Hi I'm Maria, a product designer ✨
I went from designing film sets to designing digital products, utilizing that same sense of structure, storytelling, and creativity to solve problems.

For the past 5 years I've been building intuitive data management tools at B2B startups, untangling complexity and creating enjoyable user experiences.
Currently open to exploring new opportunities  
Open to work
Featured Projects
SkillsEngine - Curate
Creating an application to better manage updates to a database of over 35,000 skills
Lead Product Designer
2022 - 2024
1 Designer, 3 Engineers, Design & Engineering Directors
Overview
SkillsEngine’s manual curation process was inefficient and unsustainable. I led the end-to-end design for a tool that streamlined editing workflows, reduced content delivery time by up to 84%, and freed up valuable product and engineering resources.
Key Outcomes
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Reduced updated skills data delivery time by up to 84%
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Delivered a scalable internal solution that supported future growth
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Replaced inefficient, external workflows that were draining product resources
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Empowered the curation team to independently manage and edit complex data, reducing dependencies on engineering
Enterprise Web App
0 to 1 Design
Read Case Study
Builder - Sharing Permissions & Roles
Redesigning permissions and roles to support scalable growth for 200+ users
Product Designer
2024 Q3
2 Designers, 3 Engineers, Design & Engineering Directors
Overview
To address growing concerns around data security and team collaboration, I co-led the redesign of the roles and permissions framework on SkillsEngine’s Builder platform. The updated system provided users with clearer access controls, improved organizational security, and the flexibility to collaborate more effectively within shared skill profiles.
Key Outcomes
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Introduced 2 new tiered roles and granular permissions, replacing an outdated all-access model
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Laid the foundation for scalable permissions infrastructure supporting enterprise clients
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Improved content security by allowing organizations to restrict editing and publishing access
Feature Redesign
User Research
Usability Testing
Read Case Study
Builder - Skill Profile Creation
Optimizing a core workflow to boost content creation by 40%
Product Designer
2024 Q2
2 Designers, 1 Project Manager, Design & Engineering Directors
Overview
Co-led a usability research project for Builder’s core content creation flow to identify friction points. Designed and tested UX improvements that simplified the process, resulting in a 40% increase in user engagement and content creation.
Key Outcomes
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Identified and addressed key usability issues in the search-to-create workflow
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Prioritized and delivered quick-win design improvements that addressed major user pain points
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Implemented UX improvements that increased content creation by 40%
Product Strategy
User Research
Usability Testing
Read Case Study
Enterprise Web App
Feature Redesign
Redesigning Builder's sharing permissions and team roles
Expanded sharing feature permissions and introduced new team roles for better platform security and team collaboration.
Read Case Study →
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Improved User Control & Security
Developed intuitive permission settings that balanced ease of use with robust access control, ensuring users could confidently share content without compromising data integrity.
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Enabled Seamless Collaboration
Designed a flexible sharing system that allowed users to easily grant and manage access to skill profiles, improving teamwork and reducing workflow friction.
Enterprise Web App
User Research
Usability Testing
Optimizing Builder's main content creation workflow
Conducted user testing on a critical workflow to uncover pain points and create solutions, increasing user engagement and content creation by 40%.
Read Case Study →
⭐
Increased Content Creation by 40%
Identified and addressed key usability issues in the search-to-create workflow, leading to a significant boost in user engagement and content generation.
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Implemented High-Impact, Low-Effort Solutions
Prioritized and delivered quick-win design improvements that addressed major user pain points without requiring extensive development resources.
Design System
Branding
Leading a brand identity and design systems workshop
Co-led a two-day workshop bringing together Product, Engineering, Design, and Customer Success to align on brand identity values and a cohesive platform vision.
Read Case Study →
⭐
Established Core Design System Principles
Successfully defined a foundational set of principles to guide consistent UI components and interactions, creating alignment across teams.
Other Works
The projects below are quick showcases of past work, not full case studies. If you want to learn more about a specific project, please reach out.
Improving usability for Reviewer Surveys
Streamlined the Validation Survey by reducing screens, clicks, and time, enhancing usability with improved onboarding and keyboard shortcuts.
Coming soon..
Fixing modals across the SkillsEngine platform
Standardized mobile modal designs across the SkillsEngine platform to improve responsiveness and ensure a consistent UI.
Coming soon..
Measuring success, setting up data analytics to track user metrics
Implemented Kibana Analytics to track key user metrics and KPIs, providing leadership with actionable insights to guide product development.
Coming soon..
Establishing a cohesive platform identity through design system explorations
Co-led a two-day workshop bringing together Product, Engineering, Design, and Customer Success to align on brand identity values and a cohesive platform vision.
Coming soon..
Want to work together?
Available for full-time or project-based work (remote or on-site in Austin, TX)
Reach out for work inquiries, collaborations, or to chat!
mariasitu.design@gmail.com

Made with ❤️ and lots of ☕

© Maria Situ 2025