Hola :) Nice to meet you!

I'm Amanda

A little bit artsy, a little bit techy, and a whole lot of curiosity.

I'm a UX/UI Product Designer from Costa Rica with a background in Industrial Design Engineering.

Before college, I knew I wanted to do something creative. I loved painting, but engineering had always caught my attention too. Then a friend told me about a degree I'd never even heard of: Industrial Design Engineering. Turns out, it was exactly the mix I was looking for.

Portrait of Amanda Coto

Skills

  • Figma
  • Miro
  • Hotjar
  • Illustrator
  • Photoshop
  • InDesign
  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • UX/UI Design
  • UX Research
  • Usability Testing
  • Competitive Audits
  • Information Architecture
  • Design Systems
  • Industrial Design
  • Prototyping

Experience

  • Conducted user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis to uncover user needs and identify product opportunities.
  • Designed responsive digital experiences, from wireframes to high-fidelity, as well as interactive prototypes to validate ideas.
  • Created gaming platform experiences focused on usability, accessibility, and long-term user engagement.
  • Partnered with developers and stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle, creating solutions that are both technically feasible and user-centered.
  • Scaled the company's Design System using Figma variables and reusable components, improving design consistency and enabling faster product development.
  • Designed digital communication materials for academic projects and institutional activities.
  • Improved project organization by managing documentation and streamlining communication.
  • Translated complex academic information into accessible visual content, enhancing clarity.
  • Optimized product content for the company's e-commerce platform, improving quality and engagement.
  • Conducted product research to create user-focused descriptions that supported customer decision-making.
  • Contributed to merchandising and content organization efforts that enhanced the online shopping experience.
  • Designed communication materials for campaigns, events, and institutional initiatives.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to support institutional goals.
Download CV

How I approach a project

01

Get the full picture

Before jumping into Figma, I like to understand the problem, who we're designing for, and what we're trying to achieve. A few good questions can save a lot of guesswork later.

02

Explore and make things happen

This is where ideas start taking shape. I explore different directions, share work early, and collaborate with the team to find solutions that look good and actually work.

03

See what works (and what doesn't)

Not every idea works on the first try, and that's okay. Feedback, testing, and a little trial and error help me figure out what needs to change and make the experience better.

The questions nobody asked (yet)

01

Did you always want to be a designer?

Not even close! For a while, I was convinced I'd become a veterinarian. I absolutely love animals. Blood, on the other hand? Not my thing. So that dream didn't quite work out.

02

What's a project you will always remember?

Definitely my thesis project. I worked on a hands-on magnetic dinosaurs game to help children inside the autistic-spectrum to recognize and talk about their emotions. It was one of those projects that reminded me how something playful can have a much bigger purpose. See case study here

03

What kind of projects do you enjoy working on?

I have a soft spot for projects that mix psychology, creativity, and a little bit of play. I'm fascinated by why people make certain choices, what makes something fun to interact with, and how playful experiences can serve a purpose beyond just entertainment.

04

What do you do when you're not designing?

It depends on the day! If it's sunny, I'm probably hiking, at the beach, or somewhere in the mountains looking for birds. If I'm staying in, you'll find me doing puzzles, playing board games, or getting lost in a video game. Add my dogs and some family time, and I'm pretty happy either way.