
Ced Funches
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
San Diego, CA, United States
Toptal member since October 2, 2019
Since 2007, Ced has been leading mobile, web, and product design for clients, including Vox Media, Conde Nast, Sony, Nintendo, the NBA, Goalcast, Smith.ai, Forbes, several tech startups, and more. He specializes in product design, user experience, user interface, and visual design to create and market meaningful products. An experienced design leader with a proven track record of successfully building, managing, and optimizing products and brands.
Portfolio
Experience
- Brand Development - 12 years
- Complex Application User Interfaces (UI) - 11 years
- Product Design - 10 years
- Product Prototyping - 10 years
- Website Audits - 10 years
- Design Systems - 6 years
- Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) - 3 years
- Claude - 2 years
Tools
- Claude
Work Experience
Founder & Product Designer
Setlister Holdings Inc.
- Designed a patent-pending point-of-sale voting system letting fans influence live setlists at the moment of ticket purchase, taking the product from concept through a filed patent (TPP90590).
- Defined the core voting flow and tiered pricing mechanic, validating participation against concert-scale data before building a single line of production code.
- Modeled revenue splits and partnership economics using real artist data (Republic Records), translating design decisions into pitch-ready financial projections for label and venue partners.
- Led design and business conversations with Spotify, SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, and AEG/AXS, shaping the product roadmap around real partner constraints and integration requirements.
- Built the multi-agent product architecture (fan, artist, label, venue, data, connect) and mobile-first wireframe system spanning voting, queue approval, and post-show NFT collectibles.
Founding Designer
Lattify
- Drove the product design of a DIY mobile app from zero to a shippable MVP, establishing foundational UX principles, design patterns, and a visual language for an entirely new product.
- Defined and documented core user flows covering onboarding, project creation, and step-by-step task guidance, translating user needs into a clear, opinionated mobile experience.
- Collaborated directly with founders and engineers in an early-stage environment to scope, prioritize, and sequence design deliverables aligned with MVP release milestones.
- Built and maintained a lightweight design system to accelerate iteration speed and maintain consistency as the product evolved from concept to functional prototype.
Senior Product Designer
Batch
- Led UX and product design for a mobile travel app centered on user-generated content, designing submission, discovery, and social engagement flows from ideation through launch.
- Created information architecture and content contribution patterns that lowered the barrier for non-expert users to generate and share high-quality travel content.
- Designed feedback loops and in-app incentive structures to drive recurring UGC submission behavior, directly supporting content volume and community growth goals.
- Iterated rapidly on prototype concepts using user testing insights to refine navigation, onboarding, and content browsing into cohesive, low-friction mobile experiences.
Product Designer for Consumer Media Platform
Atlas Obscura Inc.
- Designed end-to-end user experiences for a consumer media platform serving millions of curious travelers globally, owning the full design lifecycle from discovery research through high-fidelity production handoff.
- Translated complex editorial and UGC content systems into intuitive, scannable interface patterns that reduced friction between readers and obscure destination content.
- Partnered cross-functionally with editorial, engineering, and product teams to ship features that balanced brand storytelling with measurable engagement and retention outcomes.
Branding/Web Designer
The Bond Project Incorporated
- Developed a premium brand identity that aligns with the exclusive nature of the Bond community.
- Created a distinctive logo that conveys sophistication, power, and connection.
- Designed a visually appealing and intuitive user interface that reflects the brand's premium positioning.
- Designed a responsive design that ensures a seamless experience across different devices and screen sizes.
- Managed the design process from concept to launch, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project goals.
UI/UX Designer
Fanstake, Inc.
- Led the creation of wireframes and prototypes to visualize the platform's functionality and gather feedback from stakeholders, resulting in a more intuitive and user-friendly design.
- Developed a comprehensive design system that streamlined the design process and ensured consistency across the platform, resulting in a faster development cycle.
- Integrated gamification elements into the platform, resulting in a more engaging and addictive user experience.
- Navigated the evolving regulatory landscape for NIL deals, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks while maintaining a user-friendly experience.
- Collaborated with marketing and sales teams to create promotional materials and user onboarding experiences that effectively communicated the value proposition of the platform. Tools: Beautiful.ai.
UI/UX Designer
CornerstoneX Inc.
- Developed a user-centered design approach that prioritized accessibility and ease of use for a diverse range of CBP personnel.
- Created a visually appealing and intuitive interface that minimized the need for extensive training.
- Ensured compliance with accessibility standards, making the platform usable by individuals with disabilities.
- Deployed the platform to US Customs and Border Patrol, resulting in a positive impact on national security.
- Created a visually appealing and intuitive interface that minimized the need for extensive training.
Product Designer
Digital Nomadic Solutions LLC
- Designed a visually stunning interface incorporating vibrant colors, engaging typography, and high-quality imagery, resulting in a 20% increase in user satisfaction.
- Developed a cohesive visual language that reflects the California Community College's mission and values.
- Utilized analytics tools to track user behavior and make data-driven design decisions to improve the platforms continuously.
- Incorporated storytelling techniques to create a more immersive and memorable user experience.
Brand & Product Designer
Apex Logic, Inc.
- Designed and implemented a user-friendly and intuitive interface for the Symphony Procurement platform, resulting in a 20% increase in user satisfaction based on post-implementation surveys.
- Developed a comprehensive data visualization dashboard that provides actionable insights into procurement trends and performance, leading to a 15% reduction in procurement cycle times.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully integrate the Symphony Procurement platform with existing systems, ensuring a smooth transition for federal agencies.
- Developed a comprehensive branding strategy for the Symphony Procurement platform, aligning it with the GSA's mission and values.
- Created a visually appealing and consistent brand identity, including a logo, color palette, and typography, that is easily recognizable and memorable.
Creative Director
SLAYMASTERS INC.
- Designed an app that allows women to style their hair at home via live appointments and personalized hair treatments.
- Built a brand identity direction for logos, colors, and typography.
- Created user stories and Maze UX tests based on real customer surveys with P&G.
Visual Designer
Deel Inc
- Designed a new UX flow for the company's site navigation.
- Created several landing page systems to help split-test new creative.
- Created three user stories based on the gathered research that allowed improvements to the mobile demo request.
Senior UX/UI Product Designer
Forbes Media - Q.ai - Main
- Designed the complete system of components for the commercial app on iPhone and Android.
- Built a brand identity guide, including colors and typography, language and tone, logos, and other assets.
- Created dev guidelines and standards. Devs can now complete projects in half the time required previously, new developers and designers join the company with very clear guidelines, and designers are empowered to put prototypes together much faster.
- Worked with the marketing department to design the IQ newsletter and integrate it into the Forbes eco-system of outbound emails.
- Designed and built the company website on Webflow. In addition, I created several landing pages to help increase the top funnel.
- Worked with internal stakeholders to improve the UX, which led to a 120% increase in DAU.
- Created key illustrations for individual product offerings in-app.
- Built and executed several GTM strategies for the product, overseeing several freelancers, artists, and copywriters.
Senior UI/UX Product Designer
TEG Travel
- Designed an app that gives insider recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and events when users visit selected cities.
- Built an extensive design system to assist in scaling the locations, reviews, and photos.
- Created user stories to reimagine how travelers communicate, discover, and book.
Senior Design Director
Smith.ai Inc
- Created the current website, architecture, and design system for landing pages, lead gen ads, and external marketing efforts.
- Built a brand identity guide, including colors and typography, language and tone, logos, and other assets.
- Created user stories and refined the customer journey with UX research via Maze.
- Built the design system that informed the direction for the internal product dashboard, mobile interface, and CX principles.
VP of Creative, Brand Partnerships
Jamiak, LLC
- Oversaw strategy, performance marketing, consumer research, media planning, and creative development across programmatic mobile and desktop offerings.
- Created processes for digital teams, copywriters and support staff.
- Managed website redesigns and BI tracking to increase the volume of registered leads and improve the overall customer experience.
- Ran point on priority brand/consumer partnerships.
- Recruited and managed a global team of marketers focused on maximizing awareness and driving revenue for the company.
- Led the design strategy for Klaviyo as we worked to create consistently qualified leads for repeat business.
Executive Design Director
Vox Media
- Provided executive leadership to the revenue and marketing design and brand identity teams.
- Used a creative mix of branding and storytelling to spread Vox Media's narrative across a broad mix of media including emails, creative strategy, environments, brand, and advertising touchpoints.
- Successfully led the branding redesign, strategy, and execution of key brands: SB Nation and the Verge.
- Created and tracked email campaigns and implemented changes based on data to spur growth.
- Oversaw the strategy, performance marketing, consumer research, media planning and creative development across mobile and desktop offerings.
Co-founder | Chief Technical Officer
Pixlwise
- Provided a comprehensive vision for the Pixlwise brand and the first wave of digital products.
- Ensured a consistent look and feel across all channels with the creative ability to transform fresh ideas into real products.
- Oversaw the strategy, performance marketing, consumer research, media planning and creative development across mobile and desktop offerings.
- Developed the marketing strategy and managed the implementation to create brand awareness, drive distribution and maximize ad network revenue.
- Led performance marketing campaigns to monetize and expand customer base.
Director of Web Marketing
University of San Diego
- Served as the director of web marketing for university relations.
- Oversaw all web and branded visual design within the university's on-campus schools.
- Oversaw the brand and marketing materials including the website, email newsletters, marketing ads, and more.
- Worked in an elite university environment in close collaboration with deans, provosts, VPs, and marketing professionals.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers to ensure competitive pricing and quality control.
Director of Creative Marketing
Destineer Studios
- Led creative marketing for a first and third-party video game publisher.
- Worked directly with Nintendo®, Microsoft, Sony PS4, and Xbox One.
- Managed worldwide game release strategy and implementation.
- Created pitches and go-to-market strategies based on new game initiatives.
Art Director | Graphic Designer
Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx
- Developed and managed the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx brands.
- Created dozens of logos, banners, billboards, signage, season tickets, corporate sponsorship presentations, inside ticket sales, and collateral material.
- Worked with professional players, team management, and ownership to create a consistent brand experience for fans.
Education
Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Graphic Design
The Arts Institute - Minneapolis, MN, USA
Certifications
Executive Certificate in AI Strategy and Product Innovation
MIT xPRO
Skills
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, Mailchimp, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Zeplin, InVision, Google Slides, Claude, Figma Component Library, Miro, AI Tools, Xcode, Asana, GitHub, Jira
Industry Expertise
Media, Marketing, Education Technology (Edtech), Investments, Consumer Products, Sports, Human Resources (HR), Banking & Finance
Platforms
MacOS, iOS, Shopify, Webflow, Figma, Mobile, Web, Vercel, Android, Google Ads, WordPress, Webflow CMS, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Other
Facebook, Product Design, Design Direction, UX Branding, Experience Strategy, Content Strategy, Art Direction, HTML Templates, Freelancing, Advertising Campaigns, Environmental Design, Website Redesign, UI Branding, Management, Teams, Social Media Platforms, Advertising Design, Wireframing, Strategic Design, UI Patterns, Design Guidelines, Design Systems, Brand Development, UX Strategy, Rebranding, Mobile UX Design, Travel Design, App Design, Storyboarding, Heatmaps, Research, Customer Journey, Communication Design, Presentation Design, Creative Strategy, Design, User Flows, Podcasting, Prototyping, Branding, Sports Websites, Strategic Planning, UI Design, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Mobile Apps, Brand Positioning, Brand Design, Consumer Branding, Web UI, Creative Direction, Strategy, Marketing Communications (MarCom), Design Principles, Brand Identity, Complex Application User Interfaces (UI), Usability Testing, B2B, B2C, Interactive Prototypes, Enterprise, Web App UI, User Research, Digital Brand Identity, Email Design, Budget Management, Enterprise System Design, Graphic Design, Style Guides, Mobile Design, Visual Design, Mobile App Design, UX Design, Game Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Marketing Design, Information Architecture (IA), App UI, Design Leadership, Paid Advertising, Social Media Marketing (SMM), Communication, News Media, Enterprise Startups, Enterprise Systems, Dashboard Design, Fintech, Landing Page Design, Web Design, eCommerce, Web App Design, TV App Design, User Engagement, Concept Art, User Journeys, User Stories, Dashboards, SaaS Design, Marketplaces, Data Visualization, Social Networks, Early-stage Startups, CRM Design, Digital Marketing Design, Facebook Ads, Leadership, Design Thinking, Design Strategy, Mobile UI Design, Sales Presentations, Pitch Decks, PowerPoint Design, Mentorship, UX Research, UX Wireframes, Layout Design, Product Strategy, Workshops, Workshop Facilitation, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Layout, Responsive Web Apps, Brand Strategy, Service Design, Stakeholder Management, UI Guidelines, Stakeholder Engagement, CX Strategy, Consulting, UX Audits, Product Discovery, MVP Design, Component Libraries, Sports & Athletics, TV Sports, Business Intelligence (BI), Mockups, Marketplace Design, Rapid Prototyping, Web App UX, Visual Identity, Usability, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Accessibility, Design Workshops, Discovery, Project Discovery, Discovery Workshops, Feature Analysis, Wellness, Booking Systems, eCommerce Design, Lean UX, SaaS, User Experience Design, User Experience Strategy, UX Leadership, UI Research, Customer Research, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Management, Design Reviews, User Journey Maps, Vibe Coding, ChatGPT, Generative Design, Product Prototyping, Two-sided Marketplaces, Audits, Website Audits, Mobile App UI, User Workflows, AI Design, AI-powered Product Design, Digital Product Design, Artificial Intelligence as a Service (AIaaS), Design Validation, UI Testing, Creative Strategy, Brand Marketing, UI Prototyping, UX Prototyping, Responsive Design, High-fidelity Mockups, Agile, Design Sprints, Financial Services, Responsive UI, Mobile UX, Travel, Agentic AI, Conversational AI, Conversational Design, Design Management, Journey Mapping, Large Language Models (LLMs), Interaction Design (IxD), Fintech Design, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Brand Guidelines, AI-enabled Applications, AI Chatbots, Chatbot Conversation Design, Chatbots, CRM, News, Newsletter Design, Product Management, Interface Design, User Personas, User Testing, UX Flows, Writing & Editing, Framer, User Interface Engineering (UIE), Set Design, Annotated Wireframes, Landing Pages, Mobile UI, User Interviews, Banner Ads, Instagram Ads, Illustration, iOS UX Design, Videos, UX Mentoring, Mentorship & Coaching, Software as a Service (SaaS), UI Audits, Motion Design, Video Editing, Motion Graphics, Business to Business (B2B), Next.js, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Claude Code, Soccer, Football, UX Testing, Remote User Testing, Claude Design, Research Design, Cursor AI, Data-heavy Design, Regulatory Compliance, Enterprise UX, Color Palettes, Project Management, Coda, Workflow, UI Animation, Educational Platform Design, Web UX Design, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Digital Editorials, Editorial Design, Blog Design, React, Vue 3, Nuxt.js, GitLab CI/CD, Stripe Payments, 0 ➔ 1 / Founder Led, Lovable, Patents, Revenue Strategy, Partnerships
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