Hi, I’m Rafa.

I’ve always been drawn to making things. It started when I was 15, creating graphics and cover art for emerging artists.

That eventually opened the door to the music industry, where I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with major artists, brands, and studios on creative projects, a world I’m still fortunate to be part of today.

Over time, though, I became just as interested in what existed behind the work. How can thoughtful design shape not only the experience of users, but the outcomes for stakeholders?

That curiosity eventually expanded into finance and business, where I discovered that design isn’t limited to visual work. A financial model, for example, is a system that has to be intentionally designed. Clear enough for an analyst to navigate intuitively, yet precise enough for stakeholders to trust every assumption and decision it informs.

Anyways, enough about work. Outside of it, I love traveling. So far, I’ve been lucky enough to visit Spain and the UAE with some of my best friends, and I have a growing list of places I’d love to see next. Cusco, Rio de Janeiro, and London are all near the top.

Music has always been a huge part of my life, too. My not-so-current obsession is Lil Uzi Vert. I got to see him at Summer Smash earlier this summer, and it was easily the best live performance I’ve experienced. Lately, I’ve been listening to artists like Tiffany Day, Julie, George Clanton, always looking for something new.

Weirdly enough, I also love collecting things that are simply enjoyable to look at. Lately that’s meant way too many Pokémon cards, but my room is also filled with vintage vinyl records from artists I’d never heard of before, just buying them entirely because I loved the album artwork.