Laura Grando
Senior Product Designer • Brazil 🇧🇷
15+ years designing products that balance business goals and real human needs (and now AI).
I'm a Senior Product Designer with 15+ years turning complex problems into purposeful digital products. Currently at Upwork, I lead the design of Business Plus — the company's core SMB product — and work on AI-powered experiences like Uma recruiter. Previously, I led design teams and directed product design at Poatek for international clients across healthcare, finance, agriculture, and more.
Since 2009, I have worked with diverse industries such as education, health, metal-mechanics, agro, pet, insurance, and finance in consulting companies. This has given me valuable experience in both established organizations and startups. With a multidisciplinary background in IT and design, I am a highly skilled and adaptable professional.
I believe that design processes can share knowledge and empower people, even those who are not designers, to think creatively.
My goal is to tackle complex challenges and create purpose-driven products that address user needs.
+50
projects all around
the world
+20
on-site and remote workshops
+15
years of industry experience
+10
industries impacted across 2 continents
Experience
2024- Current
Upwork
As the primary designer of Business Plus — Upwork's main product for SMB clients — I have owned the end-to-end design experience since its earliest ideation, taking it from MVP through its current state as the company's most important offering in this segment. In parallel, I have been actively involved in navigating the challenges of integrating AI into both internal processes and customer-facing products, including Uma Recruiter, Upwork's AI-powered recruiter — balancing automation with trust, usability, and the complexity of a two-sided marketplace.
2018 - 2023
Poatek • Porto Alegre, RS
Leading product design for international clients across industries such as healthcare, finance, and agro. Responsible for end-to-end design — from research and strategy to final delivery — while managing and mentoring a multidisciplinary design team, shaping their career growth, and building design culture within the organization.
2016 - 2018
Ubistart • Caxias do Sul e Porto Alegre, RS
Product Design • Service Design: Creative direction and UX/UI.
2013 - 2014
Casa Design (FGV Design) • Caxias do Sul, RS
Research, webdesign, graphic design and branding.
2009 - 2012
Invéxis (Vizza Multimidia) • Caxias do Sul, RS
Webdesign, graphic design, branding and animation.
Education
May 2020 - Jun 2021
UniLaSalle
Graduate degree in Developmental Neuroscience and Human Excellence.
It informs how I think about behavior, cognition, and the human side of product decisions.
Mar 2011 - Jun 2016
UCS - Universidade de Caxias do Sul
Bachelor Degree in Design
Ago 2014 - Nov 2015
SCAD - Savannah College of Art and Design
Minor Program in Design (Brazil Scientific Mobility Program - BSMP)
Specific Approaches in Visual Design and Service Design
Awards
2016
Prêmio Projeto Vocação para o Sucesso 2016/2
Câmara da Indústria, Comércio e Serviço de Caxias do Sul (CIC) – Recognized for outstanding contribution to design and innovation in the regional industry.
2016
6º Prêmio Bornancini de Design • Menção Honrosa para a categoria Projeto Conceito
Associação dos Profissionais em Design do RS - apdesign – Award for design excellence by the professional design association of Rio Grande do Sul.
2015
Dean's List honors for the Winter, Spring and Summer 2015
Savannah College of Art and Design – Recognition during the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) exchange, for academic and creative achievement in the Minor Program in Design.
Language
Portuguese
Native
English
Professional
Spanish
Professional
Let's work together
