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Carolina Rodrigues Poll
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Berlin, Germany
Toptal member since August 5, 2017
Bio
With 16 years of experience, Carolina has grown to the head of design, directing the evolution of design strategy and amplifying user experiences across digital products. She led a team growth from 4 to 25 individuals and shaped DesignOps for scale. She also implemented product discovery, empowering teams to build user-centered solutions. Carolina facilitated over 35 workshops, fostering innovation and collaboration and shipping faster. She led the implementation of design systems.
Experience
- UX Design - 10 years
- UI Design - 8 years
- Design Strategy - 8 years
- Product Design - 7 years
- Design Sprints - 5 years
- Workshop Facilitation - 5 years
- Product Discovery - 4 years
- Design Ops - 3 years
Portfolio
Baby Tracking App
Onboarding
Family Box
Blogs
Work Experience
Head of Product Design and Research
2022 - 2024
CoachHub
- Worked at CoachHub for more than three years. Grew from a senior product designer to the head of product design and research, shaping the structure and strategy of design and driving the user experience of both B2B and B2C products to the next level.
- Contributed to team growth. Grew our design and research team from 4 to 25 talented individuals and escalated the design operations to support the growth and the team's needs.
- Implemented a flexible product discovery process, which allowed each independent team to adapt to their needs and focus on building the right things for our users.
- Contributed to user retention. Through a strategic redesign of our onboarding experience, we achieved a remarkable improvement in user retention, enhancing the overall user journey, driving long-term engagement, and reflecting on an NPS of 75.
- Achieved efficiency gains. By improving the automation of internal tools, we significantly reduced customer support needs, enabling the company to allocate resources more effectively.
- Had the privilege of designing and facilitating more than 30 internal workshops on topics such as team alignment, product discovery, and journey mapping.
- Facilitated design sprints and accelerated our learning process, launched new features faster, and swiftly implemented crucial changes in the user experience of our products.
- Implemented a design system and refined our processes, reducing iteration cycles, maintaining a high-quality standard, and reducing delivery times.
- Facilitated client-facing workshops. Led more than three client workshops, which resulted in notable achievements, such as the acquisition of the biggest deal at that time from a single-day workshop.
Technologies: Design Strategy, Design Ops, Product Design, SaaS, Product Discovery, Workshop Facilitation, Design Thinking, Design Sprints, Design Systems, Miro, Remote Work, People Management, Mentorship & Coaching, Product Strategy, Lean UX, Design Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, Recruiting, User Research, User Retention, Data Analysis, Operations Research, Branding, Mobile, Wireframing, Design, Business, Figma, Confluence, Jira, Leadership, Management, Product Marketing, Digital Product Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, User Interviews, MVP Design, Prototyping, Brand Guidelines
Design Team Lead
2020 - 2022
CoachHub
- Contributed to design thinking workshops and facilitated design sprints.
- Implemented and shaped the design operations, including new processes.
- Recruited and mentored seven product and communication designers.
- Led the implementation of CoachHub's design system and overall UX/UI projects.
Technologies: Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, SaaS, Design Thinking, Workshop Facilitation, Design Sprints, People Management, Recruiting, Mentorship & Coaching, Design Systems, Figma, Miro, Mobile, Wireframing, Design, Business, Confluence, Jira, Leadership, Management, Design Strategy, Product Marketing, Digital Product Design, User Research, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, User Interviews, MVP Design, Product Discovery, Remote Work, Prototyping, Product Strategy, Lean UX, Design Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, User Retention, Data Analysis, Operations Research, Brand Guidelines
Senior Product Designer
2020 - 2020
CoachHub
- Led the implementation of CoachHub's design system.
- Worked on all things related to UX/UI, such as the development of user flows, journey maps, wireframes, etc.
- Contributed to design thinking workshops and facilitated design sprints.
Technologies: Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, Branding, Graphic Design, Design Thinking, Design Sprints, Workshop Facilitation, Design Ops, Design Systems, Style Guides, Mobile, Wireframing, Design, Figma, Miro, Confluence, Jira, Design Strategy, Product Marketing, Digital Product Design, User Research, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, User Interviews, MVP Design, Product Discovery, Remote Work, Mentorship & Coaching, Prototyping, Remote Team Leadership, User Retention, Data Analysis, Brand Guidelines
Senior UX/UI Design Manager
2018 - 2020
Heartbeat Medical
- Served as the senior design manager, focused on UX/UI, and was responsible for instilling a user-centered mindset in the product team.
- Understood the requirements and main processes of healthcare systems and patient-reported outcome measures and iterated with the sales, customer success, and tech teams to understand different aspects of the business.
- Educated the product team into a Lean UX mindset and implemented regular user research.
- Created and implemented a design system and designed the UX/UI for web and mobile apps.
- Facilitated design sprints, other group dynamics, and workshops to accelerate product design and development.
- Set the foundations for high-quality design and implementation.
Technologies: UX Design, UI Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Product Design, SaaS, Design Systems, Design Thinking, Workshop Facilitation, Design Sprints, Branding, Graphic Design, Web Design, Product Discovery, User Research, User Interviews, User Testing, Prototyping, Figma, Style Guides, Mobile, Wireframing, Design, Miro, Confluence, Jira, Design Strategy, Product Marketing, Digital Product Design, MVP Design, User Retention, Data Analysis, Brand Guidelines
Senior UX/UI Design Manager
2018 - 2018
Modifi
- Served as a senior design manager with a focus on UX/UI. Was responsible for creating the user experience and interface of MODIFI's MVP. Working alongside the product managers and the development team, my main achievement was the launch of the MVP.
- Understood the needs, requirements, and main processes of international trade and iterated with the sales, business development, and tech teams to understand the different expectations and needs.
- Worked with the PM, the CTO, and the CPO to define the list of main features and requirements for the MVP, taking into consideration the user needs during the trade process and the technological and bureaucratic requirements.
- Created the first design system and the UX/UI of the MVP.
- Worked with the front-end developers on the implementation of a high-quality product.
Technologies: Sketch 4, Design Systems, Web Design, Graphic Design, UX Design, UI Design, Branding, User Research, MVP Design, Workshop Facilitation, Design Thinking, Style Guides, Mobile, Wireframing, Design, Confluence, Jira, Digital Product Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, User Interviews, Prototyping, User Retention, Data Analysis, Sketch, Brand Guidelines
Lead UX/UI Designer
2018 - 2018
Campsy
- Worked for Campsy, a Rocket Internet Venture. Worked alongside the product manager and understood the user behavior to design and implement a new user experience for the merge of the Campsy website with Camping-and-Co eCommerce.
- Implemented the new brand and design system in the new platform.
- Contributed to user interviews, user testing, A/B testing, and data analysis.
- Worked on the UI in different languages, such as German, English, French, and Dutch.
Technologies: Sketch, UX Design, UI Design, eCommerce, Web Design, Graphic Design, User Research, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, Design Systems, User Interviews, Style Guides, Wireframing, Design, Confluence, Jira, Digital Product Design, Prototyping, Data Analysis, Brand Guidelines
Design Coordinator
2016 - 2017
e-Core
- Served as the design coordinator and was part of the marketing team. Focused on spreading and consolidating e-Core's brand throughout Brazil and US markets, especially as one of Latin America's main Atlassian Platinum Solution Partners.
- Designed and executed external campaigns to strengthen and spread the company's brand and attract new leads and business opportunities.
- Designed and promoted more than five events in Brazil and the US, creating branding, landing pages, promotional materials, and email marketing campaigns.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Branding, Web Design, Design Thinking, Web Marketing, Social Media, Graphic Design, Style Guides, Design, Business, Confluence, Jira, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Partner | Head of Design | UX/UI
2016 - 2016
FIKA
- Acted as a partner and co-founder of FIKA—a joint of Zimya and Targeteria.
- Worked as the head of design for all the UX/UI projects.
- Performed data analysis, planning, and UX/UI design for more than 25 digital projects, including desktop and mobile applications, business websites, and portfolios.
- Managed and was responsible for marketing and sales within the company.
- Designed for projects for a variety of businesses.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Graphic Design, Branding, UX Design, Web Design, UI Design, Workshop Facilitation, Design Thinking, Sales, People Management, Entrepreneurship, Wireframing, Design, Business, Recruiting, Prototyping, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Brand Coordinator
2016 - 2016
e-Core
- Spread and consolidated e-Core's brand throughout Brazil and US markets as the brand designer and part of the marketing team.
- Designed and implemented the e-Core's rebrand with the goal of consolidating the company's image.
- Developed the company's new brand book. Created and designed the brand guidelines, including a new logo, typography, colors, illustrations, stationery, templates, and promotional materials.
- Worked on the design, illustration, and layout for inbound marketing campaigns, blog posts, infographics, case studies, presentations, posters, social media, etc.
- Earned an inbound marketing certification from HubSpot.
- Spoke at an internal event: Breakfast Talk—Design and Marketing Achievements and Goals for 2017.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Web Marketing, Branding, Web Design, Digital Marketing, Graphic Design, Social Media, UX Design, UI Design, Design, Confluence, Jira, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Partner | Head of Design | UX/UI
2012 - 2016
Zimya
- Served as a partner and co-founder of a small agency in the South of Brazil—specializing in digital projects and branding.
- Worked as the head of design for about 100 digital and branding projects for companies in many industries.
- Performed data analysis and planned and designed the UX/UI for digital projects such as business websites, portfolios, and applications.
- Diagnosed, planned, conceptualized, and designed branding projects.
- Developed brand books, stationery, promotional materials, websites, and more.
- Managed and was responsible for marketing and sales within the company.
- Developed, promoted, and facilitated design thinking classes.
- Was awarded the CSSREEL Sites Of The Day on May 31, 2014, for Zimya's website.
- Won the Awwwards Sites Of The Day on September 17, 2012, for Verdi's website.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Branding, Web Design, UI Design, UX Design, Sales, People Management, Design Thinking, Graphic Design, Workshop Facilitation, Wireframing, Design, Business, Recruiting, Entrepreneurship, Prototyping, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Design Consultant
2012 - 2014
SEBRAE | Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas
- Worked for SEBRAE, an important public organization in Brazil that helps micro and small businesses grow.
- Designed and presented design concepts to entrepreneurs.
- Created and implemented UX/UI and branding projects.
- Implemented more than 20 projects for companies in different areas, such as clothing brands, photography, architecture, English schools, engineering, IT, law, nutrition, and more.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Design, Business, Prototyping, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Designer
2011 - 2012
Verdi
- Worked for Verdi, one of the most prestigious design companies in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Acted as a designer responsible for the UI projects of business websites.
- Worked with branding, naming, graphic design, and web design.
- Won an award for graphic professional design/branding at the 37º Salão ARP da Comunicação (2012) for the branding of Cambará do Sul—Terra dos Cânions.
- Won an award for graphic design at the Professional at the Prêmio Bornancini 2010—III Ciclo de Decisões Amcham.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Design, Prototyping, Websites, Corporate Branding, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Education
2006 - 2011
Bachelor's Degree in Visual Design
UFRGS | Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - Porto Alegre, Brazil
Certifications
OCTOBER 2021 - PRESENT
Design Leadership
Echos Desirable Futures Lab
DECEMBER 2019 - PRESENT
Design Sprint Masterclass
AJ & Smart
Skills
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Miro, Confluence, Jira, Sketch, Sketch 4
Platforms
Figma, Mobile
Other
Design, Visual Design, UI Design, Websites, Style Guides, Branding, Corporate Branding, Workshop Facilitation, Design Thinking, Web Design, Brand Guidelines, Responsive Web Design (RWD), UX Design, Wireframing, Leadership, Management, Design Ops, Design Strategy, Product Marketing, Recruiting, Onboarding, Blogs, Business, E-learning, Product Design, Digital Product Design, Graphic Design, Sales, People Management, Entrepreneurship, Web Marketing, Digital Marketing, Social Media, eCommerce, User Research, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Testing, Design Systems, User Interviews, MVP Design, SaaS, Design Sprints, Product Discovery, Prototyping, Mentorship & Coaching, Remote Work, Product Strategy, Lean UX, Design Leadership, Remote Team Leadership, User Retention, Data Analysis, Operations Research, Google Design Sprints
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