Consultation
$500
one-time
A focused session to audit your current product or explore a new idea together.
Book a Session- 2-hour deep-dive session
- UX audit & recommendations
- Competitor analysis
- Written summary & next steps
Website Sections
Browse all 21 available sections. Each one is a ready-to-use Astro component you can add to any page.
Hero
Available for freelance
Hi, I'm Mariana.
I design digital
products.
Product designer with 8 years of experience crafting intuitive, beautiful interfaces for startups and established brands. I turn complex problems into simple, delightful experiences.
Logo Cloud
Collaborations
Brands I've Worked With
A few of the companies and studios I've had the pleasure of collaborating with.
Lumina Labs Finova Verdant Studio Pulse Fitness Meridian Capital Orbit Digital
Features
Why Me
What I Bring to the Table
Skills and qualities I've refined over years of working with ambitious teams.
Design Craft
Pixel-perfect interfaces that look beautiful and feel intuitive. I sweat the details so your users don't have to think.
Developer Fluency
I speak both design and code. My handoffs are clean, annotated, and built with real constraints in mind.
Strategic Thinking
I don't just make things pretty. Every design decision is rooted in research, data, and your business goals.
Fast Iteration
Rapid prototyping and lean feedback loops. I move quickly without sacrificing quality or cutting corners.
System Design
Scalable design systems and component libraries that grow with your product and keep your team consistent.
Remote-First
8 years of remote collaboration. Clear communication, async updates, and flexible availability across time zones.
Stats
8+
Years of Experience
120+
Projects Delivered
40+
Happy Clients
4.9/5
Average Rating
Image + Text
MY APPROACH
I design with intention, build with precision
Every project starts with understanding your goals and audience. I combine strategic thinking with hands-on craft to create experiences that look beautiful and work flawlessly.
- Research-driven design decisions
- Pixel-perfect implementation
- Performance-first development
100+
Projects
50+
Clients
8yr
Experience
Lighthouse 100/100
Accessibility AAA
Core Vitals All green
SEO Score Optimized
All checks passing
QUALITY
Built for performance, designed for humans
I don't just make things look good — I make them fast, accessible, and maintainable. Every site I build scores high on Lighthouse and passes WCAG accessibility standards.
- Semantic HTML and clean code
- WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance
- Sub-second load times on modern networks
- SEO-optimized from day one
Pricing
Pricing
My Packages
Transparent pricing for every stage of your project. No hidden fees.
Most Popular
Full Project
$5,000
starting at
End-to-end design for your product, from research to developer handoff.
Start a Project- Everything in Consultation
- User research & personas
- Wireframes & prototypes
- High-fidelity UI design
- Design system & components
- Developer handoff (Figma)
Retainer
$2,000 / month
Ongoing design support for teams that need a dedicated partner on call.
Let's Talk- 20 hours / month
- Priority Slack access
- Weekly syncs
- Feature design & iteration
- Design reviews & QA
- Flexible month-to-month
Testimonials
Client Love
What Clients Say
Kind words from people I've had the pleasure of working with.
"Mariana completely transformed our product. Her ability to translate complex requirements into elegant, intuitive interfaces is remarkable. She's not just a designer -- she's a true partner."
David Chen
Lumina Labs · Product Redesign
"Working with Mariana was a game-changer for our brand. She listened deeply, challenged our assumptions, and delivered an identity that feels authentic and premium. Our conversion rate doubled."
Sarah Mitchell
Verdant Studio · Brand Identity
"I've worked with dozens of designers over the years, and Mariana stands out. She brings both strategic clarity and pixel-perfect craft to every project. Truly one of the best in the business."
Marcus Rivera
Finova · UI/UX Design
FAQ
FAQ
Common Questions
Answers to things clients usually ask before we start working together.
What's your design process like?
I follow a lean, collaborative process. It starts with discovery -- understanding your users, goals, and constraints. Then I move through wireframes, visual design, and prototyping, with check-ins at every stage. I iterate based on feedback until we land on something that feels right.
How long does a typical project take?
It depends on the scope. A brand identity usually takes 3-4 weeks. A full product design runs 6-10 weeks. I'll give you a detailed timeline after our initial call so there are no surprises.
Do you work with international clients?
Absolutely. I'm based in Lisbon but work with clients worldwide. I'm flexible with time zones and comfortable with async communication. Most of my clients are in the US, UK, and Europe.
What tools do you use?
Figma is my primary design tool for UI and prototyping. I also use Framer for interactive prototypes, Notion for project management, and Slack or Loom for communication. I'm happy to adapt to your team's stack.
Do you offer revisions?
Yes. My project packages include rounds of revisions at each stage. I believe great design comes from iteration, so I build that into the process. Additional revisions beyond the agreed scope are billed hourly.
Can you help with development?
While I primarily focus on design, I have strong front-end knowledge and create developer-friendly handoffs. I can also recommend trusted development partners if you need help building what I design.
CTA
Let's work together
I'm always open to discussing new projects, creative ideas, or opportunities to bring your vision to life.
Team
People I work with
A small network of trusted collaborators I team up with on larger projects.
Jordan Patel
UX Researcher
Specializes in user interviews and usability testing. Helps me ground every design in real user needs.
Mia Chen
Motion Designer
Brings interfaces to life with thoughtful animation. We collaborate on interactive prototypes.
Sam Torres
Backend Developer
Full-stack engineer who handles the server side when projects need robust APIs and databases.
Lena Novak
Copywriter
Crafts clear, compelling copy that gives every project the right voice and tone.
Newsletter
Subscribe to My Newsletter
Design tips, case studies, and behind-the-scenes of my process. Delivered once a month, never spammy.
Join 1,200+ designers and founders. Unsubscribe anytime.
Video
Behind the Scenes
Watch My Process
A peek into how I approach design projects, from first sketches to final delivery.
Video
My Design Process · 5 min
Timeline
Career
My Journey
2016
Started My Design Career
Graduated from design school and landed my first role as a junior UI designer at a small agency in Porto. Fell in love with product design.
2018
Went Freelance
Took the leap to freelance work. Moved to Lisbon, built my first portfolio, and started working with startups across Europe.
2020
First Major Brand Project
Designed the complete brand identity for Lumina Labs, a Series A startup. The project won recognition at the European Design Awards.
2022
100+ Projects Milestone
Crossed 100 completed projects. Built long-term relationships with repeat clients and expanded into product strategy consulting.
2024
Design System Specialist
Began focusing on scalable design systems and component libraries. Published my first case study series and started mentoring junior designers.
Comparison
Why work with me
See how I compare to typical agencies and freelance platforms.
| Feature | Alex Rivera | Agency | Freelance Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated personal attention | |||
| Full design + development | |||
| Transparent pricing | |||
| Direct communication | |||
| Rapid turnaround | |||
| Post-launch support | |||
| Custom design (no templates) | |||
| Performance optimization |
Gallery
Gallery
Recent Work
Carousel
Highlights
Project Highlights
Lumina Brand System
Branding
Finova Dashboard
UI/UX Design
Verdant E-Commerce
Product Design
Pulse Fitness App
Mobile Design
Orbit Design System
Design System
Meridian Campaign
Creative Direction
Tabs
Background
Skills & Background
Tools and technologies I use daily to bring ideas to life.
UI/UX Design
Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
Prototyping
Framer, Principle, InVision
Design Systems
Tokens, Storybook, Figma Libraries
Front-End
HTML, CSS, Tailwind, React basics
Motion Design
After Effects, Lottie, CSS animations
App Download
Get my resource kit
Free design templates, component libraries, and checklists I use on every project.
Map
Based in Portland
Working remotely with clients worldwide, but always happy to meet for coffee.
Contact details
Contact
Let's Talk
Get in Touch
Have a project in mind? I'd love to hear about it. Fill out the form below or reach out directly.
Currently available
I'm taking on new projects for Q3 2026. Response time is typically within 24 hours.
Email
hello@marianacole.com Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Available worldwide (remote)