Hello!
I'm Rafa.
I'm a Product Designer who believes the best design is "invisible." It works with such seamlessness that users think, “Of course, that’s how it should be."
At YDUQS, I contributed as a product designer to a diverse group of educational institutions, including Estácio de Sá, IBMEC, Wyden, and IDOMED.
I have led projects for Decathlon Brazil and managed a design team at ALESP (São Paulo State Assembly). I founded 3.16 Clothing, an e-commerce fashion brand, and Blubox, an interactive event totem startup.
“Oh, he can draw!”
Creativity has guided me since childhood. I express myself through visual art, using chalk on walls and creating shelves from skateboards.
At 16, my classmates had clear plans, but I felt lost. People kept saying, "Rafa, you draw well; there must be something for you." I prayed and waited for direction.
The answer! (2009 - 2012)
On a career fair field trip, I saw “Industrial Design” on a sign and instantly connected my skills to the field.
A brief conversation at the booth was the insight I needed, and I enrolled at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, graduating between 2009 and 2012.
In 2013, I earned my Advanced English certificate in Gold Coast - Australia, which opened doors to international projects and broadened my design perspective.
*Visual Design Diploma awarded - 2012
*Diploma in Advanced English awarded - 2013
Entrepreneurship and Market
(2014 - 2016)
Back in Brazil in parallel, I founded two businesses: 3.16 Clothing and Blubox, an interactive event totem. Both ventures experienced rapid growth and received tempting acquisition offers. I exited when I felt the creative core was fading under business operations.
From Visual to Strategic
(2017 - 2019)
Key designer at TIKAO during a tough gubernatorial election. Then, I became the Visual Design Lead at the São Paulo Legislative Assembly (ALESP), demonstrating that design is effective when aesthetics and strategy work together.
*Lecture on concept presentation for political candidates, including city council and mayoral candidates.
*My team of designers and communications professionals.
The Spark Was Lit
(2020 - 2021)
February 2020 marked a turning point. I was invited in February to join Decathlon Br’s team of concept tech leaders, taking on a leadership role in product and digital innovation. This experience broadened my perspective on technology, business strategy, and cross-functional collaboration, further accelerating my journey in UX/UI and product design.
Digital Products Depth
(2022 - 2025)
Product Designer at Yduqs: I fixed legacy issues and improved the design system. I also enhanced the UX for the distance-learning app. This work helped the app become a flagship product and boosted my career.
I'm always ready for any challenge, whatever it may be, after all, I really do know how to design. Perhaps it was just “invisible,” wasn’t it?