Hello, I'm Maria
I’m a creative strategist with a background in design, business, and inclusion. I help organizations grow through thoughtful strategy, human-centred experiences, and meaningful change.
With over 15 years of experience across UX design, business consulting, and inclusive innovation, I’ve worked with entrepreneurs, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies across North America and Europe. My background spans UX/UI, graphic design, IT consulting, and organizational strategy — helping teams improve services, streamline operations, and align business goals with human needs.
Grounded in user experience, I’ve led projects that reimagine service delivery, support cultural transformation, and elevate communication strategies. I’m a recognized leader in accessibility, educating teams to understand human diversity and individual needs. I’ve created and scaled training programs, driven cross-functional adoption, and led award-winning projects that advance digital equity at scale.
I hold a Master’s in IT Management, specialize in usability and interaction, and am CPACC-certified — a foundation that continues to guide my work at the intersection of technology, equity, and innovation.
As a creative soul, I stay grounded in imagination, movement, and community. Outside of work, I teach Zumba, paint nail art, and explore children’s book illustration, with dreams of one day writing and illustrating my own.
🎨 Design & User Experience
Skills:
-
UX/UI, Inclusive Design & Accessibility
-
Visual, Web & Mobile Interface Design
-
Wireframing, Prototyping & Interaction Flows
-
Branding, Storytelling & Conversational Interfaces
-
Design Thinking, Service Design & Sustainability
-
Creative Problem Solving & Systems Thinking
Tools:
Figma • Sketch • Adobe XD • Balsamiq • Axure RP • Framer • Power Pages • Power Apps • Canva • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Illustrator • Procreate • Murf.ai
🔬 Research & Testing
Skills:
-
User Interviews, Surveys & Contextual Inquiry
-
Usability Testing, A/B Testing & Heuristic Evaluation
-
Persona Development, Journey Mapping & Task Analysis
-
User Story Creation, Data Analysis & Synthesis
-
Competitive Analysis, Research Documentation & Reporting
-
Stakeholder Communication & Data Visualization
Tools:
Notion • Google Forms • Typeform • Miro • Mural • Optimal Workshop • Useberry
📈 Business Strategy & Change Management
Skills:
-
Business Analysis & Insight
-
Strategic Planning & Problem Solving
-
Programme & Roadmap Development
-
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
-
Innovation Strategy & Human-Centred Design
-
Ethical & Inclusive Leadership
-
Organizational Change & Sustainability
Tools:
Google Analytics • Microsoft Excel • Google Sheets • Power BI • Salesforce • Notion • Trello • Jira • Confluence • Microsoft 365 • Copilot • ChatGPT
📈 Accessibility Reviews & DEI Strategy
Skills:
-
Inclusive Design Practices & Culture Building
-
Inclusive Content, Language & Communication Practices
-
Keyboard Navigation & Screen Reader Compatibility
-
Accessible UI Components & Semantic HTML/ARIA
-
Colour Contrast, Alt Text & Responsive Design
-
WCAG Standards & Legal Compliance (ADA, Section 508)
-
Accessibility Testing (Manual, Automated & Assistive Technologies)
Tools:
Axe Dev & Design • WAVE • VoiceOver • Lighthouse • Siteimprove • NoCoffee Vision Simulator • WebAIM Contrast Checker • Contrast Ratio • Adobe Color Tools • Color Blind (Figma Plugin)