Hi again,
I'm Daniela João ✌️ a Software Designer and dad-jokes supporter.
Swapping sun-drenched Portugal for buttery croissants in France, I then headed for the pebble beaches and charming towns of the south of England. Now, I'm happily developing an addiction for Irn Bru (sugar-free!) in Glasgow, Scotland!
👩💻 Designing with purpose
I do my best work in ambitious, proactive teams where collaboration drives great products. I thrive in environments that embrace challenges, encourage thoughtful solutions, and prioritise accessibility at every step. I’m in my element working alongside passionate developers, designers, and stakeholders who bring their best to a project.
🎨 What I bring to the table
Thoughtful design starts with people
I design with real user insights, creating experiences that solve real problems, not just assumptions. Every decision is guided by research, testing, and an understanding of how people actually interact with products.
Design System warrior
I create and refine Design Systems that empower teams through consistency, efficiency, and scalability. Design Systems aren’t the enemy, they’re the secret weapon for crafting cohesive, high-quality experiences at scale.
Collaboration & Strategy
Great products aren’t built in silos. I work closely with developers, PMs, and stakeholders to align vision with execution, bridging gaps between teams to turn ideas into seamless, user-focused solutions.
A UI-leaning approach
I take an end-to-end approach to design, ensuring that interfaces are not only visually polished but also intuitive, functional, and user-centred. My passion lies in creating engaging experiences that balance aesthetics with usability, because a strong product deserves more than just a pretty interface.
Supporting others & shaping quality
I actively support fellow designers by sharing feedback, offering guidance, and contributing to design critiques. I help uphold quality and consistency across our work, encouraging thoughtful design decisions and cross-team alignment. I believe great design happens when we lift each other up and create space for collaboration and growth.
🍎 Education
Master’s Degree
Communication Design
2012 - 2014 • Faculty of Architecture of Lisbon, Portugal
Bachelor’s Degree
Design Multimedia
2009 - 2012 • Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Portugal
🤖 Experience
Product Designer · ParentPay Group · Nov 2022 - Now 📍
Remote, UK
End-to-end design • Design thinking • Cross-functional collaboration • Information architecture • Design system • Multi-brand design • Stakeholder alignment • Mobile & Web app
UX/UI Designer · Schoolcomms · Sep 2016 - Nov 2022
Worthing, UK
UX/UI design • Wireframing & Prototyping • Component libraries • Style guide creation • Cross-platform design • Collaboration with developers
UI Designer · MySign · Aug 2015 - April 2016
Nancy, France
Typography and layout design • Wireframing & Prototyping • Design process implementation • Branding • Mobile & Web app • Marketing design
Web & Graphic Design · IPSantarém · Feb 2014 - Sep 2014
Santarém, Portugal
Communication design • Brand design • Visual communication • Promotional material creation • Marketing collaboration
👻 Beyond the 9 to 5
I love games with a captivating story and a satisfying fighting mechanic.
👾️ Currently playing: Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
I live with the Furtastic 4: Simba (The Thing, always grumpy), Pixel (Mister Fantastic, always stretching), Loki (Human Torch, the chaos child), and Pandora (Invisible Woman, because she matches the carpets).
“It’s pretty amazing to wake up every morning, knowing that every decision I make is to cause as little harm as possible. It’s a pretty fantastic way to live.” - Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
The millennial in me collects plants like it’s a coping mechanism. A red flag? Probably. A toxic trait? Definitely.
🪴️ My favourite plant is the Alocasia Zebrina