About
I’m Leo, a Product Designer with 8+ years of professional UI and UX experience. My time working in Customer Support, QA, and Front End Development gives a more informed perspective as a designer. A former career as a magician, and psychology courses in university, gives me a deep understanding of how humans think and perceive. I'm passionate about using design to make technology work for people. People should not be working for technology.
I’m currently spending time with family and friends in my home state of New York while I search for my next career opportunity. Throughout my life, I’ve lived in several countries including USA, Australia, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Croatia. Traveling helps me grow as a person and as a global citizen. If I’m not pushing my boundaries I’m not growing.
Humanity continues to face many challenges in 2024. Technology should empower us to solve the BIG problems—not get in our way with a thousand small problems. Let's work together to build more delightful and intuitive digital products so we can all live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives!
Design before you code. Research before you design.
Product designer. Global adventurer. Recovering magician.
OOO: 🧗♂️ 🏟️ 🥾 ✈️ 🖼️ 🏄♂️
Pathway
My Career Journey
Local Professional Magician 2005 – 2009
University: B.S. in Marketing 2009 – 2013
Join UniversityTickets in CS and QA June 2013 – November 2014
Learn UX through Springboard November 2014
Transition to UX at UniversityTickets December-February 2014
UI/UX Designer at UniversityTickets 2014 – 2019
Layoff Due to Employer Acquisition December 2019
Join BPLogix as Senior UX Designer March 2020 – June 2020
Layoff Due to COVID-19 June 2020
Join Daupler as UI/UX Designer November 2020 – August 2023
Impacted by 2023 Tech Layoffs August 2023
Join ADPList as Design Mentor October 2023
References
Career Comments
Leo’s robust and well-developed UX skills have made a remarkable difference in the usability and enjoyment of our software—reducing the support and training load on our staff by making the system more intuitive.
Manager, CTO
Pro-level UI/UX skills, never hesitant to learn a new skill, and dives head-first into whatever he takes on.
Co-Worker, Product Manager
Leo immediately stood out—I’ve seen his focus on quality and attention to detail within the context of streamlining processes and designs.
Mentor, Industry Leader
Leo's UI and UX design are top-notch. He has always delivered above and beyond my expectations.
Co-Worker, Software Developer
A great eye for detail, forward-thinking, a team player, passionate about his work, always there to help, and dedicated in everything that he is asked to do.
Co-Worker, Client Services
Leo’s goal was always to design a product that was so intuitive it didn't need support.
Co-Worker, Client Services
Strengths
Areas of Focus
🚀 Remote Startups
8 years working remotely on cross-functional Agile teams and collaborating directly with startup co-founder CTO’s to increase UX maturity across the organization.
💻 Web SaaS Platforms
Led all UI and UX design efforts for 2 web SaaS platforms used by over 100,000 users in 400+ organizations across USA, Canada, and New Zealand.
💠 Design Systems
Built, maintained, evolved, and help implement design systems from the ground up into 700+ color, text, and shadow styles and over 4,000 components to ensure consistency across products.
Leadership
Volunteering & Recognitions
ItemsBest Product Designer in USA
In April 2024 I achieved the top ranking in the USA for Product Designers on Uxcel.com’s designer rankings.
ADPList Mentor
I’ve mentored junior designers since 2023. Providing portfolio reviews, resume feedback, job search guidance, and career advice.
Article Featured in Sidebar
My Medium case study discussing 3 major pain points in Amazon’s Kindle eBook app was featured in the popular design blog/newsletter Sidebar.
Student Guest Lecturer
During university I was invited by a professor to teach a first-year business class as a guest lecturer on presentation design and delivery.
State University of New York at New Paltz
Now | Photography | Want to Meet | Travel Log
Hi, I’m Leo, a Product Designer with 8+ years of professional UI and UX experience. I initially spent time working in Customer Support, QA, and Front End Development. I'm passionate about using design to make technology work for people. People should not be working for technology.
I’m currently spending time with family and friends in my home state of New York while I search for my next career opportunity. Throughout my life, I’ve lived in several countries including America, Australia, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Croatia. Traveling helps me grow as a person and as a global citizen. If I’m not pushing my boundaries I’m not growing.
Humanity continues to face many challenges in 2024. Technology should empower us to solve the BIG problems—not get in our way with a thousand small problems. Let's work together to build more delightful and intuitive digital products so we can all live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives!
The secret to an insanely great user experience isn't a secret: understand users. Establish empathy. Design before you code. Research before you design.
