About Me

Hello! I’m Jacob, I’m a UX/UI designer from Los Angeles, CA. I began my design journey in the Bay Area where I immersed myself in learning how people work with interfaces. My origins are deeply rooted in creativity and my journey into design was amorphous. I spent the past decade working in photography pivoting between the music and skateboard industries. 

I’ve been published in every major skate magazine, and have toured alongside some of the biggest musicians in the industry. These experiences inevitably change people. The more I grew accustomed to these elevating experiences, the more I was reminded of my humble beginnings. I’ve been fortunate enough to see both sides of society’s financial hierarchy. This unique life experience has given me perspective unlike any other. Climbing this ladder wasn’t easy. I’ve transitioned through so many jobs to get here. I’ve been a cook, barista, server, and have been all through the retail chain. These positions all came with their challenges, but I wouldn’t change a thing. These building blocks gave me the perfect foundation for UX design. It’s essential to have traversed through the concrete jungle to develop an innate understanding of people. 

User experience is something we all interact with on a daily basis. I’ve grown up alongside it, without even realizing it. From getting my first flip phone to now having an iPhone. Technology has advanced dramatically, and the people designing it should be those who are most capable. As a millennial I was always the bridge between technology and people ( or in my case my family! ). Oftentimes when my parents didn’t know how to use something they’d resort to me. Setting up the internet, walking them through the signup process, and guiding them through using their new phone. As a child of immigrants, it was my duty to guide them through this ever-changing world. I’m the first-born to a Nicaraguan father and Portuguese mother. They spent countless hours working to keep me in school. Being a latchkey kid this inevitably meant that my time would be consumed by technology. 

I had access to a computer from as far back as I can remember. From here my relationship with technology grew as the industry progressed. What kid from the ’90s didn’t get a Gameboy? A Playstation? I didn’t know it then, but I was always navigating UX. Some interfaces were easier than others, but I didn’t know the difference then. It was simply my job to learn it and translate it to my family. When I look back on these experiences with what I know now, translating the complicated language of technology has always been part of me.