Designation
UX/UI Program
From Classroom Projects to Real Client Partnerships
From Classroom to Client
During the Designation UX/UI program, I partnered with two startup founders to design products that solved real business challenges. After graduation, both founders invited me to continue designing and evolving their products, transforming classroom projects into lasting professional collaborations.
Key Takeaways
- Partnered directly with startup founders and business stakeholders.
- Collaborated closely with UX designers and developers.
- Translated research into approachable user experiences.
- Iterated quickly based on user feedback and real business constraints.
- Built lasting client relationships through trust, communication, and design quality.
Valtio
Commit
Crowdfunding Platform
The Challenge
Commit needed a better way for organizers to plan events without juggling spreadsheets, payments, and multiple tools.
The goal was to simplify event planning while reducing the financial burden on organizers.
My Role
- Visual design system and branding direction
- Mobile and desktop UI
- Event creation and calendar experience
- Interactive prototypes and usability testing
Impact
Working from existing UX research, I designed more intuitive user flows and modernized the interface using familiar interaction patterns. Following graduation, founder Mia invited me to continue evolving Commit alongside UX designer Mary Heer.
The Challenge
ReturnRunners needed a mobile experience that balanced efficiency with a premium, trustworthy feel while remaining approachable for everyday users.
My Role
- Visual direction and UI system
- Customer and runner experiences
- Receipt capture and onboarding
- Prototypes and iterative design improvements
Impact
I refined the visual direction, simplified key workflows, and introduced a stronger visual identity informed by user testing.
Following graduation, founder Fara Alexander invited me to continue refining the product alongside the development team.
ReturnRunners
Premium Returns Service
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Email me
mciappa.art@gmail.com
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