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Who is Raphael, anyways?

I’m originally from Brazil and moved to Vancouver in 2017 looking for new and exciting adventures. It’s been a long journey to get to where I am today. I have worked as a digital marketer, salesman, hotel concierge, events planner, television producer, screenwriter, content researcher, and even at a Walt Disney World theme park (sorry to disappoint, but no, I was not Mickey) selling hot dogs and ice cream.

My past experiences shaped who I am as a professional and taught me the value of work ethics, bringing me exactly where I needed to be, right here in Vancouver, as a UX Designer. They will always be a reminder of why I chose this path: to combine my two biggest passions, human behaviour, and creativity. I thrive in discovering people’s motivations and translating them into creative products, helping them live a better life.

I thrive on constructive feedback and collaboration, always seeking opportunities to hone my skills. Storytelling is one of my strongest skills, enabling me to craft compelling narratives that enhance user experiences.

With a track record of success in diverse team settings, I'm always excited to deliver strategic designs infused with empathy. I pride myself on being a critical thinker and creative problem solver, driven by a passion for innovation.

My career so far

As a product designer, I have built a diverse portfolio by working on end-to-end experiences, responsive websites, and new product launches. I have contributed to projects from initial concept through to final implementation, ensuring that each product is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, I have played a key role in the successful launch of new products, utilizing my skills to bring innovative ideas to life and deliver exceptional user experiences.

View my resume

TELUS

Senior Product Designer

From 2022 - present

  • As the design prime for the company’s newest platform, I've shaped its end-to-end experience, reducing its interaction from 8 clicks to just 3, optimizing usability and enhancing product impact.

  • Orchestrated the design efforts for an e-commerce migration initiative, streamlining service purchase pathways and driving a 20% boost in conversion rates through innovative user-centric solutions.

  • Responsible for UX in delivering new web experiences in 3 sprints or less, with a focus on scalability based on market feedback for sustained success.

BAM Digital

UX/UI Designer

From 2020 - 2022

  • Demonstrated proficiency in overseeing end-to-end project lifecycles, encompassing sitemap creation, comprehensive research, meticulous UX design, seamless UI development, and successful product handoff alongside thorough quality assurance.

  • Accountable for spearheading projects spanning websites, interactive screens, and internal systems tailored for the real estate sector.

TRENO App

Product Designer

From 2020- 2020 (3-month contract)

  • Led end-to-end product design for app MVP launch, driving UX research, ideation, and delivery.

  • Conducted usability testing to refine designs, ensuring user-centric solutions.

  • Managed stakeholders, fostering alignment with project objectives and user needs.

BrainStation

Lead UX Instructor Educator

From 2024- present (part-time contract)

  • Lead instructor for the part-time UX Design course at Brainstation

  • Conducting lessons around fundamentals of design, from research to UX, UI and delivery process

ADP List

Design Mentor

From 2023- present (on-call)

  • Mentoring designers and junior/intermediate professionals entering the industry

Testimonials

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Carolyn Shum

Manager

I had the pleasure of working closely with Raphael as a designer at TELUS Digital, and I can confidently say that he's an exceptional team member. Raph's ability to understand and interpret business requirements, as well as his expertise in design principles and industry trends, allowed him to create designs that effectively communicated the desired user journeys and achieved the desired goals. One of Raph's greatest strengths is being able to present clearly and effectively to stakeholders across many teams for small and large strategic initiatives. He is able to back up the designs with rationale and data. Raph is also a mentor and teacher, always making time to provide coaching and give great advice to support and enable other designers. I highly recommend Raph for his outstanding contributions as a designer and I have no doubt that he will continue to thrive and excel in his career.

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Aaron Kwong

Product Designer

I can't describe how hardworking Raphael is. He has this drive that you don't typically see in a lot of people - and because of that, he is always a pleasure to work with. Theres never a time where I do not want to work with Raphael - whether it's just to bounce ideas off each other, or to critique each other's work - it was ALWAYS a pleasure. He's super passionate about UX and you can see that from the get-go. I have no doubt that Raphael will be an amazing addition to any team, no matter where he goes. Rock on, Rapha!

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Esperanza Garcia

Head of Design

Raphael is an excellent UX designer with exceptional communication skills. His diverse experience in areas such as marketing and content research added great value to our team, and his passion for personal and professional growth was contagious! He has a beautiful friendly energy that makes collaborating with him a true joy. Raphael is genuinely passionate about using user experience to get the best results. He knows how to work hard, respect deadlines and bring solutions and new ideas to the table. Happy to recommend Raphael and confident he will positively impact any organization.

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Marialaura Tallerini Pauw

Senior UX/UI Designer

I had the pleasure to work with Raphael as an instructor at BrainStation. It has been amazing teaching the UX Design Course with Raphael. He is always curious and eager to learn more about new, innovative concepts with me sending me super interesting articles and recommendations for conferences. Raphael has a great vast knowledge in UX UI and his lessons are always very fun and interesting to listen to. He always has the students attention and always ready to answer all the questions. Raphael also provides lots of interesting resources to our students that I love reading too. Beside his great knowledge in UX UI, Raphael is also a super kind person and very easy to work with, he really cares about the work being done right but interpersonal relationships too. I hope to teach more courses with Raphael at BrainStation!

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Get in touch

Send me a message and let's chat! I'm always open to hearing from new people about their ideas, projects, or potential collaborations.

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