Top Talent like Sam are on Pangea
Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specilaized talent, while giving talent more flexibilty and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.
Sam Gurango
UI/UX Design
UX
UX research
Design Thinking
Design Systems
Figma
User Research
User Personas
Card Sorting
Affinity Diagrams
User Flows
Wireframing
Prototyping
User Interface Design
UX Copywriting
Usability Testing
Heuristic Evaluation
Web Accessibility
User-Centered Design
Design
Teach for America Educator turned Product Designer with an eye for aesthetics and a passion for user-centered design.
UX/Product Designer with 2 years of experience in user experience design, interface design, and UX research with previous experience as a teacher. I’m driven by curiosity and empathy with a keen mind for innovation, dedicated to creating human-centric solutions and delivering intuitive, beautiful designs that elevate user experiences. I’m resourceful, strategic, and adaptive.
Projects
Work History
L
UX Researcher and Designer
LePal.aiOct 2024 - Dec 2024 • 3 mos▪ Created 6-page research plan, defined and measured success metrics, and organized and grew user pool to find insights into attracting and retaining target users. ▪ Conducted 20+ user interviews, usability tests, and surveys and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to validate designs and inform product improvements, including 2 feature iterations. ▪ Documented product and design decision-making through creating user journey maps and refined and expanded user personas based on user data and feedback. ▪ Brainstormed and collaborated on low and high-fidelity wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes for feature iteration and implementation. ▪ Researched mental health app market and competition to inform product strategy.I
UX/UI Designer
ImpulseOct 2024 - Dec 2024 • 3 mos▪ Implemented standardized 7-page usability test script and note-taking template, streamlining processes, ensuring consistent feedback, saving 10–20 hours for every 10 usability tests monthly. ▪ Conducted user research and usability tests to gather user feedback and analyze user behavior and preferences, identifying 7 usability issues and informing prioritization of 1 new app feature. ▪ Collaborated with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to brainstorm, make, defend, and implement 25+ design decisions, advocating for the user in alignment with research insights and business goals. ▪ Created 15+ social media materials and website design assets with limited instructions using Canva and Figma that align with product strategy and goals.E
Market Research Analyst
ExternInternSep 2024 - Oct 2024 • 2 mos▪ Analyzed markets to identify trends and opportunities in climate industries, informing product strategy by identifying an underserved segment in the market. ▪ Sourced and evaluated 2 startups’ investment potential and alignment with firm's investment thesis, connecting business goals with innovative solutions. ▪ Produced and delivered a concise 5-minute insights and recommendations Google slides presentation to the asset management team.S
Founding UX/UI and Product Designer
SOLEOADOJun 2023 - Apr 2024 • 11 mosSOLEOADO combines art and affirmations to inspire personal growth, empowerment, and resilience. ▪ Redesigned the company’s eCommerce website using Figma, leading a platform migration that improved user navigation, updated content, and enhanced functionality, resulting in a 15% increase in conversions and a 21% reduction in bounce rate. ▪ Developed a branding style guide in collaboration with the creative director using Adobe Illustrator and created marketing emails and social media posts which generated between 50-100k impressions and delivered a 30% conversion rate. ▪ Led UX research initiatives by conducting user interviews and surveys with over 30 participants, analyzing behavioral data with Google Analytics, and identifying key pain points, resulting in a 27% increase in user satisfaction scores. ▪ Generated UX research reports and presented insights using Miro to stakeholders which influenced the product strategy and roadmap and contributed to a 19% increase in customer retention rates. ▪ Translated user feedback into actionable design improvements using Sketch, optimizing user flows, which led to a 23% faster checkout process and a subsequent 10% increase in average order value.T
High School Biology Teacher
Teach for AmericaFull-time EmployeeMay 2022 - Aug 2022 • 4 mos•Translated lesson plans into engaging and interactive learning materials to align with user-centric goals, applying instructional knowledge and methods to meet students' learning objectives. •Applied user-centered design for an intuitive learning environment that supports struggling students and focuses on specific areas of improvement, enhancing the personalized learning experience. •Ensured adherence to UX accessibility guidelines tailored for students with physical and cognitive disabilities, encompassing consistent system order, sensory considerations, and providing diverse task completion methods to enhance the classroom experience.Education
S
Springboard
Certification, UI/UX DesignFeb 2023 - Apr 2024H
Hubspot
Certification, Social Media MarketingJan 2024 - Jan 2024U
University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Science, Minor, Environmental Science, Business2018 - 2022How Pangea Works
Effortlessly discover top talent
We’ve distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea’s AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company’s niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.Start working with talent today
The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea’s fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team’s capabliities flexible.Track work and invoices in one place
Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We’ve combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that’s unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!Talk with a Talent Expert
Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.
Available NowBook a Call
Teach for America Educator turned Product Designer with an eye for aesthetics and a passion for user-centered design.
UX/Product Designer with 2 years of experience in user experience design, interface design, and UX research with previous experience as a teacher. I’m driven by curiosity and empathy with a keen mind for innovation, dedicated to creating human-centric solutions and delivering intuitive, beautiful designs that elevate user experiences. I’m resourceful, strategic, and adaptive.
Talk with a Talent Expert
Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.Available NowBook a Call
Top Talent like Sam are on Pangea
Pangea, a YC company, connects companies with fractional talent. Fractional hiring allows companies to move faster and work with more specilaized talent, while giving talent more flexibilty and independence. If you are talent open to fractional work, apply here. If you’re a company looking for high-quality fractional talent, learn more here.Sam Gurango
UI/UX Design
UX
UX research
Design Thinking
Design Systems
Figma
User Research
User Personas
Card Sorting
Affinity Diagrams
User Flows
Wireframing
Prototyping
User Interface Design
UX Copywriting
Usability Testing
Heuristic Evaluation
Web Accessibility
User-Centered Design
Design
Projects
Work History
L
UX Researcher and Designer
LePal.aiOct 2024 - Dec 2024 • 3 mos▪ Created 6-page research plan, defined and measured success metrics, and organized and grew user pool to find insights into attracting and retaining target users. ▪ Conducted 20+ user interviews, usability tests, and surveys and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to validate designs and inform product improvements, including 2 feature iterations. ▪ Documented product and design decision-making through creating user journey maps and refined and expanded user personas based on user data and feedback. ▪ Brainstormed and collaborated on low and high-fidelity wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes for feature iteration and implementation. ▪ Researched mental health app market and competition to inform product strategy.I
UX/UI Designer
ImpulseOct 2024 - Dec 2024 • 3 mos▪ Implemented standardized 7-page usability test script and note-taking template, streamlining processes, ensuring consistent feedback, saving 10–20 hours for every 10 usability tests monthly. ▪ Conducted user research and usability tests to gather user feedback and analyze user behavior and preferences, identifying 7 usability issues and informing prioritization of 1 new app feature. ▪ Collaborated with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to brainstorm, make, defend, and implement 25+ design decisions, advocating for the user in alignment with research insights and business goals. ▪ Created 15+ social media materials and website design assets with limited instructions using Canva and Figma that align with product strategy and goals.E
Market Research Analyst
ExternInternSep 2024 - Oct 2024 • 2 mos▪ Analyzed markets to identify trends and opportunities in climate industries, informing product strategy by identifying an underserved segment in the market. ▪ Sourced and evaluated 2 startups’ investment potential and alignment with firm's investment thesis, connecting business goals with innovative solutions. ▪ Produced and delivered a concise 5-minute insights and recommendations Google slides presentation to the asset management team.S
Founding UX/UI and Product Designer
SOLEOADOJun 2023 - Apr 2024 • 11 mosSOLEOADO combines art and affirmations to inspire personal growth, empowerment, and resilience. ▪ Redesigned the company’s eCommerce website using Figma, leading a platform migration that improved user navigation, updated content, and enhanced functionality, resulting in a 15% increase in conversions and a 21% reduction in bounce rate. ▪ Developed a branding style guide in collaboration with the creative director using Adobe Illustrator and created marketing emails and social media posts which generated between 50-100k impressions and delivered a 30% conversion rate. ▪ Led UX research initiatives by conducting user interviews and surveys with over 30 participants, analyzing behavioral data with Google Analytics, and identifying key pain points, resulting in a 27% increase in user satisfaction scores. ▪ Generated UX research reports and presented insights using Miro to stakeholders which influenced the product strategy and roadmap and contributed to a 19% increase in customer retention rates. ▪ Translated user feedback into actionable design improvements using Sketch, optimizing user flows, which led to a 23% faster checkout process and a subsequent 10% increase in average order value.T
High School Biology Teacher
Teach for AmericaFull-time EmployeeMay 2022 - Aug 2022 • 4 mos•Translated lesson plans into engaging and interactive learning materials to align with user-centric goals, applying instructional knowledge and methods to meet students' learning objectives. •Applied user-centered design for an intuitive learning environment that supports struggling students and focuses on specific areas of improvement, enhancing the personalized learning experience. •Ensured adherence to UX accessibility guidelines tailored for students with physical and cognitive disabilities, encompassing consistent system order, sensory considerations, and providing diverse task completion methods to enhance the classroom experience.Education
S
Springboard
Certification, UI/UX DesignFeb 2023 - Apr 2024H
Hubspot
Certification, Social Media MarketingJan 2024 - Jan 2024U
University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Science, Minor, Environmental Science, Business2018 - 2022How Pangea Works
Effortlessly discover top talent
We’ve distilled the candidate search from endless hours down to just a few minutes. Using Pangea’s AI-powered search tools, you can find top fractional talent able to take on your next project. Our system looks at your company’s niche and your needs to find the perfect match faster than any traditional hiring platform.Start working with talent today
The top talent on Pangea is ready to get started with you right now. You can message or hire a candidate right from their profile page and start assigning work as soon as they respond. And the best part? Pangea’s fractional contract structure lets you start small and ramp up as your needs change, keeping your costs manageable and your team’s capabliities flexible.Track work and invoices in one place
Assign tasks, track progress, and complete invoices all on Pangea. We’ve combined every part of the hiring process into one platform to eliminate the miscommunication that’s unavoidable on other freelance platforms. We even send out 1099s to your contractors at the end of the year!Talk with a Talent Expert
Members of our team are available to help you speed through the hiring process.Available NowBook a Call
Pangea empowers fractional work across the world for marketing and design roles.