UX that ships and scales
I'm Emiliano Zapata, NYC‑based UX designer (remote‑friendly). I turn complex ideas into intuitive products that users love—and businesses grow with.
Selected Work
Pergolade Blade Pro
Role: Lead UX Designer (end-to-end)
Redefining a premium configurator-led buying journey across desktop + mobile
RailBuild
Role: Lead UX Designer
Streamlining construction procurement for three audiences (Homeowners, Architects, Contractors)
FidemDD Website Redesign
Role: Product Designer
Redesigned financial services site → improved credibility, increased lead generation by 35%
CityPups Dog Adoption Tool
Role: UX Designer
Applied Google Ventures Design Sprint to create a matching tool prototype in 5 days—demonstrating rapid ideation and user testing under tight constraints.
Birder
Role: UX Designer
An app to identify and explore birds all around the world.
Modernizing the Life Insurance Quote Engine
Role: Senior UX Designer
Redesigning a legacy quote engine to improve conversion rates and user trust through progressive disclosure.
About
10+ years delivering revenue-ready digital products. I specialize in rapid prototyping, design systems, and AI-accelerated workflows that bridge the gap between design and development. Outside of design, I’m constantly experimenting with new creative tech.
How I Work
Discover → Define → Design → Validate → Launch & Learn
Discover
Discover
Research & Insights
Understand users & opportunities through research and analysis.
• Market & competitive analysis
• Stakeholder alignment sessions
Define
Define
Strategy & Planning
Turn insights into clear direction.
• Information architecture
• Success metrics & KPIs
Design
Design
Prototyping & Iteration
Bring ideas to life with user-friendly solutions.
• Interactive prototypes
• Design system components
Validate
Validate
Testing & Refinement
Refine with real feedback.
• A/B testing & analytics
• Continuous user feedback
Launch & Learn
Launch & Learn
Deploy & Optimize
Ship and optimize continuously.
• User onboarding flows
• Performance monitoring & optimization
"Great design isn't just about visuals, it's about creating experiences that genuinely resonate with users and drive meaningful business outcomes."
What Others Say
Trusted by teams at startups and enterprises who value design excellence
Paola Palacios
Senior UX Designer
"I've had the pleasure of working with Emiliano twice... He's scrappy, resourceful, and a true go-getter... Emiliano is entrepreneurial, adaptable, and always brings his best to the table."
Alex Johnson
UX Designer
"Working with Emiliano was an inspiring experience... His ability to empathize with users and translate their needs into actionable insights makes him a standout UX designer..."
Samantha Lee
Product Designer
"I had the opportunity to work alongside Emiliano on a digital product redesign... His creativity and problem-solving skills are invaluable assets..."
Resume Highlights
Summary
UX strategist and product designer translating complex ideas into revenue-ready products. Known for rapid audits, plain-language IA, design systems, and AI-accelerated prototyping.
Core Strengths
UX Leadership: Heuristic analysis, conversion-focused IA, design systems, stakeholder alignment
Workflow & Delivery: Rapid prototyping, experimentation mindset, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA), agile facilitation, AI-assisted delivery
Experience
- AI-Accelerated UX Systems Designer | Freelance (Jul 2022 – Present)
Leveraging AI tools to reduce delivery time by 40% while maintaining high fidelity. Specializing in rapid prototyping and design system scaling.
- UX Architect | Americaneagle.com (Jun 2021 – Dec 2022)
Led IA and UX strategy for enterprise clients, improving site navigation and user retention metrics.
- Senior Product Designer | Trianz (Feb – Mar 2021)
Contracted to rapidly conceptualize a high-volume donor management dashboard, streamlining complex data collection workflows for a major healthcare client.
- Product Designer & Developer | FidemDD Financial (Aug 2020 – Jan 2021)
End-to-end design and frontend implementation (React) for a financial services platform.
Toolbox (2026)
Design & Prototyping
Research & Testing
Analytics & Experimentation
Build & Handoff (UX ↔ Eng)
AI & Automation
Education & Certifications
- • B.A. Business Communications & Graphic Design – Baruch College
- • UX Design Immersive – General Assembly (Best Project Award)
- • UX/UI Career Track – Springboard (Capstone: Mobile App)
Languages
English (native) • Spanish (fluent)