{ "name": "Rafael Cespedes", "summary": "Designer in New York City, by way of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Ten-plus years building digital brands and products as one system. Senior Visual Designer, Product Creative at Robinhood; takes on select freelance work.", "location": "New York City", "current": { "role": "Senior Visual Designer, Product Creative", "organization": "Robinhood", "since": "Aug 2026" }, "availability": "Full-time at Robinhood as Senior Visual Designer, Product Creative. Taking on select freelance work.", "contact": { "email": "rafcesp@gmail.com", "preferred": "email", "note": "Rates and start dates aren't published. The best first message says who it's from, what the project is, and the timeline." }, "links": { "site": "https://rafaelcespedes.com", "x": "https://x.com/rafcespedes", "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelcespedes/", "github": "https://github.com/rafaelcespedes", "email": "mailto:rafcesp@gmail.com", "agentView": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/agents", "guestbook": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/agents#guestbook", "llms": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/llms.txt", "llmsFull": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/llms-full.txt", "profile": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/profile.json" }, "about": [ "I’m a designer based in New York City, by way of Santiago, Dominican Republic.", "My family moved to the US when I was twelve. We didn’t have much, my parents didn’t have formal educations, and I landed in a new country figuring things out on my own. Making things was how I made sense of it: taking apart computers, folding origami, building kites, drawing constantly. I still can’t get through a day without unpacking how the world around me works. Everything is designed, and I’ve never stopped noticing.", "That instinct became a career. Over the last ten-plus years I’ve built digital brands and products. Not as separate disciplines, but as one system, where how something looks, feels, and works is a single decision. I’ve done it across nearly every kind of environment: scrappy internships, creative agencies, big tech, startups, and my own independent practice.", "Lately I’ve been designing instruments instead of artifacts. With AI I can build my own tools now, and it’s changed how I work more than anything in years. LAB is where those live.", "I believe design is one of the few real levers we have on how people live, so I try to earn every choice. I don’t make things loud for the sake of it, and I don’t simplify them past the point where they stop meaning anything. Find the idea, cut the noise, protect the intent.", "Currently a Designer on Robinhood’s Product Creative team. I’m also taking on select freelance work, and always up for a good conversation. Reach me at rafcesp@gmail.com." ], "work": [ { "slug": "nucleus", "title": "Nucleus", "shortTitle": "Nucleus", "year": "2026", "disciplines": [ "Identity", "Product" ], "roles": [ "Sole designer—brand, product, and motion" ], "credits": [], "summary": "Fake traffic and bots plague web3, but every serious project still needs real users and paying customers. That's the gap Nucleus fills.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/01_nucleus-logo_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/02_nucleus_mockup_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/05_nucleus-graphics_06.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/03_nucleus_mockup_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/nucleus_graphic_12.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/07_nucleus-graphics_07.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/carousel/06_nucleus-graphics_08.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/nucleus-logo-mark.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/02_nucleus-graphics_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/04_nucleus_graphic-banner_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/05_nucleus_graphic_11.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/nucleus_graphic_20.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/vid_nucleus-dots-bars.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/06_nucleus_home_03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/07_nucleus_referral-UI.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/08_nucleus_mobile_03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/09_nucleus_mobile_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/nucleus/case-study/10_nucleus-graphics_08.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/nucleus.md" }, { "slug": "aidb-identity", "title": "AIDb", "shortTitle": "AIDb", "year": "2025", "disciplines": [ "Identity", "Product" ], "roles": [ "Brand: Sole designer, brand and motion", "Product: Design Director, Product Designer" ], "credits": [], "summary": "AI is growing at an unimaginable rate. As the relentless pursuit of AGI continues, few are building the tools needed to log, discover, and review AI-focused products.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/carousel/01_aidb-logo_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/carousel/vid_aidb-color-palette.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/carousel/03_aidb-cards.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/carousel/04_aidb-mac-os_icons.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/carousel/vid_aidb-pills.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb_logo-animation_09.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb_gen_03.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/03_aidb-brandbook-mockup.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb-pills.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb-x-02.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/05_aidb_badge_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb-palette-portrait.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-identity/case-study/vid_aidb-card-stack.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-product/case-study/07_AIDb_creations_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-product/carousel/03_AIDb_discover-mobile_023.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-product/case-study/01_AIDb_discover-desktop_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/aidb-product/case-study/05_AIDb_products-desktop_01.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/aidb-identity.md" }, { "slug": "zalt", "title": "Zalt", "shortTitle": "Zalt", "year": "2024", "disciplines": [ "Identity", "Product" ], "roles": [ "Sole designer—brand, product, and motion" ], "credits": [], "summary": "NFTs peaked in 2021 and have been declining ever since. Projects ran out of ideas, liquidity dried up, and the technology stagnated. Users and creators were ready for something new.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/carousel/01_zalt_cover_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/carousel/02_zalt_mark_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/carousel/03_zalt_switch-w_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/carousel/04_zalt_business-card_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/vid_zalt_fractionalization.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/02_zalt_mark_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/03_zalt_typography_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/vid_zalt_poster_morph.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/vid_zalt-morph.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/06_zalt_colors_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/07_app-icon.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/08_zalt_business-card_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/09_zalt_swap_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/zalt/case-study/10_zalt_switch_02.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/zalt.md" }, { "slug": "kpr-web-game", "title": "KPR x Esther Choi: Ramen Wars", "shortTitle": "KPR Web Game", "year": "2024", "disciplines": [ "Product" ], "roles": [ "Creative Director, Design Director" ], "credits": [ "Agency Partner: Merci-Michel", "Art: Khoa Viet" ], "summary": "Ramen Wars was KPR's first major step into phygital storytelling: a campaign built around the idea that the line between digital experience and real-world impact doesn't have to exist.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/carousel/01_rw-map_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/carousel/02_rw-dialogue_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/carousel/03_rw-kitchen_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/vid_esther-looping.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/02_esther-kpr-03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/03_Boon_storefront.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/04_boon-logo_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/05_boon-packaging_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/06_ramen-wars_user-flow_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/vid_rw-collect-ingredients_02.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/vid_ramen-creation_02.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr-web-game/case-study/08_prisma-map_01.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/kpr-web-game.md" }, { "slug": "kpr", "title": "KPR", "shortTitle": "KPR", "year": "2022", "disciplines": [ "Identity" ], "roles": [ "Creative Director, Design Director" ], "credits": [ "Artist: Minh Khoa", "Website Partner: Resn" ], "summary": "More of identity now lives online than off. As people spend their lives on the internet, a new need has emerged: not just documenting the physical world, but creating, collecting, and belonging to things that are native to the digital one.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/carousel/01_kpr_portfolio_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/carousel/02_kpr_portfolio_06.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/carousel/03_kpr_portfolio_03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/carousel/04_kpr_portfolio_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/carousel/05_kpr_portfolio_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/01_kpr_logo_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/02_kpr_colors_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/03_KPR_Carousel_06.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/04_KPR_Carousel_07.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/05_KPR_Carousel_08.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/vid_63894cb80c805525709078.mp4", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/07_kpr_art_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/08_kpr_collage_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/09_KPR_Carousel_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/10_KPR_Carousel_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/11_KPR_Carousel_03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/12_KPR_Carousel_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/13_KPR_Carousel_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/14_kpr_art_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/kpr/case-study/15_kpr_posters_01.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/kpr.md" }, { "slug": "vidmob-design-system", "title": "Vidmob Design System", "shortTitle": "Vidmob", "year": "2021", "disciplines": [ "Design System" ], "roles": [ "Lead Product Designer" ], "credits": [ "Team: Lucy Bradshaw, Rafael Cespedes, Marina Porta, Vidmob Product" ], "summary": "When I joined Vidmob the company had 38 employees. By the time this project started, it had grown to over 300.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/carousel/01_Vidmob_DS_Intro_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/carousel/02_Vidmob_DS_Grid_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/carousel/03_Vidmob_DS_Icon_Cover_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/carousel/04_Vidmob_DS_Typography_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/01_Vidmob_DS_Intro_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/02_Vidmob_DS_Process_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/03_Vidmob_DS_Color_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/04_Vidmob_DS_Typography_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/05_Vidmob_DS_Styling_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/06_Vidmob_DS_Grid_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/07_Vidmob_DS_Icon_Cover_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/08_Vidmob_DS_Components_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-design-system/case-study/09_Vidmob_DS_Illustrations_07.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/vidmob-design-system.md" }, { "slug": "vidmob-dashboard", "title": "Vidmob Creative Analytics Dashboard", "shortTitle": "Vidmob Dashboard", "year": "2019", "disciplines": [ "Product" ], "roles": [ "Lead Product Designer" ], "credits": [], "summary": "Vidmob is a creative intelligence platform that uses AI to analyze the performance of video and image ads.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/carousel/01_vidmob_cover_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/carousel/02_vidmob_dashboard_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/carousel/03_vidmob_widget_03-account-comparison_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/carousel/04_vidmob_widget_05-campaign-snapshot_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/01_vidmob_cover_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/02_vidmob_nike-account-set-up_02.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/03_vidmob_widgets_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/04_vidmob_widget_01-insights_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/05_vidmob_widget_02-creative-elements_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/06_vidmob_widget_03-account-comparison_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/07_vidmob_widget_05-campaign-snapshot_00.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/vidmob-dashboard/case-study/08_vidmob_dashboard-full_02.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/vidmob-dashboard.md" }, { "slug": "ibm-live-nation", "title": "IBM (Live Nation App)", "shortTitle": "IBM (Live Nation App)", "year": "2017", "disciplines": [ "Product" ], "roles": [ "Sole designer" ], "credits": [], "summary": "At IBM I worked as a design consultant, embedded directly with clients to solve business and user problems through research, strategy, and design.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/carousel/01_live-nation_logo.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/carousel/02_live-nation_mockup.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/carousel/03_offset_comp_247173-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/case-study/01_live-nation_logo.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/case-study/02_live-nation_onboarding.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/case-study/03_live-nation_ticketing.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/case-study/04_live-nation_in-venue_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/ibm-live-nation/case-study/05_live-nation_filter.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/ibm-live-nation.md" }, { "slug": "markor", "title": "Markor International Home Furnishings", "shortTitle": "Markor", "year": "2016", "disciplines": [ "Web" ], "roles": [ "UI Designer" ], "credits": [ "Team: Alex Jones (UX Designer)" ], "summary": "Zest was the newest addition to Markor Home Furnishing. Markor is one of the largest mid to high-end furniture companies in China, with approximately 400 stores across 150 cities.", "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/01_Zest_Slide_02-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/02_Zest_Slide_04.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/03_Zest_Slide_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/04_Zest_Slide_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/05_markor.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/carousel/06_Zest_Slide_06-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/case-study/01_Zest-configurator-4.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/case-study/02_Zest-Product-listing-4.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/case-study/03_Zest-furniture-icon-set.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/markor/case-study/04_Zest-lifestyle-3-1.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/markor.md" }, { "slug": "manhattan-skyline", "title": "Manhattan Skyline", "shortTitle": "Manhattan Skyline", "year": "2016", "disciplines": [ "Identity", "Web" ], "roles": [ "Brand Designer, Design Direction, Product Design" ], "credits": [], "summary": null, "media": [ "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/carousel/01_MSky_Slide_01.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/carousel/02_MSky_Slide_06.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/carousel/03_MSky_Slide_05.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/carousel/04_MSky_Slide_04-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/carousel/05_MSky_Slide_03.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/case-study/01_MSkyBrandingCover10-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/case-study/02_MSky_Slide_04-1.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/case-study/03_MSky_Slide_06.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/case-study/04_MSky_Slide_07.webp", "https://rafaelcespedes.com/projects/manhattan-skyline/case-study/05_MSky_Slide_05.webp" ], "markdown": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/work/manhattan-skyline.md" } ], "lab": [ { "slug": "mini", "title": "mini", "kind": [ "Tool", "Identity" ], "summary": "Design controls, done differently, one at a time. A series of small tools.", "url": "https://mini.design" }, { "slug": "rueca", "title": "/rueca", "kind": [ "Agent skill", "Identity" ], "summary": "A skill for coding agents that wraps a prototype in a design tool: inspector, timeline, layers, presets, export and a client view.", "url": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/rueca" }, { "slug": "trove", "title": "Trove", "kind": [ "Agent", "App", "Identity" ], "summary": "A personal archive of saved references you can search like your own memory.", "url": "https://trove.quest" }, { "slug": "if-this-finds-you", "title": "If This Finds You", "kind": [ "Font", "Tool" ], "summary": "Write a letter and watch it written out by hand, in the handwriting of real letters from 1395 to 1929.", "url": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/if-this-finds-you" } ], "writing": [ { "slug": "same-shop-different-smiths", "title": "Same shop, different smiths", "summary": "Why designing with AI fascinates me, told through a blacksmith's shop.", "url": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/same-shop-different-smiths" }, { "slug": "why-im-building-trove", "title": "Why I'm building Trove", "summary": "Everything you chose to keep is a record of what you thought was good. Right now it's unreadable.", "url": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/why-im-building-trove" }, { "slug": "from-artifacts-to-instruments", "title": "From artifacts to instruments", "summary": "What's worth designing now is often not the artifact but the instrument that makes it.", "url": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/from-artifacts-to-instruments" } ], "experience": [ { "role": "Senior Visual Designer, Product Creative", "organization": "Robinhood", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Aug 2026 – Present", "description": "Working at the intersection of visual and product design, helping maintain, evolve, and elevate Robinhood's design language through better systems, AI-powered workflows, and custom tooling." }, { "role": "Principal", "organization": "Rafael Cespedes, I.D.P.", "place": "NYC, Remote", "dates": "Feb 2022 – Present", "description": "Operate an independent design practice focused on helping new businesses get off the ground. Partner with founders during foundational stages to handle everything from early strategy and ideation to branding, product design, and pitch materials." }, { "role": "Lead Product Designer, Creative Intelligence", "organization": "Vidmob", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Dec 2019 – Feb 2022", "description": "Led my own workstream developing Vidmob's core B2B creative analytics tool. The work contributed to official partnerships with major platforms including Facebook and TikTok, and long-term contracts with enterprise clients like J&J and Meta. Collaborated with product managers, engineers, and leadership to define complex user needs and prioritize features within a fast-moving environment." }, { "role": "Senior Designer", "organization": "Vidmob", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Dec 2018 – Nov 2019", "description": "Led design for Vidmob's digital marketing channels, collaborating with the Creative Director and CMO to define website strategy and overhaul the user experience. Contributed through a period of significant growth, with the company scaling from 38 to over 400 employees." }, { "role": "Senior Designer", "organization": "IBM", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Jul 2017 – Nov 2018", "description": "Led UI design and contributed to UX strategy, collaborating with cross-functional teams to build digital products from the ground up. Pitched, won, and oversaw design development for the Live Nation mobile app, while creating websites, apps, and scalable design systems for clients including BMW, Chanel, UPS, JetBlue, UBS, and Mediaocean." }, { "role": "UI/UX Designer", "organization": "Resource/Ammirati", "place": "NYC", "dates": "May 2015 – Jul 2017", "description": "Led UI design and branding across a spectrum of projects. Key work includes the e-commerce design for Markor's new brand (Zest), brand identity and web design for Manhattan Skyline, and digital marketing content for Jerry Seinfeld (CCC). Also designed web experiences and visuals for Nintendo's Wii U & 3DS launches, alongside building responsive websites, design systems, and social assets for clients including Labatt, Pirate's Booty, Sweet'n Low, and Brooklyn Bowl." }, { "role": "Design Intern", "organization": "Brooklyn Navy Yard", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Jun 2013 – Feb 2014", "description": null }, { "role": "Design Intern", "organization": "NYC College of Technology", "place": "NYC", "dates": "Jan 2012 – Dec 2012", "description": null } ], "expertise": { "Verticals": [ "Enterprise AI", "DeFi", "Fintech", "Adtech", "Social Media", "Real Estate" ], "Horizontals": [ "Blockchain & Web3", "Agentic & Chatbot AI", "Dashboards", "Data Visualization", "Gamification", "High-Density IA", "Design Systems", "Design Strategy", "Product Strategy" ] }, "tools": [ { "discipline": "Product Design", "tools": "Figma, Claude Design, and other AI copilots" }, { "discipline": "Graphic Design", "tools": "Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, AI image tooling" }, { "discipline": "Motion Design", "tools": "Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, LottieLab" }, { "discipline": "Code", "tools": "HTML & CSS, P5.js (2D), Three.js (3D); AI-assisted coding" } ], "recognition": [ "Awwwards Site of the Day (2024)", "Awwwards Site of the Day (2022)", "Awwwards Site of the Month (2022)", "FWA Site of the Month (2022)" ], "education": [ { "school": "City Tech", "field": "Arts & Advertising Design", "years": "2011 – 2013" } ], "clients": [ "Nintendo", "IBM", "Chanel", "UPS", "UBS", "BMW", "Live Nation", "JetBlue", "Mediaocean", "Snapchat", "VidMob", "Markor", "Manhattan Skyline", "Brodsky", "Jerry Seinfeld", "Brooklyn Bowl", "Labatt", "Montauk Brewing Company", "Brooklyn Navy Yard", "New York City College of Technology" ], "guestbook": { "name": "Guest book", "about": "Agents can sign on their way out: what they came for, what they used, and a note. Optional.", "form": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/agents#guestbook", "endpoint": "https://rafaelcespedes.com/api/guestbook", "method": "POST", "accepts": [ "application/json", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded" ], "fields": { "agent": "required · the name you go by", "purpose": "required · one of: answering, hiring, comparing, reference, training, other", "used": "optional · any of: overview, case-studies, images, writing, profile, nothing", "note": "optional · up to 600 characters", "on_behalf_of": "optional · who you're working for; never shown publicly", "visibility": "optional · public (default, shown once Rafael has read it) or private (only Rafael sees it)" }, "reply": "includes a receipt link for the entry" }, "updated": "2026-11-08" }