UX | UI | AR | Joe Brazao | Product Design

Our actions define us, but our quirks and stories make us memorable.
So, here’s a little about me outside the office.

I’m into pop culture and can talk about Marvel and Star Wars for hours. Cheesy American crime shows fascinate me because I’m endlessly curious about human behavior.

Growing up, my nickname was “Black Cat” or “Gato Preto” thanks to an epic streak of bad luck: a random flying bottle broke on my ear, I had to stitch half back on, a lost rubber bullet from riot police hit my rib, I was just passing by, I burnt off my fingerprints, broke my nose, crashed my car on the first day driving it - let’s just say it wasn’t my finest summer.

Thankfully, things turned around when I became a scuba diving guide in the south of Portugal. Those years remain some of the best of my life.

I studied visual communication with a focus on cinema and majored in video editing before moving to London in 2009. I eventually dove into design while working at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Now, I’m the best dad in the world (or so my son says). I love surfing, hiking, and climbing rocks. Basically, anything outdoors.

That’s a bit about me. Your turn.

Get in touch

I am dedicated to creating tools and experiences that empower users and solve complex challenges. My work combines creativity, collaboration, and technology to craft solutions that are impactful, inclusive, and user-centered.

At Disguise, I design software for projection mapping and video sequencing, enabling productions like the Oscars, Adele’s tours, and the Las Vegas Sphere.

My focus is on empowering creatives to manage complex visuals while streamlining workflows for live shows and virtual production.

Previously, as Lead Designer at Zappar, I led the Zapworks team in delivering innovative AR content creation tools and accessibility solutions, including the award-winning Zapvision app and CMS.

Beyond design, I thrive on mentoring teams, fostering growth, and driving product strategies that align user needs with business goals.

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My skillset

Strategic Leadership

I motivate teams with a compelling vision and cultivate human-centered design cultures aligned with business objectives.

Design Systems

I establish and maintain design systems to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency across products and platforms.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

I work collaboratively with diverse teams to balance user needs and business objectives.

Team Development

I build highly skilled teams by carefully identifying their needs, promoting their professional growth, and providing them with the necessary mentorship.

End-to-End Execution

I use research-driven strategies, agile ideation, seamless UI design, prototyping, user testing, and continuous iteration throughout the design process.

Continuous Learning

I continuously improve my skills by learning new methodologies, tools, and design trends to remain agile and push boundaries.

TESTIMONIALS

"It’s been a pleasure working with Joe for over a year at Disguise.
His contributions have made a meaningful impact on our approach to user experience and design thinking within the organisation.
Joe has a deep love for 3D and AR web app design, which, combined with his ability to embrace emerging technologies like AI, has brought fresh ideas and thoughtful solutions to the table.

Joe’s collaborative style is one of his greatest strengths. He fosters strong partnerships between developers, UI designers, and stakeholders, creating a process that is both efficient and highly creative.

This approach helped us forging new relationships with our engineers and product teams in particularly our Cloud solution team. The process wasn’t always linear, but his clear communication and practical problem-solving approach have helped improve the coherence of our designs while ensuring we respond effectively to user feedback and business needs.

At a time when spatial and AR design is evolving rapidly, Joe brings a steady, grounded perspective and a proven ability to deliver real-world results. His insights and collaborative approach have been really valuable, and I’m confident he’d be an asset to any team looking to push product experience design."

Igor Pancaldi
VP of design at Disguise