Omar Guilarte • Senior UX/UI, Visual Designer, and Creative Director
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/omarguilarte
Education: B.A. in Graphic Design - School of Design Zona Gráfica (Caracas, Venezuela)
Summary
As a passionate and results-driven Senior UX/UI, Visual Designer, and Creative Director with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in crafting innovative, human-centered design solutions across print and digital media. I excel at transforming complex ideas into engaging visual experiences that enhance user interaction and strengthen brand identity, all while maintaining a keen eye for detail. My expertise includes UX/UI design, packaging design, color theory, accessibility, typography, and video editing, complemented by a strong background in publishing design, advertising, pre-press, and digital printing.
Collaboration, creativity, and innovation are at the core of my work. I enjoy collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, leading projects, and bringing fresh ideas to life. With a sharp focus on detail and a deep understanding of user needs, I leverage emerging technologies to create intuitive and visually compelling designs. I also possess basic proficiency in HTML and CSS, which assists me in bridging the gap between design and development.
I’m recognized as a team player and leader who fosters positive work environments while delivering high-quality, impactful designs that drive engagement and business success.
Core Competencies and Skills
• Art Direction: Brand strategy, typography, layout design.
• UX/UI Design: Wireframes, prototypes, design systems, and user research.
• Design Tools: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, After Effects), Sketch, Figma.
• Development and Management: HTML, CSS, WordPress, Airtable, Trello.
• Accessibility Expertise: Accessibility fundamentals, WCAG compliance, inclusive design principles.
• Project Management: Team leadership, stakeholder collaboration, agile workflows, design thinking.
• Technical Proficiency: Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, Adobe Experience Manager, HTML/CSS, WordPress, Jira, Trello, Slack.
Key projects
• IBM One Newsletter: As of December 2024, the Think Newsletter has 61.6k subscribers, of which 83% are non-IBMers. It is growing by an average of 800 new subscribers weekly and will have 194% more subscribers in 2024.
• Security Intelligence blog: Enhanced navigation, boosted performance, and smarter content organization, while new components deliver
a seamless UX.
a seamless UX.
• Canal Bank (Panamá): The website was redesigned to improve customer experience, resulting in a 25% increase in online transactions.
• Ancora Punta Cana: Delivered a complete branding and web development solution, enhancing brand visibility.
• Honda Venezuela: Honda’s campaign in Venezuela showcases reliability, innovation, and performance through dynamic visuals and local storytelling across digital, and printed media.
Work Experience
IBM - Lead UX/Visual Designer for IBM One Newsletter, Blogs, and Industries (IBM.com team) • Durham, NC - From 01/2022 to 12/2024
Role description:
• Direct the UX and visual design strategy, delivering visually engaging and user-friendly email communications to a global audience.
• Design and optimize IBM’s web interfaces, ensuring responsive, accessible, and user-centric experiences.
• Design scalable templates, modular layouts, and interactive components to enhance the newsletter's readability and engagement.
• Collaborate with content strategists, developers, and marketing teams to ensure consistency and alignment with IBM's brand standards.
• Utilize analytics and user feedback to refine web designs, continuously improving usability and engagement metrics.
• Support A/B testing and performance analysis to optimize newsletter designs for higher open rates, click-through rates, and user satisfaction.
• Present design concepts and performance insights to stakeholders, driving decisions that improved newsletter effectiveness.
• Creation of a Figma library for email components.
• Design and develop visually compelling printed and digital assets for the IBM Security Lever team, supporting internal and external campaigns.
• Create graphics, animations, and interactive elements for social media platforms.
• Support the Industries team in migrating websites from Drupal to AEM, and collaborating with external agencies in brand audits for an interactive experience.
• Design and refine blog layouts, graphics, and interactive elements to enhance user experience, accessibility, and engagement, simplifying complex topics and making blog content more compelling.
Achievements: As of December 2024, the Think Newsletter had 61.6k subscribers, of which 83% are non-IBMers, and it’s growing by an average of 800 new subscribers weekly. Of any of the active newsletters that exist in the subscription program today, the Think Newsletter is far and away the most subscribed, with 194% more subscribers in 2024 than the next largest newsletter, Future Forward.
December 2024 saw especially significant improvement across metrics as the team tightened editorial and design strategy to better serve the audience's needs, tailoring both look and content to that of a true media publication vs. your standard corporate marketing email. The open rate was consistently above 20%, hitting a peak with the final issue of the year, Dec. 31, reaching 29%, and similarly, the cumulative volume of clicks had increased throughout the month as well.
Skills: Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Adobe Creative Suite, Figma (Software), After Effects, User Experience (UX), Wireframing, Branding, Adobe Marketo, Sketch, Prototyping, Print Media, Digital Media, Social Media, Animated tiles, Email Marketing, Email Newsletter Design, User Interface (UI), Agile Methodologies.
IBM - Visual Designer - MSC/Blue Studio • Durham, NC - From 06/2018 to 02/2022
Role description:
• Design and implement visually compelling solutions for digital products, marketing campaigns, branding, and web projects, adhering to IBM's global design standards.
• Create animations and motion graphics for websites, applications, and marketing content, enhancing user engagement and storytelling.
• Collaborate with UX designers, developers, and product managers to craft user-friendly designs for web and mobile platforms.
• Produce wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, and interactive animations using tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, and After Effects.
• Manage multiple web and animation projects simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining high quality and creativity.
• Contribute to brainstorming sessions, conceptual development, and storytelling efforts to bring creative ideas to life.
This role demanded versatility, technical expertise, and a commitment to delivering engaging and innovative designs for IBM’s diverse digital ecosystem.
Skills: Sketch App, User Interface Design, Design System, Figma (Software), Video Editing, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), Advertising, Prototyping, Agile Methodologies, Storytelling, Flawless Execution, Adobe Creative Suite, Jira, Wide Format Printing, Digital Asset Management, Figma, User-centered Design, Corporate Branding, Design, Social Media Marketing, Wireframing, Print Design, Multimedia, Branding, Layout, InVision, Editing, Mural, Graphic Design, Branding and Identity, Trello, Email Marketing, AEM, Marketo.
Holidays Network Group - Creative Services Manager • Orlando, FL - From 03/2017 to 06/2018
Role description: Brand development for the company, also designing and printing assets for events, including creating digital assets for interactive activations. I was also responsible for advertising, web design, and social media.
Skills: Sketch App, User Interface Design, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Advertising, Storytelling, Pre-press, Flawless Execution, Adobe Creative Suite, Campaigns, Wide Format Printing, User-centered Design, Corporate Branding, Design, Social Media Marketing, Print Design, Multimedia, Branding, Layout, Graphic Design, Branding and Identity.
Miramar Lab - Senior Art Director • Miami, FL - From 01/2015 to 02/2017
Role description: I lead the creative vision for branding, packaging, and marketing materials, ensuring they align with the company’s identity and resonate with our target audiences. I oversee the design process from concept to execution, working closely with product developers. My role involves setting visual standards, managing campaigns, and staying up-to-date on industry trends to create compelling visuals that highlight innovative, high-quality cosmetic products.
Skills: User Interface Design, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Advertising, Storytelling, Pre-press, Flawless Execution, Adobe Creative Suite, Wide Format Printing, Corporate Branding, Design, Social Media Marketing, Print Design, Multimedia, Packaging Design, Branding, Layout, Graphic Design, Branding and Identity.
Alta Cucine Panamá - Graphic Designer and Community Manager • Panamá city, Panamá - From 06/2010 to 10/2014
Role description: I oversee the creative direction of our branding, marketing campaigns, and visual identity, ensuring our designs reflect the company’s quality and innovation. I also manage our online presence, engaging with our community to build strong relationships and foster brand loyalty. From creating compelling visuals to planning social media strategies and responding to customer feedback, I bridge the gap between our brand and its audience, helping to showcase our products and connect with our customers effectively.
Skills: User Interface Design, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Advertising, Storytelling, Pre-press, Flawless Execution, Adobe Creative Suite, Campaigns, Wide Format Printing, Corporate Branding, Design, Social Media Marketing, Print Design, Multimedia, Branding, Layout, Graphic Design, Branding and Identity.
SPL Advertising - Art Director • Caracas, Venezuela - From 02/2007 to 04/2010
Role description: I was responsible for the concepts, brainstorming, layouts, and guidelines for the assets elaborated in the agency for brands such as Honda, Mopar, Clarion, Lifan Automotive, Aeropostal Airline, Grafitti stores, and Compumall, among others.
Skills: User Interface Design, User Experience (UX), Visual Design, Advertising, Storytelling, Pre-press, Flawless Execution, Adobe Creative Suite, Campaigns, Wide Format Printing, Corporate Branding, Design, Social Media Marketing, Print Design, Multimedia, Branding, Layout, Graphic Design, Branding and Identity.
Licenses and Certifications
Google Analytics 4 for Beginners - New Google Analytics GA4 - Udemy
UX & Web Design Master Course: Strategy, Design, Development - Udemy
Author and Manage Pages Using AEM Sites - Adobe Digital Learning
IBM Accessibility Foundations - IBM Learning
IBM Advancing Accessibility - IBM Learning
Mobile UX and UI Design - IBM Learning
Design Learning Series - Measuring What Matters: User Research in the CIO - IBM Learning
Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner - IBM Learning
Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner - IBM Learning
Be A "BoxStar!" Learn top tips & tricks of Box - IBM Learning
Become a Super Slacker: Learn top tips of Slack - IBM Learning
2024 IBM Core Training - IBM Learning
2020 - Annual Cybersecurity Education - IBM Learning
2019 Data Privacy Training - IBM Learning
Cybersecurity and Privacy Education 2018-19 - IBM Learning
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Awareness Course 2019 - IBM Learning