UX/UI | DIGITAL DESIGN | DESIGN THINKING
LAURA
ZAAR
CREATIVE IN SEARCH OF LESS OBVIOUS PATHS
Guided by the coexistence of art and functional design, exploring the interdependence between interfaces, user centered philosophy, and the democratization of technology
ABOUT YOUR FUTURE DESIGNER
Laura Zaar Andersen Cavalcanti. Female. 30 years old. Brazilian designer with a background in UX/UI, digital design, and web design, grounded in academic environment and strengthened through practical, real-world projects. Highlights of this stage include a Design bachelor's degree (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos) with a distinction-awarded thesis on service design, complemented by advanced courses such as an UX/UI Bootcamp (Ironhack) and later a Digital Design master's degree (Amsterdam School of Applied Sciences).
Professional experience spans information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and digital content across projects of different scales. Overall work involves improving visual consistency, user flows, and general website usability, always with an eye for clarity, structure, and meaningful interaction.
An international educational path and multidisciplinary practice support contributions to digital experiences that value innovation, precision, and thoughtful design.
UX/UI
Web Design Prototypes • 2021 - 2022
Clava Experiência Digital is a small agency in Porto Alegre (Brazil). Work included structuring UX/UI and webdesign guidelines and processes to ensure consistency and efficiency, developing information architecture for planning flows and organizing content for landing pages and websites, and creating high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes in Figma aligned with the industry and approved by the client. The prototypes would later be materialized on Elementor by another colleague.
Toque Integral
handmade healthy-food
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
Dr. Annemarie Warstat
holistic-care & wellness
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
Vita
crossfit and training center
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
Clínica Dullius
women’s health clinic
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
SuperForce
crossfit and training center
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
Ponto do Pedal
bike-repair service
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
ATSG
educational institution
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
Mundo Afiado
knife-sharpening specialist
Canva · Adobe Illustrator · Figma
STUDIES
Achievements include a Bachelor in Design with a distinction-approved thesis on connecting women in the rock ’n’ roll scene through service design; UX/UI Bootcamp projects such as the wellness app Stress Funnel and the music-inspiration tool Mousai; and Master of Digital Design projects including the speculative wearable SoleFit, the data-driven platform Out of Stock, communication prototypes for Amsterdam’s ethical scan car, and an interactive Micro:Bit-based sculpture exploring logic and creativity.
Final Thesis – Bachelor in Design (2020)
Theme: Service design for connecting women in the rock ’n’ roll scene
Synthesis: Investigated gender inequality in rock music and the lack of safe, accessible tools for female musicians and enthusiasts. Developed AmplificaMina, a digital product-service system designed as a smartphone app to support networking, visibility, and collaboration among women in local music scenes.
Main tools: Illustrator, Figma, Google Forms
Thesis · Presentation · Design Tools Compilation · Prototype
Stress Funnel – Ironhack Project 5 (2020)
Theme: Wellness app
Synthesis: Examined how users perceive “impossible” problems and designed an app that guides them through a funneling process to reframe stressful situations. The prototype identifies the core issue through structured questions and offers practical, lifestyle-oriented suggestions to support healthier decision-making.
Main tools: Illustrator, Figma
Mousai – Ironhack Project 6 (2020)
Theme: Music project inspiration
Synthesis: During the pandemic, observed creative challenges faced by independent musicians and designed an app to help them plan, track, and organize multiple music projects. Added research-based guidance on creativity and creative blocks, offering emotional and practical support for sustaining artistic flow.
Main tools: Illustrator, Figma
Group Project SoleFit – Master Digital Design Project S (2022)
Theme: Speculative wearables for wellbeing
Synthesis: Explored how wearables could motivate prostate cancer survivors to stay physically active and keep physicians informed. Created SoleFit, a concept based on attachable shoe soles that collect lightweight activity data and communicate it through patient- and doctor-facing interfaces, promoting ongoing engagement and care.
Main tools: Blender, Figma, Illustrator, Runway
Group Project Out of Stock – Master Digital Design Project M (2023)
Theme: Rethinking societal growth
Synthesis: Investigated alternative wellbeing indicators and focused on the housing challenges faced by international students in the Netherlands. Developed a Rubik’s cube–inspired concept that visualizes complex data in an accessible way, stimulating reflection and debate around societal progress beyond traditional economic metrics.
Main tools: Google Forms, Figma, Spline 3D
Process Book · Survey · Survey Results · Prototype Video · Presentation
Group Project Conversational Tool – Master Digital Design Project L (2023)
Theme: Ethical scan car
Synthesis: Analyzed public perceptions of Amsterdam’s scan car and identified a communication gap around its purpose and functioning. Designed prototypes and guidelines to make scan car operations clearer through visual cues and testing sessions. Developed a personal afterlife project using AI-generated imagery in a Guerrilla Girls–inspired campaign to raise awareness.
Main tools: Laser cutting, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma
Process Book · Final Report · Individual Afterlife Presentation
Self-Directed Learning – Master Digital Design (2023)
Theme: Logic × creativity through coding
Synthesis: Revisited fundamental coding concepts using Micro:Bit and MakeCode and translated them into a hands-on artistic project. Created an interactive sculpture combining dipoxy resin, simple circuits, and programmed responses to illustrate the interplay between logical reasoning and creative expression.
Main tools: Resin, Micro:Bit, MakeCode, crafting materials
VISUAL
The visual design practice is rooted in a long-standing relationship with art, music, and cultural influences. Each project begins with the identification of a core message and its transformation into clear, expressive visuals. The body of work spans visual identities, posters, and thematic campaigns, marked by strong conceptual foundations, bold aesthetics, and references drawn from vintage illustration, subcultural styles, and digital experimentation, including AI-generated imagery.
Painting
20th century movie and music posters
2011 - present
canvas, pencil, acrylic paint
A childhood shaped by Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin nurtured a lasting pull toward visual expression. Painting became the outlet in adolescence, refined through trial until pieces were sellable to friends and acquaintances.
Project L | Amsterdam Scan Car
guerrilla marketing campaign
2023
Adobe Illustrator, MidJourney
For Project L, an alternative proposal took form: a striking public campaign using AI-generated scenes of Amsterdam and badly parked cars to highlight the issue, opting for bold visibility instead of further digitalization.
Mínima Concepção e Produção Audiovisual
podcast branding
2019
Adobe Illustrator
In the first internship, podcast identities were created by listening to episodes, brainstorming themes and developing multiple visual routes, then refining the chosen direction for each broadcast channel.
Walz Bier
branding and graphic design for packaging
2020
Adobe Illustrator, public domain image database
This project combined a bold palette and a viking theme with vintage public-domain illustrations, blending old textures with modern typography to evoke a handcrafted, rustic beer under tight timing.
Rodrigo Nassif Trio
EP design for single release
2025
Adobe Illustrator, ChatGPT
The cover blends tarot-inspired symbolism with warm, textured illustration to echo the trio’s acoustic atmosphere. Using vintage motifs, muted tones and subtle patterning, the design frames the music with a handcrafted, intimate visual identity.
El Negro
graphic design for concert
2018
Adobe Illustrator
For El Negro’s album release, visuals drew on tarot, occult motifs and fortune-telling aesthetics, experimenting with distinctive type while keeping the dark, heavy tone clear and uncluttered.
I Can Play Bleeding
graphic design for events
2020
Adobe Illustrator
Women-led DJ nights embraced Riot Grrrl energy, mixing vintage imagery and zine-like collage elements, with each edition reinventing its theme through playful, DIY visuals.
Interested?
For project inquiries, collaborations, or new opportunities, reach out to start a conversation and explore how design can support your ideas. Please, fill in the form.