Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
Hello! My name is Gabriela, or, just Gabi. I have had the privilege to work in and around innovative product development since the start of my career. While an industrial designer at heart, sketching, modeling, and refining design concepts, my world is often a coming together of front end problem definition and design research, innovation road mapping and future scaping, product strategies, people management, as well as change management within the organizations I work for and teams I work with. This is the work I love doing and it’s what energizes me everyday, seeing innovations become realities in people’s lives; whether a simple answer to a nagging task, or a multifaceted systems solution to a complex problem touching multiple stakeholders and various part of the business. I LOVE IT ALL. If you are ever interested in talking ideas, brainstorming, or sharing the innovations that inspire you most, please reach out and connect. Always happy to meet other creatives fighting the good fight 👊 (Just gotta say it - please don’t try sell me your *prototyping, 3D printing, fabrication, rendering, automation, animation, motion graphics, branding, entrepreneurial, insert anything, service* via linked in messages. I’m here to build true connections, stay in touch, and be inspired; not to be solicited to. Thank you.)
Expanded role responsibilities include management of centralized UX/UI team alongside continued leadership of the Industrial Design Innovation team.
Physical product innovation, design and development, project planning, future scaling, and identifying competitive opportunities from insights.
+Industrial Design Lead and Project Lead on the recently launched Steady Set Interior Installation System, Winner of the Best of IBS Award for the Windows & Doors Category, IBS 2024 -Direct Steady Set Responsibilities: Industrial Design Leadership and Project Leadership from start to finish, Initial Field Research and insights gathering, Translation of insights into opportunity, Pitching Interior install to the business with engineering counterpart, Problem framing and Opportunity Definition, Usability definition, refinement, and development within various components of the project, CMF development, Management of designers and design work streams within the project, Packaging development and delivery General Role Responsibilities: +Design Team Management +Design leadership of innovation initiatives +Deep dive consumer research, ethnographic research, and problem framing +Bringing forward future focused and consumer centric recommendations to the business +Front end ideation and future scaping, concept development, future focused concept development and visualization +Close collaboration with Innovation Engineers; rapid and iterative prototyping to refine form and user interactions, defining and refining haptic user experiences and tangible product experiences + Help guide form development, refinement, and product styling via sketching + Trends Insights Contributor - Annual Pella Trends Report +Project/scope planning
Under NDA - 3-Phase contract project for NYC client within the beauty/cosmetic space. Responsible for initial research and market analysis, early ideation and concept generation, CMF and concept refinement, and final concept delivery.
-Focused on new product development and specialty projects within the Cooking and Dish Care categories. -Developed and visualized patentable future focused products and product experiences for the Dish Care category. During my time there I was responsible for the Frigidaire 36” Gas Range which launched at KBIS 2022. My responsibilities included the styling and detailing of all design elements, CAD development, range graphics coordination, Vendor coordination and communication, as well as proof of concept development in partnership with the prototype team.
Helped plan, coordinate, and execute SHiFT design retreat; intended to shift perspectives through immersive outdoor experiences and design challenges. SHiFT Design brought together young professionals and college students along side established professionals and mentors to grow and learn through collaboration, design thinking, and creative problem solving.
-Responsible for form and user experience development for Kohler Avoir Tankless toilet (IF Design Award winner, Red Dot award winner, Launched 2021) -Developed Advanced Concepts for the toileting industry and spearheaded industry 'firsts' -Responsible for creating user centered experiences and ensuring the seamless integration of innovative new technologies -Sketched, Prototyped, and developed concepts for aesthetic review -Collaborated closely with innovation partners across diverse functions: engineerings, design, manufacturing, and marketing