My journey to becoming a designer has been anything but conventional. From marketing to farming, I’ve experienced a variety of careers before finding my true calling.

From Bartending to Entrepreneurship

About 12 years ago, I graduated with a Master's degree in Languages and Business Relations from the University of Aveiro. This degree was quite diverse, covering subjects ranging from economics to multimedia. It was during this time that I had my first, albeit brief, encounter with digital design. But the major focus of the course was on languages, cultures, and marketing.

While studying, I worked part-time as a bartender and cashier in my hometown of Porto to cover my expenses. It wasn’t glamorous, but it allowed me to support myself and pursue my education.

A Cigarette Case to a Lawn Mower Robot

During the last years of my degree, I came up with a business idea: a case for rolling tobacco. Back then, I smoked and disliked the inconvenience of having to carry around the loose tobacco, filters, and papers. I thought it would be useful to create a compact case for all the essentials, and since I hadn't seen anything similar on the market, I decided to pursue the idea.

I reached out to the University's entrepreneurship office, where I met Marlos Silva, one of the project managers who provided valuable guidance and, along the way, I had another idea inspired by robot vacuum cleaners — a lawn-mowing robot, which didn’t exist on the market at the time. And so, KORANGE – Robotic Systems was born. Together with a group of friends from the University, we developed the concept and won second place in a national entrepreneurship competition.

Motivated, we decided to turn this into a business and received some support. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to develop a working prototype, and the project eventually came to a halt.

Searching for Opportunities

After this project, I returned to bartending, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do long-term. I was in a period of uncertainty, not knowing exactly what direction to take, but determined to find a better path.

First Real Contact with Design

An opportunity came when I landed a job as an editor for an agricultural magazine, part of a small publishing house specializing in technical books. The pay was low (only €500 per month without a contract), but the experience was invaluable. In addition to my work as a journalist and editor, I started dipping my toes into digital marketing and design.

The magazine had a poorly structured website built on WordPress, so I learned WordPress on my own and improved the site’s layout and user experience. I also began writing SEO-focused articles, which significantly increased web traffic. After two years, I moved to Aveiro (I had met the love of my life, who lived there), and started working as a freelancer in marketing and journalism.

Learning by Osmosis

While freelancing in marketing, I deepened my knowledge of WordPress and collaborated with various clients. During this time, I was lucky to share an office with Zé Casal, a brilliant designer and close friend. My desk was next to his, and I often observed his work, asked questions, and we’d discuss design. This marked the beginning of my informal design education, though I wasn’t fully aware of it at the time.

From Marketeer to Farmer

While working as a marketing freelancer, I founded a website called "Marketing Agricola," which provided information about the agricultural industry. I also applied for government funding for a raspberry farm, and after securing the grant, I started a farming project with a business partner. For two years, I juggled my marketing work with farming, but eventually, I sold my share of the business and returned to freelancing full-time.

A New Career Direction

During this period, I realized that marketing alone wasn’t where my heart lay. I sold the Marketing Agricola portal and began learning front-end development, taking various courses to build my skillset. I even worked on the website for José’s design studio, Untold Interactive.

A Designer Without Knowing It

While working on these projects, I had a realization: I was already doing design work without consciously labeling myself as a designer. I was creating websites, designing flyers, posters, and business cards for clients. However, I had always admired José’s work and assumed I could never reach his level, so I hadn’t considered design as a full-time profession.

A “Eureka” Moment

In 2018, I applied for a position in SEO at a UK-based online education company. During the interview, the recruiter paused and asked if I would consider applying for a different role they had open — one in design. This was a turning point for me. For the first time, someone recognized my potential as a designer. Although I didn’t get the job, it was a pivotal moment that made me rethink my career path.

Taking the Leap

At that point, I knew I needed a steady income while I focused on improving my design skills. Fortunately, I found a job as a marketing campaign coordinator for a telecommunications company. The role required a lot of travel, but I had enough flexibility to continue my design education on the side.

I took courses in Visual Design, Branding, and UX Design, gradually building a foundation of knowledge. In 2020, I landed my first design projects, thanks to José, who was overwhelmed with work and trusted me with some of his clients. I am incredibly grateful for that opportunity, which gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward.

The Journey Continues

I’ve since taken more courses, including those from IBM, the Interaction Design Foundation, and Awwwards Academy, where I learned from industry experts like Louis Paquet and Danielle Buffa. With each project, I continue to grow as a designer.

Today, I work alongside José at Untold Interactive and with my own clients. It’s been a winding road to get here, but each experience has shaped the designer I am today. My knowledge of code, marketing, and the challenges businesses face helps me create designs that are not only beautiful but also functional and aligned with business goals.

My goal is to simplify the complex and make people’s lives a little more enjoyable—even in the brief moments they interact with the interfaces I design. And that, to me, is deeply fulfilling.