Hi again,
I’m Daniela João ✌️ a product 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 everyone is invested in building great products. I thrive in environments that take on challenges head-on, seek thoughtful solutions, and make accessibility a priority at every step. I’m in my element when collaborating with passionate developers, designers, and stakeholders who bring their all to a project.
What I bring to the table
User-first mindset
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 ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability. They're not the enemy—they’re the secret weapon for crafting cohesive, high-quality experiences at scale.
Collaboration & strategy
Great products happen when teams collaborate, not work apart. I work closely with developers, PMs, stakeholders, and designers 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 smooth, engaging experiences that balance aesthetics with usability—because a strong product is more than just a pretty interface.
🍎 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
ParentPay Group · Product Designer · 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
Schoolcomms · UX/UI Designer · Sep 2016 - Nov 2022
Worthing, UK
UX/UI design • Wireframing & Prototyping • Component libraries • Style guide creation • Cross-platform design • Collaboration with developers
MySign · UI Designer · Aug 2015 - April 2016
Nancy, France
Typography and layout design • Wireframing & Prototyping • Design process implementation • Branding • Mobile & Web app • Marketing design
IPSantarém · Web & Graphic Design · 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.
👾️ I’m currently playing: Persona 5 Royal
I have three cats: one Portuguese; one English and one Scottish.
“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 typical millennial post-lockdown in me loves her 80+ plants.
🪴️ My favourite plant is the Alocasia Zebrina