I'm Maria Lactao

,

a UX/UI

Designer

based in California.

I've designed for edtech, healthcare, and gaming. Most recently, I worked at Hachi AI, improving AI chat experiences.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Hachi AI

No more boring AI. Hachi makes search fun with personality, creativity, and real conversations.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Officially launched Hachi 1.0—its most engaging version yet.

In 10 weeks, we refined the UX through research, ideation, wireframing, and testing—making Hachi more intuitive, interactive, and fun for users.

2x More Conversations

Group chat doubled user-initiated interactions—boosting engagement instantly.

Users found conversations far more engaging and interactive with multiple Hachis, making the experience feel richer and more dynamic than before.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Hachi AI

No more boring AI. Hachi makes search fun with personality, creativity, and real conversations.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Officially launched Hachi 1.0—its most engaging version yet.

In 10 weeks, we refined the UX through research, ideation, wireframing, and testing—making Hachi more intuitive, interactive, and fun for users.

2x More Conversations

Group chat doubled user-initiated interactions—boosting engagement instantly.

Users found conversations far more engaging and interactive with multiple Hachis, making the experience feel richer and more dynamic than before.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Hachi AI

No more boring AI. Hachi makes search fun with personality, creativity, and real conversations.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Officially launched Hachi 1.0—its most engaging version yet.

In 10 weeks, we refined the UX through research, ideation, wireframing, and testing—making Hachi more intuitive, interactive, and fun for users.

2x More Conversations

Group chat doubled user-initiated interactions—boosting engagement instantly.

Users found conversations far more engaging and interactive with multiple Hachis, making the experience feel richer and more dynamic than before.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Hachi AI

No more boring AI. Hachi makes search fun with personality, creativity, and real conversations.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Officially launched Hachi 1.0—its most engaging version yet.

In 10 weeks, we refined the UX through research, ideation, wireframing, and testing—making Hachi more intuitive, interactive, and fun for users.

2x More Conversations

Group chat doubled user-initiated interactions—boosting engagement instantly.

Users found conversations far more engaging and interactive with multiple Hachis, making the experience feel richer and more dynamic than before.

UI Design

Web Design

Mobile App

Learnovation Website Redesign

Discover how I helped Learnovation redesign their website and made it developer-friendly in just 5 days!

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Website Redesign in Record Time

Fully responsive, developer-ready website redesign all in 5 days

Created a powerful design system and redesigned the entire website, with everything fully documented for an easy handoff to development—all in just 5 days.

UI Design

Web Design

Mobile App

Learnovation Website Redesign

Discover how I helped Learnovation redesign their website and made it developer-friendly in just 5 days!

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Website Redesign in Record Time

Fully responsive, developer-ready website redesign all in 5 days

Created a powerful design system and redesigned the entire website, with everything fully documented for an easy handoff to development—all in just 5 days.

UI Design

Web Design

Mobile App

Learnovation Website Redesign

Discover how I helped Learnovation redesign their website and made it developer-friendly in just 5 days!

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Website Redesign in Record Time

Fully responsive, developer-ready website redesign all in 5 days

Created a powerful design system and redesigned the entire website, with everything fully documented for an easy handoff to development—all in just 5 days.

UI Design

Web Design

Mobile App

Learnovation Website Redesign

Discover how I helped Learnovation redesign their website and made it developer-friendly in just 5 days!

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Website Redesign in Record Time

Fully responsive, developer-ready website redesign all in 5 days

Created a powerful design system and redesigned the entire website, with everything fully documented for an easy handoff to development—all in just 5 days.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Buddi Networking App

Learn how Buddi helps new hires reconnect with their work culture in a remote/hybrid workplace through spontaneous, genuine connections.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Award-winning Design

Indigo design Gold, Silver, and Bronze Victories

In 2023, our project won 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze Awards in Mobile App, Graphic Design, and Innovation categories, highlighting our exceptional design and innovative approach.

66% User Engagement

Creating Genuine User Connections

Achieved a remarkable 66% genuine user bond rate through engaging and innovative user tests, including Wizard of Oz and pilot tests.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Buddi Networking App

Learn how Buddi helps new hires reconnect with their work culture in a remote/hybrid workplace through spontaneous, genuine connections.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Award-winning Design

Indigo design Gold, Silver, and Bronze Victories

In 2023, our project won 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze Awards in Mobile App, Graphic Design, and Innovation categories, highlighting our exceptional design and innovative approach.

66% Engagement

Creating Genuine User Connections

Achieved a remarkable 66% genuine user bond rate through engaging and innovative user tests, including Wizard of Oz and pilot tests.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Buddi Networking App

Learn how Buddi helps new hires reconnect with their work culture in a remote/hybrid workplace through spontaneous, genuine connections.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Award-winning Design

Indigo design Gold, Silver, and Bronze Victories

In 2023, our project won 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze Awards in Mobile App, Graphic Design, and Innovation categories, highlighting our exceptional design and innovative approach.

66% User Engagement

Creating Genuine User Connections

Achieved a remarkable 66% genuine user bond rate through engaging and innovative user tests, including Wizard of Oz and pilot tests.

UX Research

UI Design

Mobile App

Buddi Networking App

Learn how Buddi helps new hires reconnect with their work culture in a remote/hybrid workplace through spontaneous, genuine connections.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Award-winning Design

Indigo design Gold, Silver, and Bronze Victories

In 2023, our project won 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and 5 Bronze Awards in Mobile App, Graphic Design, and Innovation categories, highlighting our exceptional design and innovative approach.

66% User Engagement

Creating Genuine User Connections

Achieved a remarkable 66% genuine user bond rate through engaging and innovative user tests, including Wizard of Oz and pilot tests.

UX Research

AR Graphics

SCADpro x CBS Sports

Reimagining augmented reality graphics for Super Bowl LVIII.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Largest SCADpro Project to date.

Revolutionizing the Superbowl Experience with a Powerhouse Team of 19 Designers

Our project was given special access to SCAD’s 80+ feet XR stage to showcase our graphics as if it were live in the Superbowl. It was a huge success.

UX Research

AR Graphics

SCADpro x CBS Sports

Reimagining augmented reality graphics for Super Bowl LVIII.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Largest SCADpro Project to date.

Revolutionizing the Superbowl Experience with a Powerhouse Team of 19 Designers

Our project was given special access to SCAD’s 80+ feet XR stage to showcase our graphics as if it were live in the Superbowl. It was a huge success.

UX Research

AR Graphics

SCADpro x CBS Sports

Reimagining augmented reality graphics for Super Bowl LVIII.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Largest SCADpro Project to date.

Revolutionizing the Superbowl Experience with a Powerhouse Team of 19 Designers

Our project was given special access to SCAD’s 80+ feet XR stage to showcase our graphics as if it were live in the Superbowl. It was a huge success.

UX Research

AR Graphics

SCADpro x CBS Sports

Reimagining augmented reality graphics for Super Bowl LVIII.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

Largest SCADpro Project to date.

Revolutionizing the Superbowl Experience with a Powerhouse Team of 19 Designers

Our project was given special access to SCAD’s 80+ feet XR stage to showcase our graphics as if it were live in the Superbowl. It was a huge success.

UI Design

Mobile App

Web Design

Daily UI Challenge

Check out my awesome collection of UI screens! I've been challenging myself by creating numerous UI screens to level up my design skills!

UI Design

Mobile App

Web Design

Daily UI Challenge

Check out my awesome collection of UI screens! I've been challenging myself by creating numerous UI screens to level up my design skills!

UI Design

Mobile App

Web Design

Daily UI Challenge

Check out my awesome collection of UI screens! I've been challenging myself by creating numerous UI screens to level up my design skills!

UI Design

Mobile App

Web Design

Daily UI Challenge

Check out my awesome collection of UI screens! I've been challenging myself by creating numerous UI screens to level up my design skills!

Let’s connect and

create fun projects

together :)

Socials

www.linkedin.com/in/maria-lactao

@marialactao.photos

Let’s chat