responsibilities. In the last two years, I was also the de coordinator for the internships at the Design Lab, mentoring undergraduate students and identifying expertise for the team.

Thesis
Accessible Usability: Methodologies for the Qualitative Evaluation of Usability In Web Design

Field of Studies
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Preamble
In a world where the Web has become a virtually indispensable tool in people’s lives, either as a space for communication, entertainment or work, it is essential that users can take advantage of this tool, that they can use the sites that form the Web, that they can access the information or service they desire. User-Centred Design is concerned with the users and promotes them to the focus of any design applied to the Web. Usability assesses this same Design with users and guides it so that, regardless of the users’ sensitivities or limitations, they can take advantage of the information or service a particular site provides.

This thesis proposes a reflection based on the principles of User-Centered Design and the Usability of Web sites, demonstrating a set of usability evaluation methodologies within a low-cost framework that designers can use regardless of the size or complexity of the work at hand and stressing its importance as a design tool as valid as any knowledge of Design principles or philosophies, programming or software specific to their professional careers.

* Licentiate (Portuguese: Licenciatura) was a five (six-year in some cases) degree with a required Final Project or Thesis defence that was given to all students before the adoption of the Bologna Treaty in 2005, and the three-year bachelor's format. In the UK its equivalent to a BA(Hons).

Licentiate Degree Final Project
The National Museum of Contemporary Art website redesign

The website project for the Portuguese National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) was born out of an exchange proposal between the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto and the MNAC, inserted in the context of developing academic works for the conclusion of the Licentiate in Communication Design in a professional internship environment.

The project was presented to the Museum Board before being shown publicly at the end-of-year School Exhibition (Designorama '06). Even if it wasn't part of the initial agreement, the Museum Board considered that the redesign project exceeded expectations and requested it to be built and implemented. The redesigned website was used by the MNAC between 2007 and 2013.

Soares dos Reis School of Arts is a specialized High school institution. The education and learning experiences of the students are guided by a dedicated team of teachers who are specifically trained in the arts, as well as instructors from various technological fields.

As a Press Officer for the Portuguese racing team ASM Team, I've fulfilled one of my childhood dreams: being at the 24 hours of Le Mans. For two weeks, I was responsible for all the press releases of the team, managing press contacts between the racing drivers or other personnel and the press, and acting as a spokesperson for any TV request, mostly from Eurosport.

As a Junior Architecture CAD Designer, I assisted with architectural projects, converting sketches into AutoCAD technical prints, including 3D modelling. I also helped with client presentations, both in print format (designing presentation posters) and PowerPoint.