# Ariel Alvarez

> Staff Product Designer - Visual   / Design Systems Strategic Thinker /  Figma Specialist & Innovator /  Passionate about Visual Storytelling

Location: Los Gatos, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/arielalvarez

As a lead UI/UX Designer with over sixteen years of experience, I am passionate about transforming complex concepts into clear and intuitive designs.

I specialize on designing mobile and web applications, placing a strong emphasis on aligning with usability standards to ensure a seamless experience across all devices. I model risk-taking and inspire others to advocate for bold innovation. My ability to execute tasks effectively allows me to identify potential opportunities and solutions for optimization and growth.

For example: "By leveraging data-driven insights and the latest trends, I independently introduced technology enhancements in image optimization, resulting in a 40% performance improvement that was widely adopted throughout the ecosystem."

I am a strong advocate for design systems, leading visual design strategies for various high-value initiatives while overseeing multiple product designers within a segment. Additionally, I have designed  and contributed to the development of design system components that scale across the organization.

For example: “As the visual segment lead for the Visual Strategy Team, I fostered a collaborative environment by working closely with 16 product designers across two different segments. This partnership ensured the seamless execution of user-centered design solutions aligned with our Design System, resulting in a significant positive increase in component & pattern adoption within our ecosystem. Furthermore, my contributions have led to substantial improvements in conversions through visually compelling experiences.”

My process is collaborative and iterative, involving continuous refinement and alignment based on feedback from both designers and users. I proactively seek feedback and believe in leveraging data to inform design decisions.

For example: By combining data-driven insights and user testing, I successfully led the development of an innovative solution for one of the most complex Figma components: the Data Grid Table. This solution addressed a variety of designer needs, achieving a 100% rating in designer confidence and usability, while also reducing design time significantly.

To summarize, I thrive in an environment with a strong design culture that promotes creativity, collaboration, empathy, innovation, and a willingness to take risks. I take pride in my craft and the impact I make, and I look forward to pursuing a career that offers continuous opportunities for collaboration and innovation in developing solutions that meet user needs and tackle real-world challenges.

## Work Experience
### Staff Product Designer - Design Systems @ Zscaler
Jan 2025 – Present | San Jose, California, United States

### Principal Visual Designer @ Intuit
Jan 2015 – Jan 2024
Led visual design for high-priority products and feature launches, managing several projects concurrently and offering creative direction for consistent cross-platform design.

Mentored designers to cultivate a culture of creativity, collaboration, and design excellence.

### Senior Visual Designer @ Intuit
Jan 2009 – Jan 2015
Led design strategy and operational optimizations for various technology enhancements: optimized UI with HTML/CSS, Image Sprite Sheets & Icon Fonts.

Oversaw the redesign of the QuickBooks.com marketing and product pages, taking charge as the lead designer overseeing the project.

### Web/Graphic Designer @ Caspio, Inc.
Jan 2007 – Jan 2008
Created designs for the new releases of internal and customer-facing sites, including banners, email newsletters, brochures, trade show displays, and other web and print materials. Using CSS, implemented new designs into their database of styles.

### Graphic Designer @ Tranax Technologies
Jan 2003 – Jan 2007
Developed print and online ads, direct mail campaigns, print collateral, trade show graphics, and website user interfaces.

### Web Designer @ DIRECTV
Jan 1999 – Jan 2003
Key role in designing the internal and customer facing website, online banners, and email newsletters. Conducted user research for marketing and product development.


## Education
### Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS in Multimedia Communications and Presentations
Masters Institute


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/arielalvarez

---
Source: https://flows.cv/arielalvarez
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/arielalvarez/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13