Tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm a Brooklyn-based visual designer with focused skill point allocation in UX/UI design for web and mobile. I do brand, print, and motion pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Oh, and MNL > SIN > SFO > NYC. Put that in there somewhere.

How did you get here?

I began my career at a small design studio in the Philippines, where I focused on creating websites for US Realtors. As I progressed to a larger studio, I broadened my portfolio to include web and digital marketing design for prominent Philippine brands. In 2010, I joined a design studio in Singapore, where I worked on web and mobile projects for major financial institutions. While being the sole designer for each project, I also eventually took on project management responsibilities.

In 2011, I jetted off to San Francisco to join the bustling startup scene. I was brought on by Identified as a UX Designer, but soon we found ourselves needing someone to steer the ship of the overall brand and product visual direction. So I took on the role of Art Director shortly after. Identified was acquired by Workday in 2014.

In 2016, I joined DocSend, another startup, where I was once again the only designer. My responsibilities included product design, as well as taking charge of brand and marketing design. DocSend was acquired by Dropbox in early 2021. One highlight of my work post-acquisition was transitioning the entire DocSend design system to fit perfectly with the Dropbox Design System.

Any skills you're willing to brag about?

Like most designers in the startup world, I wear multiple hats and juggle various responsibilities. Whether it's product design, marketing materials, identity work, or even creating eye-catching promotional videos and company merch, I've got it covered. I also dabble in web standards and play around a bit with some front-end development. Gotta keep up and stay current!

That's not bragging at all. So what's next for you?

I'm constantly on the hunt for cool, up-and-coming startups that know the value of design, especially if they're looking for someone senior or in a design lead position. I excel at crafting eye-catching and practical designs for all sorts of platforms. Lately, I've been drawn to work on projects that make a real difference in the world, because let's face it, we're all tired of those "[insert-ubiquitous-app]-but-for-[another-ubiquitous-app]" products.

One last thing, is it really "Ego"?

Yes. And no, I'm not an egoist/egotist (or so I like to think). You should ask me about my middle name. That would blow your socks off.