About me
I find happiness and purpose in helping people.
I do these by designing for humans.
Design, to me, is about empowering and serving people by using intentional, thoughtful problem-solving, enabling them to focus on what truly matters.
When we do this right we also create a connection between the people and the design.
My Values
Inclusivity in Technology
Growing up, I felt alienated by technology, which seemed designed for the Bay Area's idealized scenarios, not for places like my hometown or for people like me and my family. This sense of exclusion led me to question my place in the world of technology and whether I needed to change to fit into it.
Personal Growth Through Design
My journey into design was fueled by a desire to make technology more accessible and relevant to everyone, not just a select few. Initially, I thought I needed to leave my roots behind and immerse myself in the U.S. tech scene to make a difference. However, I realized that my role as a designer is also about reshaping it to be more inclusive and humane, finding wins for both business and users needs.
Transformative Power of Design
As a designer, I aim to simplify and enhance the user experience, allowing people to complete their tasks more efficiently and with greater satisfaction. By focusing on thoughtful problem-solving and empathetic design, we can foster a deeper connection between people and the technology they use. This approach not only improves functionality but also enriches users' lives, enabling them to focus on what truly matters. I believe articulating design decisions in a way that makes sense to the business helps us all achieve our goals and moves us closer to being an equal partner by showcasing design's ROI.
Empathy and Human-Centered Design
The concept of 'apapacho,' a term that signifies a warm, embracing gesture, symbolizes my approach to design. It's about adding a human touch to technology, making it more approachable and relatable. My goal is to create designs that not only meet users' needs but also resonate with them on an emotional level, making technology a tool for connection rather than isolation.
Jimmy Ball
Product Design Manager
"Jose is one of the strongest problem solvers across all the teams at Securonix. He is able to make the complex simple enough to be usable by novices, and more efficient by experts. Jose's can-do attitude is also a strength as the team is often engaged very late in the process, and the direction and/or desired outcome often not well defined, but that does not deter him. He will dive in and ask the right questions, and collaborate very effectively with other designers and other teams to help refine things to arrive at a comprehensive and effective solution for customers."
Bryan Hayek
Product Manager
"José Luis is an absolute pleasure to work with. José's expert design skills combined with his strong work ethic and contagious positive energy made him an excellent addition to both of my product teams at the Boy Scouts of America."
Micheal Tinglin
Product Design Manager
"Jose has the unique ability to take complex processes and systems and distill them down to an elegant experience. His Design Thinking skills has helped to gain alignment at critical times during the project process to keep out on track. Jose is also a good UX architect who can frame the challenge in a clear and insightful way. He would be a great addition to any team."
Ankit Deka
Product Designer
"Having worked with Jose, I must say he is an excellent professional. He mentored me directly for many projects but allowed me to lead when I felt ready. Apart from being a phenomenal designer and communicator what makes him stand out is his willingness to help others. He is a highly skilled all round product designer who understands users needs while catering to business needs."
Rodrigo Marquez
Product Designer
"Jose is the perfect teammate. In all the projects that I worked with him, he was fantastic, helping teammates to grow and create better designs, always delivering on time, and been the one trying to help others achieve their goals. He is the kind of guy that you come to whenever you are facing a problem. One great thing about Jose Luis is that he is very friendly, he can relate with all the team, connecting easily with the developing team, project managers, and stakeholders."
Matt Garcia
Product Design Manager
"José brings a wealth of knowledge, execution, and team player mentality to any product/design team he is a part of. He made significant improvements to our processes and workflows and would recommend him to any organization."
My hometown's nature 🌴
AI Workflow Exploration and Thoughts
Portfolio Workflow
Tools: Descript, Perplexity, and Junia
To get out of the blank page syndrome when starting to build my portfolio I design a workflow for me to overcome it.
I first read about storytelling, STAR framework and what makes a good design. After that I recorded myself outside while walking talking about the design challenges, objectives, problems, explorations, redesign, and impact I had in a specific case study.
I imported the results to Descript to transcribe and clean them. I reorganize the info and used Junia and perplexity to help me make it more readable and clear. After that I edited the text again, corrected it, and add/delete as needed. This helped me overcome the fear of the blank page and gave me a quick start for my portfolio.
Design Process Workflow
Tools: Galileo, Trace, and Hatch
To get out of the blank page syndrome when starting to build my portfolio I design a workflow for me to overcome it.
I first read about storytelling, STAR framework and what makes a good design. After that I recorded myself outside while walking talking about the design challenges, objectives, problems, explorations, redesign, and impact I had in a specific case study.
I imported the results to Descript to transcribe and clean them. I reorganize the info and used Junia and perplexity to help me make it more readable and clear. After that I edited the text again, corrected it, and add/delete as needed. This helped me overcome the fear of the blank page and gave me a quick start for my portfolio.
Thoughts on Design and AI
I envision a future where artificial intelligence (AI) and technology transcend their current roles, becoming integral to enhancing our lives by minimizing mundane tasks and fostering creativity, strategic thinking, and valuable work. My hope is for AI to evolve into something ubiquitous and serene, seamlessly integrating into our lives to empower and connect us more deeply with our communities. Through my personal journey and aspirations as a designer, I am committed to advocating for technology that is inclusive, empathetic, and capable of adding joy and ease to our daily lives. This vision is not just about advancing technology for the sake of efficiency; it's about crafting solutions that allow us to spend more time on meaningful human interactions and experiences, making our lives richer and more fulfilling.
Local food I like! 🌯
Feel free to message me about food too! 😋
