About
Hello! I’m Vali Gurgu
I am a visual storyteller, proficient in UX/UI design, branding, research and strategy, creative planning and implementation, who seamlessly designs across a range of traditional and digital media platforms. I enjoy the challenge of achieving visual unity in a composition as much as I do finding a creative solution to a design problem.
DIVERSE BACKGROUND
I draw upon a diverse background, one with roots in print design in corporate environments, which gave me experience in consumer brand communication, directing photo-shoots, cross-team collaboration, and more. My professional journey continued as I nurtured my creative side through digital and UX/UI design— in corporate, studio and startup environments—which extended my ability to develop more effective solutions for my employers and clients.
Skills
I am a highly creative, user-centric, and strategic visual designer. I have strong communication, presentation and collaborative abilities.
UX & Documentation
I facilitate the User Interviews, Service Blueprint workshop, Stakeholder Mapping workshop, and User Testing, and prepare the follow-up documentation. I design Personas, User Flows, Journey Maps, Sitemaps, and Wireframes.
Wireframes and Prototyping
I design low-fidelity wireframes (on paper) and high-fi mockups and prototypes, using the following graphic software: Illustrator, XD, Sketch, InVision.
User Interface (UI) and Visual Design
I create flows and user interfaces that bring the digital experience to life and deliver a brilliant user experience.
Collaborating with dev team
I work together with the dev team to make sure we all collaborate in the discovery phase.
Project and time-management skills
Demonstrated project and time-management skills – able to balance and prioritize workload. I work efficiently on multiple projects at once and adapt to shifting business needs/priorities.
- Digital Design
- Print Design
- Research and strategy
- User Experience (UX) DESIGN
- Visual Identity and BRANDING
- Marketing collaterals
- User Interface (UI) Design
Experience
UX/UI DESIGNER (CONTRACT)
Asengana Inc. / Toronto
Nov. 2019 – Present
VISUAL DESIGN manager
United Way / Toronto
Oct. 2018 – Sept. 2019
UX/UI DESIGNER
Asengana Inc. / Toronto
Dec. 2017 – Sept. 2018
ART DIRECTOR
TC Media / Toronto
April 2007 – Nov. 2017
Education
UX DESIGN CERTIFICATE
George Brown College / Toronto / CA
2016-2017
Diploma in Graphic Design
Westminster College / London / UK
LAW BACHELOR DEGREE
N. Titulescu University /RO
Technical Summary
Graphics Software for MAC
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe XD
Sketch
InVision
Project Management Tools
Teamwork
Slack
Zoom
Miro
Office Support
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Office: Word, Outlook, PP
Years experience
Complete projects
Happy clients
Sweet Treats
testimonials
What Clients Are Saying About My Work
“We had the good fortune to have Vali join our team on a 10-month contract and I could not have asked for a better team player, creator of good ideas, and an all-round super person to have in this role. She brought her sharp design skills, digital-first approach, strategic lens and significant experience to bear, generating outstanding results and pushing us outside of our design comfort zone. If I could have added Vali permanently to the team, I would have and without hesitation. I can’t recommend her enough.“
“I had the pleasure of working with Vali on several multi-channel projects over the course of her contract at United Way Greater Toronto. I was impressed with her ability to deliver beautiful products that met the strategic objectives of the briefs she’d been provided (and always on-time and on-budget). She is a consummate team player, always collaborative, and a true pleasure to work with.“
“Working with Vali at United Way was an absolute pleasure. She came into the team ready to learn and add her own style and creativity. Her thoughtfulness was so evident in all of the work we did together. Everything she touched, was made better!“
Vali was critical to creating the distinctive graphic design of Playboy Magazine, and her work on pictorials and fashion shoots created the excitement and impact of the magazine in the market.”
“Vali is a very reliable and creative Visual Design Lead, who enjoys challenging projects. She earned the recognition of her colleagues for the blend of knowledge and willingness to roll up her sleeves and get the job done. …Vali will always be present when needed, with an excellent answer for any design question.“
“For more than a decade, Vali has brought flair and creativity to the design and graphic content of IE newspaper and various specialty magazines under the brand… While financial and investment topics can be challenging to illustrate, she always comes up with imaginative and stylish solutions — on target and on time.”