I'm Maria Lactao

,

a Product

Designer

based in New York.

I've designed for edtech, healthcare, gaming, and AI. Most recently, I worked at Cookie Finance, designing FinTech tools for both bookkeepers and content creators.

UX Research

Product Design

Web Design

Cookie Finance's AI Assisted Ledger

See how I designed Cookie Finance’s first AI-assisted ledger to help bookkeepers manage thousands of transactions with familiar tools and AI decisions they could see, review, and correct.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Owned the end-to-end design of Cookie Finance's first AI-assisted ledger.

Led the design from six user interviews and early workflow definition through UX/UI, developer collaboration, extensive design QA, and launch.

117 Transactions. One Click.

Bulk categorization transformed hundreds of repeated actions into one.

The experience was praised as “so clear,” one of our internal bookkeepers personally went to a developer's desk and called it a “massive, significant improvement.”

UX Research

Product Design

Web Design

Cookie Finance's AI Assisted Ledger

See how I designed Cookie Finance’s first AI-assisted ledger to help bookkeepers manage thousands of transactions with familiar tools and AI decisions they could see, review, and correct.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Owned the end-to-end design of Cookie Finance's first AI-assisted ledger.

Led the design from six user interviews and early workflow definition through UX/UI, developer collaboration, extensive design QA, and launch.

117 Transactions. One Click.

Bulk categorization transformed hundreds of repeated actions into one.

The experience was praised as “so clear,” one of our internal bookkeepers personally went to a developer's desk and called it a “massive, significant improvement.”

UX Research

Product Design

Mobile App

Cookie Finance's AI Assisted Ledger

See how I designed Cookie Finance’s first AI-assisted ledger to help bookkeepers manage thousands of transactions with familiar tools and AI decisions they could see, review, and correct.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Owned the end-to-end design of Cookie Finance's first AI-assisted ledger.

Led the design from six user interviews and early workflow definition through UX/UI, developer collaboration, extensive design QA, and launch.

117 Transactions. One Click.

Bulk categorization transformed hundreds of repeated actions into one.

The experience was praised as “so clear,” one of our internal bookkeepers personally went to a developer's desk and called it a “massive, significant improvement.”

UX Research

Product Design

Web Design

Cookie Finance's AI Assisted Ledger

See how I designed Cookie Finance’s first AI-assisted ledger to help bookkeepers manage thousands of transactions with familiar tools and AI decisions they could see, review, and correct.

Noteworthy Contributions & Recognitions:

From 0 → 1 Implementation

Owned the end-to-end design of Cookie Finance's first AI-assisted ledger.

Led the design from six user interviews and early workflow definition through UX/UI, developer collaboration, extensive design QA, and launch.

117 Transactions. One Click.

Bulk categorization transformed hundreds of repeated actions into one.

The experience was praised as “so clear,” one of our internal bookkeepers personally went to a developer's desk and called it a “massive, significant improvement.”

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