Hello, World.

I'm Magda

Senior UX Manager

More About Me
About

Let me introduce myself.

Profile Picture

I'm passionate about transforming human experiences at the heart of solutions by applying UX best practices to complex designs.

Problem solver, working closely with Product Managers, Software Engineers, Machine Learning and Scientists, helping to transform theory and ideas into reality.

I love solving challenges and making a real difference for customers, creating a compelling user experience by solving deep complex technical problems with intuitive solutions, as well as drafting strategy vision for machine learning and user-centric data visualisation interfaces.

Proactively creating user experiences that drive business efficiency and maximise opportunities.





Core competencies

From evangelist to leader


Leadership and Mentoring

I empower team members through effective collaboration and delegation as powerful motivational tools. I believe in minimising unnecessary layers of conversation to expedite processes. I ensure that all critical conversations involve the right team members to connect stakeholders with the appropriate specialists, thereby preventing bottlenecks and misunderstandings.

In order to reduce overwork and stress for individuals, it's crucial to clearly define what is considered 'urgent' and 'important' to assist in effective task prioritisation. It's essential to actively listen to and understand individuals' constraints and provide them with the necessary processes and solutions. This approach ensures task effectiveness and fosters a healthy and positive team environment.

Mentor others to learn, grow, and advance in their careers. It's essential to sharpen and develop their individual skills to build a strong team. I encourage group work, hands-on learning experiences, presentations, and remote courses.

User Experience background

I am passionate about the entire UX process, from user discovery to implementation. Through my experience, I have become adept at understanding diverse audiences, conducting insightful user interviews, organising information architecture effectively, and crafting high-fidelity prototypes. In addition, I have acquired a deep understanding of graphic design, psychology, engineering, and marketing, all of which contribute to my comprehensive approach to UX.

I am a natural UX ambassador passionate about educating cross-functional stakeholders on vital UX techniques to foster a user-centric culture and advance UX maturity within a company.

Strategic and Visionary

I promote a realistic but compelling vision, aligning with team members' goals and setting rational UX strategies in line with organisational goals and KPIs. Additionally, I level up the UX team as a crucial corporate asset, leading to increased collaboration and participation in working towards a common goal.

I emphasise the importance of continuous improvement while considering user needs, business objectives, and technical requirements.

Self-motivated, Organised and Problem solving

I am highly motivated and brimming with energy to take on challenges. I excel at working in parallel work streams within a fast-paced, agile environment. I can handle heavy workloads thanks to my strong organisational and social skills.

I have a keen sense of aesthetics and a deep understanding of the technical aspects, enabling me to create prototypes with exceptional attention to detail while keeping sight of the big picture.

Collaboration and Interpersonal skills

Working closely with technical teams (engineers and architects) is necessary to extract insights that strengthen proposed design solutions. My technical background and UX skills enable me to navigate adeptly through varying levels of complexity. On multiple occasions, I have effectively integrated both parties into a cohesive core Tech-UX team.

I am always open-minded and willing to listen to every point of view, especially if there is evidence to support an opposing perspective. I use tact and empathy to resolve differences in opinions and approach conversations with active listening.

UX Methadologies & Tools

Roadmap and task management:
Jira / Asana / Confluence / FigJam / Miro / Monday / Trello / Microsoft Project and Excel.

Concept and UI Design:
Prototyping / Figma / Sketch / Adobe XD / Sketching / Balsamiq / Digital Mock-ups / Use cases / Mind map (idea generation) / Wireframes (high-end-prototypes) / Invision / Infographics / Gestalt Psychology / Workflows.

Web design, Develop and implementation:
Pair programming & Design / Slack / HTML, CSS and JavaScript (basic) / PHP / Version Control (Source Tree) / issue-tracking product Jira l/ web-based hosting service GitHub / Visual Studio / WordPress / Dreamweaver / Adobe Business Catalyst / Drupal / Microsoft FrontPage / Google Analytics / Macromedia Flash.

Research and analysis:
Condense / FigJam / Miro / Google Forms / SurveyMonkey / User Journeys / Scenarios / Focus Groups / User Interviews / User Stories / Heuristic Evaluation / Thinking Aloud / Diagnostic evaluation / Measurements / SWOT diagram / Surveys and Questionnaires / Remote testing / Retrospective testing / Competitor analysis / Card sorting / 1:1 interviews / Gantt charts / Web Google Analytics.

Art, Graphics and Video:
Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro) / Camtasia Studio / Macromedia Freehand MX / Jacs Paint Shop Pro / CorelDraw Graphics Suite / Gimp.

Skills

  • Maintaining enthusiastic focus on objectives.
  • Designing the right interaction for the right use.
  • Flexibility to adapt to any task with optimism and hard work.
  • Quick learner, with high degree of motivation and intellectual curiosity.
  • Cooperative & good team player. Used to working with diverse, international teams. Brilliant interpersonal skills.
  • Able to understand and interpret technical ideas to non-technical people and vice versa.
  • Excellent visual design and excellent graphic skills (Adobe suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
  • Innovative and a good understanding of design and excellent knowledge or user-centred design methods and tools.
  • Objectively challenge problems and devise simple design solutions.
    • 95%
      UX Strategy & Vision
    • 90%
      Ideation & Prototyping
    • 95%
      Digital LoFi & HiFi mock-ups
    • 80%
      Accessibility
    • 90%
      Heuristic Evaluation
    • 85%
      Remote Usability testing
    • 95%
      Mentoring

    3

    Projects Completed this week

    58

    Happy Users right now

    26

    Awards Received

    4

    Crazy Ideas since you open my page

    3

    Coffee Cups / Day

    168

    Hours / days a week generating ideas
    Resume

    " Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely "

    Time is priceless but I consider I rock my time.

    Work Experience

    Senior UX Manager

    Mar 2023 - Present

    Amadeus | B2C Hospitality industry

    Managing the UX team to enhance product value through outstanding UX designs while improving operational efficiency on design-led projects. Responsible for leading the UX product roadmap, strategic innovation, and design product vision for Amadeus's guest-facing products in the hospitality industry. Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to gather product feedback, understand business needs, and create a comprehensive UX backlog. Ensure cohesive visual graphics and UX across products to deliver a seamless cross-product experience. Manage end-to-end web product design projects, including translating vision statements into detailed requirements, overseeing the design cycle and QA on development work to address identified bugs, and approving projects for release. Dedicated to strategic hiring, organisational acquisition, and talent retention to drive ongoing success.

    Achievements
    — Transforming the team methods into an efficient sprint process.
    — Seamlessly integrating UX into the development process by incorporating UX cycles ahead of development in a highly organised manner, increasing the maturity of the UX product.
    — Uplift User Research discipline to increase validation and ensure the usability and feasibility of the Product.
    — Following exceptional performance, participated in the fast-track mentorship program: Corporate Finance for managers.

    Head of UX

    Mar 2020 - Mar 2023

    Secondmind | B2B Ai SaaS Software industry

    Crafting Secondmind’s user experience signature for next-generation AI-powered decision-making. Bringing to life the first UI, which integrates a unique ‘Active Learning’ platform that blends machine learning, explainability and expert user input to ensure key decisions are fast, accurate, and commercially effective.

    Achievements
    — Designing a new engineering ecosystem incorporating an active Machine Learning (ML) feedback loop with multiple calibration variables.
    — Integrating new ways of working for the company and defining discovery cycles with a major Japanese automotive OEM.
    — Running end-to-end ‘Design sprints’ with a cross-functional team to generate new ideas.
    — Mentoring, establishing team goals and building knowledge about UX across the company.
    — Developing the first Design System to standardise atomic patterns.

    Senior UX & Design Specialist

    Jan 2019 - Mar 2020

    ANSYS | B2B-B2C Digital Twin Software industry

    Responsible for new developments and UI across all industry software. Implementation of all company consistency through its products with design sprints. Leading the Material design systems and building blocks, working closely and collaborating with developers, technical writers, marketing and product managers to define the user experience. Feedback Program UX testing coordinator. Visual evangelist of the main Granta software.

    Achievements
    — Design new Main Granta Pro 2019: One MI project and Granta X. UX integration vision accross all applications 2019.
    — User-friendly Data Input and Editing: Configurable materials data sheet summaries can be fully tailored to your end user cases – using new functional data linking – to avoid data duplication. Ensuring data is always in sync, directly from the source record.
    — Design an easy-to-use interface allows for customers to create, import, visualize and analyze materials data quickly. 3-click Materials Assignment
    — Corporate new website re-design 2019

    Senior UX & Design Specialist

    Mar 2012 - Jan 2019

    Granta Design | B2B Materials Intelligence industry

    Responsible for all new designs in Granta’s Educational Software. Resources owner for the department: resources management, database updates, visual videos and graphic and web design. Working with Mike Ashby (co-founder) in the area of Industrial Design and author of the new Product Design database. I worked on the new generation of web learning apps incorporating UX principles. Applying accessibility guidelines using WCAG legislations checklists. Facilitating collaborative design sessions and workshops.

    Achievements
    — DevelopHER Awards: User Experience Award 2018
    — Granta Award 2018: "For liking a challenge"
    — Awarded Best Project 2016 in the Granta's innovation day: Software Analytics Display for the exited customers.
    — Nominated "Directors Award 2016": New Products database
    — Education Division Award 2015 - Outstanding Contribution.
    — Championing and Helping the implementation of the new friendly user datasheets, homepages in CES and running Usability tests.
    — Project lead of the new Industrial Design database and working with Mike Ashby for the new release.
    — Awarded Best Project 2015 in the Granta's innovation day: New usability design of the "Explore Granta".
    — Awarded Best Project 2014 in the Granta's innovation day: MI software fix-up, UX redesign "Frankenstein surgery and make-up".
    — Granta Design Corporate re-design 2015.
    — Designing, creating, implementing and iterating over a new Education website supported with a CMS.

    Product Designer

    May 2011 - Mar 2012

    SIMON Electric | B2C Electronic Manufacturing industry

    Adaptation of existing products and design new series in the main headquarters in Simon Electric in Barcelona; taking part in the innovation program with evaluating existing ideas to identify areas of improvement; Main data visuals designer producing new instructions sheets for all Simon Tech (R&D).

    Achievements
    — Created the new switches design (s27 redign and s82 editions: Simon 82 Detail and Simon 82 Concept), currently in the market.
    — Worked on the Usability of the new operational control system and corporate design of the new domotic (home automation) Scena device.
    — Participated in client's new designs contest.
    — Produced installation sheets for the new products: Switches and sockets, Connectivity, and control systems.

    Product Specialist

    Oct 2008 - Sep 2010

    ALSTOM Transport | Rolling Stock, Transport

    Work performed in a large organization, leading simultaneous projects in across-globe factories in different countries. This work was for the Technical Interiors Department. Analysis and monitoring of the validation laboratory regulations since its initial creation; Working on the Technical Standardization Program (“Co-Dev” project, standardising the interfaces and the general specifications); Helping with the product creation and validation plans; Advising on the technical capabilities of suppliers and the sourcing of new potential ones. Attending and representing the company at some European conferences; Traveling and visiting different suppliers to find viable alternatives and new technologies to implement.

    Achievements
    — While working full-time, I finished my dissertation for the Materials Engineering degree.
    — Helped develop the new laboratories testing design alongside builders and engineers, in order to qualify new methods for train interiors specifications to match regulations and safety standards.
    — Contributed to drinking water quality management and proposed new material solutions for global train water tanks.
    — Work, experience, and learning in a multicultural environment.

    Product Designer

    Feb 2004 - Oct 2008

    Corporativa Design | Innovation & Development

    Worked on a variety of projects for Product Design, Graphic Design, Packaging, Interiors and Web Design. Brands such as Maite Mínguez and the Marilyn Monroe exhibits, Jaime Sanahuja Architect, km2, Thuya, Hotel Fira, Chupa Chups, Mango, Cafés Civit, Scharlab, etc. Reporting directly to the CEO.

    Achievements
    — Responsible of the first’s rough drafts of the projects, clients' dossiers and final presentations.
    — Representation of the dossiers with computer design programs.
    — Coordinating projects in deadline delivers under pressure with professionalism and efficiency.

    Junior Engineer - CE Mark Responsible in Shanghai

    Jul 2007 - Sep 2007

    ASMAIN Asian Marine International | Naval, Transport

    International program in a Spanish company that exports Chinese components related to naval and transport ships. Throughout the training, I was in charge of the CE mark for 3 Gantry Cranes built in China. The main project was developed in Shanghai offices and the company worked in collaboration with a factory in Henan, China. Private Chinese lessons with a native teacher during the stay.

    Achievements
    — Able to interface effectively with different international people in China (Shanghai).
    — Preparation and organization of the main document of accreditation of the European Certification in the Union European.

    Internship Program (Collaboration with ETSEIB, UPC University)

    Sep 2006 - Feb 2007

    SEAT | Automobile Industry, Transport

    Material's consultant & execution support for the 'Process, Presses and Panel Beating' department. Following the main Volkswagen pieces roadmap of the entire SEAT models. Collaboration with the 'Simulation and viability' department for the new Seat Ibiza 2008. Knowledge of the Assembly Plant Simulation Software for Manufacturing eM-Planner software.

    Achievements
    — Materials implementation support on several occasions.
    — Creation a database of the materials (metals in deep drawing process) used in the company.

    Education

    Design Course
    UX Management: Strategy and Tactics

    May 2023 - Present

    The Interaction Design Foundation

    Principal subjects
    How to hire for, position, and empower a UX team effectively, Best practices to manage and support a UX designer and wider UX team, How management of UX professionals directly affects ROI, UX management best practices, from interviews and case studies with experts.

    MDes
    Interaction Design and User Experience

    Sep 2020 - Dec 2021

    Open University in Catalonia (UOC)

    Principal subjects
    UX Strategy, Intangible interaction, Metrics and user behavior, Research, definition and ideation, Prototype evaluation, Drawing and visual thinking, User Research, Prototyping (Sketching, Wireframes and HF Design), User Testing, Heuristic Evaluation, Cognitive Evaluation.

    Dissertation
    "Fashya, your fashion assistant" Grade: 9.8/10

    MEdStud
    Educational Technology, Speciality STEM

    Sep 2016 - Sep 2017

    Universidad Internacional de La Rioja

    Principal subjects
    Teaching innovation and initiation to educational research, Technology and computer curriculum design, Technology and computer didactics, Supplements for disciplinary training in technology and computers, Learning and development of personality, Society, family, and education.

    Dissertation
    "Proposal for a didactic intervention program in Material Selection Grade: 9.1/10

    MEng
    User Experience (UX)

    Sep 2015 - Sep 2016

    Open University in Catalonia (UOC)

    Principal subjects
    User-centered design, User requirements: research and analysis, Interaction Design, Usability evaluation, Conceptual design. User profile, people and scenarios, Information structures. Navigation. Labelling. Findability, Visualization of the information, Prototyping: techniques, types and tool.

    Dissertation
    "5th sense - the new App for deaf people" Grade: 9/10

    MEng
    Project Development for Product Engineering

    Feb 2011 - Jun 2011

    Fundació CIM - Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

    Principal subjects
    Innovation and strategy, product design, product development, project management, concurrent engineering, prototypes and validation, value and functions analysis, CAD/CAE/CAM, marketing, quality, ISO, R&D management, patents and IP, HR management, leadership, motivation, team working, PM tools, patents and regulations.

    Dissertation
    " AMFE study, Failure mode and effects analysis of a SLR Camera" Grade: 10/10

    MSc
    Materials Engineering

    Sep 2005 - Jun 2009

    Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC Barcelona) + Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

    Principal subjects
    Influence of microstructure, processing in materials properties (plastics, ceramics, metals and composites). Mechanical behaviour, alloying, fatigue, corrosion, characterization and composites.

    Dissertation
    “Materials Selection & Design for a tank preserving water quality” Grade: 9,5/10

    BEng
    Product Design Engineering

    Sep 2002 - Sep 2005

    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Escola Superior en Disseny ELISAVA)

    Principal subjects
    User-centered design, User requirements: research and analysis, Interaction Design, Usability evaluation, Conceptual design. User profile, people and scenarios, Information structures. Navigation. Labelling. Findability, Visualization of the information, Prototyping: techniques, types and tool.

    Dissertation
    “Design of a pointing interface” Grade: 9,5/10

    Awards and Honours

    Things that I am proud of

    Portfolio

    Check out some of my work

    I enjoy my work very passionately, I am able to cope under heavy load with good humour and high standards. I have excellent organizational and social skills. In addition, I am very motivated and full of energy to take on challenges. I have a strong sense of aesthetics, however I am very open-minded and willing to listen to every point of view, especially if there is evidence to support an opposing view.

    Here some examples of my work, a resume of my portfolio, my time, my hobbies,... my life.

    Professional Memberships

    Groups that I am part of

    Contact

    I'd love to hear from you.

    I speak Catalan, Spanish, English, I babble some Italian and I can say some phrases in German.

    Sending...
    Your message was sent, thank you!
    Where to find me

    Barcelona, Spain

    Email Me At

    magdauxdesign@gmail.com

    Call Me At

    Mobile: (+34) 621 32 43 76