MARIA

    Built for the gap between
    brand and product

    Built for the gap between
    brand and product

    You bring the vision.
    I bring the clarity.

    Founders and scaleups move fast. Decisions get made under pressure, priorities shift weekly, and your brand or product is usually the first thing to slip. It's rarely anyone's fault. There's just never enough time.

    That's where I come in. I'm Maria, a freelance Brand and Product Designer based in Melbourne, working with founders and growth-stage businesses locally and internationally. Over the past decade I've designed brand identities, product experiences, and digital systems across fintech, SaaS, hospitality, beauty & wellness, government, education, and more.

    My story

    I started in graphic design in 2015, thrown into senior decisions within my first week at a small studio in Regional Victoria. That pressure shaped how I work, fast, considered, and unwilling to settle. A couple of years in, my curiosity for digital work pulled me toward UX, and by 2018 that curiosity had become a new direction entirely, product design. Today, I work full time as a Product Designer, and take on freelance brand and product design projects across other industries.

    My process is collaborative by nature, blending design strategy, product design, and brand design into one cohesive system so everything feels intentional and considered. I lead with empathy first, taking the time to understand the people involved before any decision is made, because clarity is the most powerful tool there is.

    Honesty and transparency aren't just values I hold, they're how I show up. My clients don't just get a designer, they get a genuine collaborator who is patient, invested, and calm under complexity, because when people feel truly heard, the work is always better for it.

    FAQ's

    Every project starts with a conversation, not a quote. We talk through your business, your goals, and what's actually needed before any scope is defined. Most one-off projects run two to six weeks depending on complexity. Retainer clients are structured around ongoing monthly support.

    Yes. While I'm based in Melbourne, I work with founders and scaleups internationally, including remote-first teams across the US, UK, and Asia-Pacific.

    Yes, selectively. Because I work full time, I only take on a small number of retainer clients at any given time – so I can give the hours I commit to properly, without overpromising. If you're after consistent, ongoing support, get in touch and I'll let you know if I currently have capacity.

    Projects are scoped individually based on what's required, not billed by the hour. Get in touch and I'll put together a clear proposal once we understand what you need.