Gabriela Marie
UX Researcher and UI Designer
About Me
I’m a UX/UI Designer from the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, currently based in Tampa, USA.
My past as an educator and creative background has allowed me to gather key skills to follow my dream of becoming a UX/UI designer and applying a human centered design approach to build great products that are accessible, intuitive and enjoyable for all. I would love to offer my research skills, analytical thinking and understanding of design systems in my next design role.
I ALSO AM
- I am a storyteller, I emphasize the “who” and “why” in the process. My aim is to humanize data, bringing compassion and empathy to our insights.
- I am a team player, who enjoys collaboration and emphasizing the significance of communication and sharing of intentions to foster trust and cultivate a great teamwork environment.
- I advocate for adopting a system and process oriented approach when creating solutions. I believe in the value of efficiency and organization when designing for scalability and long term use.
My Values
01
Being Kind
Embracing and respecting different perspectives and points of view is essential in any work or life environment. I actively try to practice kindness to help build strong and trusting relationships with my coworkers. I love boosting my team’s morale.
02
Do It Scared
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”. Life is full of lessons and I’m a true believer that it rewards persistence when times get hard. One of my life’s biggest motto is “seeking discomfort” . It is a constant reminder that we only grow when we do things that require us to have courage.
03
Continuous Learning
As a teacher myself, I not only love teaching but also learning. I follow several organizations such as LatinasinTech, Interaction Design Foundation, Nielsen Norman Group, Udemy, Coursera and Rita Lab which give me access to courses, training and consulting opportunities as well as stories from professionals in the field.
From Teaching to UX Design
As a teacher, I worked every day to provide an inclusive and supportive learning environment for my students. Empathy allowed me to better understand their needs, preferences and problems and modify my teaching techniques and resources accordingly.
Simplifying and organizing information was part of my day to day basis. I had to be able to simplify concepts to then plan well organized lesson plans. I truly believe in simplicity to make a user-friendly product.
Teaching taught me the importance of communication not just with students but also with your team. I actively gather feedback from students but also seek advice from other fellow teachers to enhance my plans. This helped me become a better listener and collaborator. I’m all about asking meaningful questions and understanding the problem to build a well informed solution.
I considered teaching to be an iterative process. Even when you have a planned out lesson, in practice it will never be the same twice. We adapt to our students, test and refine based on their feedback. This approach has made me become a better and more efficient UX Designer.
Recommendations
Amauche Uzoigwe
Fellow UX Designer at RitaXYZ
May 9th, 2024, Amauche worked with Gabriela at Rita XYZ
I had the pleasure of working with Gabriela at Rita XYZ and I can honestly say she’s made me a better designer. From her out-of-the-box thinking and stellar design skills, to the extreme organization of her thoughts, processes, and design files, Gabriela makes an ideal teammate. She approaches every conversation with the most positive attitude, is willing to take leadership when needed, and always considers the thoughts and opinions of the entire team when making decisions. I'd work with her 1000 times again!
Cassandra Neri
Software Engineer
May 9th, 2024, Cassandra worked with Gabriela at Rita XYZ
Collaborating with Gabriela was an absolute pleasure thanks to her exceptional teamwork and amazing personality. Her creativity and design skills were a constant source of inspiration, deepening my appreciation for UX/UI design and the effort it entails. Despite the program being fully remote and operating on Eastern Time Zone hours—a five-hour difference for us—it never felt limiting. This experience demonstrated what can be accomplished through dedication, effective communication, and a shared passion for technology. Gabriela's late-night efforts showcased her commitment to the project. She is exactly the kind of partner I want to work with.
Kim Cinco
August 12, 2023, Kim worked with Gabriela at RitaXYZ as the Engineering Lead
August 12, 2023, Kim worked with Gabriela at RitaXYZ as the Engineering Lead
I am pleased to write this testimonial for Gabi, an aspiring UX Designer. During our apprenticeship, Gabi's work ethic and positive attitude stood out, particularly in handling last-minute deliverables. Our cross-functional collaboration environment allowed her to quickly grasp the dynamics of delivering a product through constant feedback, pushback, and iterations. Gabi's adaptability to the industry's rapid changes and her complementary teamwork were impressive. She consistently uplifted her team, ensuring seamless support and collaboration.
Explore my resume in detail to learn more about my design background, skills and work experience.