Andrija Prelec

About

I'm known for my expertise in product strategy & design, particularly for complex web and mobile application projects. I have a rich background in visual and UX/UI design, demonstrated through my roles ranging from a UX/UI designer to team lead in multiple world-famous agencies, and my current role as a CEO of a small 5-person design team since 2020. Besides that, I am mentoring the next generation of designers (online though my 130k+ Supercharge Design community on social media, and in-person through Algebra UX 240-hour bootcamps).

Experience

• CEO and Product Design Lead · Sharc08-01-2020

  I am building a small, dedicated, exemplary team of product designers. We are passionate about hands-on projects and ongoing client relationships where we can make a measurable impact on our clients' goals and their customers' lives. We focus on product strategy, user and market research, creating resonating experiences and delightful user interfaces. I am currently holding both the role of a CEO and a product design lead. My tasks consist of hiring, mentoring, planning team activities, building client relationships, finding new clients, managing the team and their expectations, sales and marketing, and controlling the finances. So everything from day-to-day managerial tasks to hands-on product design and strategy. This includes, but is not limited to, initial client meetings, gathering requirements, estimating work, pricing projects, pitching, doing or planning the user or market research, facilitating workshops and design sprints, wireframing, prototyping, concept testing, usability testing, innovating, setting the visual direction, communicating with the stakeholders, articulating design decisions, designing interactions and micro-animations, analysing analytics and user feedback, planning the next phases of design, delivering complete product designs with all states covered, doing design QA, reviewing other designers' work, giving feedback, and setting the career goals for my team.

• Lecturer and Team Mentor (of 40+ lecturers) · Algebra University and Bootcamps11-01-2019

  I am teaching User Experience classes as a part of Algebra's "lifelong education" programs. These 240+ hour programs offer a way for anyone, from recent graduates to seniors, to expand their skills or even transition to completely new career paths. Besides lecturing, I also lead a team of 40+ UX lecturers (I help hire, test UX skills, onboard, and mentor new lecturers) to ensure consistency across all our student groups. I am the author of the EU-verified program (including all six modules, and tests).

• Co-founder and Lead Educator · Supercharge Design01-01-2021

  I co-founded and cultivated an online platform dedicated to UX/UI and product design education. I've passionately mentored aspiring and seasoned designers, developed comprehensive video courses, and spearheaded 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with students. Our community thrives – we amassed a 130k+ following on Instagram, a testament to our commitment to fostering design education excellence.

• UX/UI Designer · Endava (ex. Five NYC)08-01-2016 – 09-01-2018

  Five is a leading product design and development agency in the world, with offices in New York and Croatia. I worked on numerous digital products as a UX/UI designer at Five. – a luxury "smart home" app helping people manage and automate their homes and services within those homes; I was involved in user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability tests, and UI design. – a redesign of a 25-year-old behavioral health desktop software into a fully-fledged responsive web app; I was involved in product workshops and sprints, user research, wireframing, visual direction, prototyping, usability tests, and UI design. I also served as a lead on the project in the later stages. – a mobile app that projects images to the walls and helps parents read stories to their children in a more engaging way; I was involved in the UX phase and focused on research, wireframing, and prototyping. – a news-reading section of a website that helps people make smarter buying decisions; I was involved in the workshops and focused on research, wireframing, and prototyping. – an app connecting professional guides with outdoor enthusiasts; I was involved in user and market research, wireframing, prototyping, usability tests, UI design, and design of social media and promotional print assets. I've been a part of initial workshops and design sprints with clients both in Croatia and in the US. My work consisted of everything from research, wireframing, usability testing sessions to the creation of style guides, and visually pleasing interfaces. I also wrote blog posts about design and gave talks about the design processes and Five as a leading product-oriented, results-driven agency. I've communicated with clients on a regular basis, presenting the design processes and results while also clarifying the design decisions. I have also served as a mentor to junior designers and design interns.

• Product Designer · Shoutem08-01-2016 – 01-01-2018

  I have worked on the Shoutem platform as a junior product designer (focusing on both UX and UI). My work consisted of numerous design and research activities: user research, market research, wireframing, concept testing, usability testing sessions, responsive web design, web application design, illustrating, iconography, custom mobile app design (for both native Android and iOS apps), promotional graphic materials, and everything in between. I've also worked on hybrid mobile app projects for companies using Shoutem platform: – an "uber" for healthcare seekers in Las Vegas – an app that connects social media influencers and brands looking for advertising opportunities – an app that helps people post and find jobs in their industry

• Senior Design Partner (Head of Design) · Speck11-01-2018 – 07-01-2020

  My work for Speck consisted of high-level product design tasks (design estimates, planning, research, design strategy, visual direction, workshop facilitation) to design education and consulting tasks.

• Sole Proprietor · Pixl11-01-2018 – 07-01-2020

  PIXL was a registered sole proprietorship focused on designing digital products. It served as a starting point in my entrepreneurship journey. My main goal was (and still is) to help create digital products that don’t just look great but also perform brilliantly. I was producing unique and well-thought-out experiences for my clients, while also keeping things as simple as possible. Taking on a limited number of projects at a time ensured I could give each one enough of focus, heart, and soul to deliver evident results.

• Web/graphic designer · Freelance06-01-2013 – 08-01-2016

  I worked with a number of diverse companies and individuals: a stand-up comedy studio, a culture/education festival, multiple non-profit organizations, a university, a food company, and a housing solution company. I've created numerous web design solutions, print materials, and helped build brand-awareness for multiple clients. I've communicated with clients and clarified the design expectations and requirements. I've also hosted multiple workshops, helping other people learn more about visual and experience design processes and tools.

Education

• University of Zagreb, Faculty of Graphic ArtsMaster's Degree, Multimedia Design
• University of Zagreb, Faculty of Graphic ArtsBachelor's Degree, Graphic Technologies and Printing
• AJ&SmartCertified Workshop & Design Sprint Facilitator, Workshops, Design Sprint

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