I’ve studied psychology and product design. Both are about the same thing: helping people make decisions easier.
I love learning about how people think. That curiosity in how the brain handles complexity and what makes someone feel confident in a choice, has shaped everything about how I design. I reduce noise and I clarify intent.
Today, I’m a Lead Product Designer at Runwise in NYC, shaping how people interact with smart building technology. Previously, I designed branded user experiences for Radar, Refine Labs, and Datadog.
When I'm not designing, I'm probably doing a leaf inspection for one of my 22 plants, experimenting with a new (and probably spicy) recipe, or slowly teaching myself piano.
Design philosophy
Aesthetics and usability aren't opposing forces, they're partners. I design experiences that feel intuitive first, and elegant because of that intuition. When something looks and feels considered, people trust it more. That's not decoration. That's function.
Beauty is utility
Whether it's a savings chart or an onboarding flow, understanding comes first. If someone gets what they're seeing in a glance, I've done my job. I came from psychology for a reason; I design to reduce cognitive load, not add to it.
Clarity first, always
Sharp corners, smooth curves. Technical meets human. The most interesting design lives in contrast: precise yet approachable, confident yet warm. I lean into that tension because it's where personality lives.
Tension creates character
From collaborators
“She makes the complex simple."
“Maria has redefined my expectations on what a Designer can do. To any Designer in the future who finds my expectations difficult, you have Maria to blame. To call her a Designer is a massive under representation, she is a humble master of visual communication in the most comprehensive way. Be it ads, websites, product UX/UI, sales decks, internal presentations, brand explorations, stylescapes (I only know what this is because of her), you name it - she can effectively communicate and amplify the most nuanced ideas and user experiences, she makes the complex simple.”
Scott
Director of Demand Gen
“An absolute joy and an absolute force to work with."
“Maria has somehow managed to strike the balance between being an absolute joy and an absolute force to work with. Her smarts, savvy, and design style make her a powerful addition to any team, and her design skills are best in class. In addition to collaborating on brand strategy, website creation, and visual identity work for the broader business, where Maria was a quick, responsive, and proactive partner, Maria was also a design partner for our B2B SaaS / subscription product. In that regard, she contributed to everything from UI / UX work related to the product design and platform itself (creating prototypes, wireframing, interaction design, solving for issues within userflows, etc.) to the visual system and user experience specific to various assets within the product itself (which were the main way users would derive value from the product).”
Victoria
Growth Strategy & Product Marketing
"Her drive and commitment motivated me to improve my
own design and leadership skills."
“She is a creative powerhouse, always impressing us with her outstanding design skills and ability to deliver top-notch work on every project. Working with Maria was a true inspiration, as her drive and commitment motivated me to improve my own design and leadership skills.”
Marcel
Associate Creative Director
"She knows exactly when to follow or break the rules."
“As a copywriter, having a positive relationship with designers is critical in terms of finding way to bring complex concepts to life. Maria is that magical designer who can not only take a concept and run with it, but give it a fresh and creative spin that makes it even STRONGER. She has a fundamental understanding of design principles and best practices—and knows exactly when to either follow or BREAK those rules in order to create genuinely interesting work that compels people to lean in a bit closer.”
Lex
Senior Copywriter
Right now
🌿 PROPAGATINGA snake plant cutting and scallions
🎙️ LISTENING TO📖 READINGArticulating Design Decisions
🎵 ON REPEATJoão Gomes
Have something cooking?
I'd love to hear about it.