Picking the brains of Sara, the UX sorceress at Capicua

Sara Vila helps clients connect with their audience and define their voice. She crafts design solutions based on the user’s best interests and business goals to create intuitive, innovative, and beautiful products that people love.

What are your top three life highlights?

I won a scholarship to go on an exchange in Canada. It was an incredible experience, and it allowed me to study marketing, English, and French and meet people from all over the world. Also, learn about the culture and everything that a trip of these characteristics implies.

Another highlight was when I graduated as a graphic designer. I worked a lot on my portfolio, not only on the designs but on the concept behind them. Being able to graduate with honors meant closing with a flourish, a process that involved professional and personal training.

I was part of creating an app, ideation, and design together with friends who developed it. It was a wonderful and enriching experience, which allowed me to get closer to the world of technology and learn from the business.

What are your three most overused words/phrases at the moment?

Haha, the most used words are:

• “Tranqui,” Which means no problem.
• “Perfect”
• “Estoy en una” When you are very concentrated on something.

How do you spend your time outside the office?

Outside of the office, as I mentioned before, I study Software Development, so I spend a lot of time in class and studying.

Outside of the academic and labor world, I like to enjoy the outdoors. I spend a lot of time on the beach; it is my way of disconnecting and connecting with myself. I want the simple things, my family, friends, music, and gastronomy.

I also love dancing and have practiced many years of Dancehall Classes. I like Jamaican culture. I can't wait to dance again.

What skill would you like to master?

I want to master more user research tools. Also, learn front end like react and angular. And on a personal aspect, I would like to know how to sing.

What did you want to be when growing up?

When I was a child, I wanted to be an architect. I used to draw houses, plans seen from above, and organize the house's layout. I remember that I liked to draw with a ruler and paint with a combination of pastel colors. Since I was a child, I have identified a taste for aesthetics.

At the age of 18, I went to Spain for a sabbatical year. There I had the opportunity to travel around Europe, and I realized that the buildings themselves did not interest me that much, but I got to know graphic design. I found methods everywhere, from coasters in restaurants to posters on the street or in a magazine; everything caught my attention. Right there, I took a photoshop course and enrolled in an art school. I didn't know about the design career or what it was about until that age, but I was fascinated when I came across the design world. When I returned to my country, I was determined to study design, and it is not so far from what interested me as a child.

Sara, enjoying a lovely sunset as always

What is your most memorable moment at Capicua?

In general, the design team is divided into smaller groups depending on the project.

I had the opportunity to work on a vast and demanding project that meant that the entire design team got involved. We all worked together, with distributed tasks but working as a team with the same goal, as a perfectly coordinated gear.

Every day we had team meetings, each one proposing their ideas and arriving at the best result. Each one brought their strengths to the project.

I like it because, in the face of adversity and challenging situations, we could coordinate all the work, get along well, and get the best out of each one of us.

What are some of the unique challenges you face in your role, and how do you overcome them?

In my role, I have the challenge of solving user problems. The process tries to discover the problems or needs of the user; for this, there is the first stage of an investigation. You think and propose a solution that solves those problems that the user has, later it is prototyped (UI design), and then it is implemented with the final design.

For this, I have to be constantly learning, informed about new trends, articles, and improvements. It is at the forefront of new tools that help us facilitate processes. It is also necessary to be very wise and realize what the fundamental need to be solved is. The UX designer must put him or herself in the user’s place and always propose the best solution thinking of them.

Why did you Join Capicua, and what has kept you here?

I am passionate about the UX world, design, and technology. Capicua is the perfect mix of all these aspects. I graduated as a graphic designer, and after taking UX design courses, I found in Capicua an opportunity to develop as a UX designer, which is my passion.

Upon entering Capicua, I noticed certain aspects that kept me motivated. On the one hand, a young team with good vibes, always ready to help. I like that it has an organization with a horizontal structure. It is a company where my voice counts.

It is also a growing company with challenging projects, which keeps me motivated, and the design team grows. I like to see that growth and learn in the process.

I am also studying a Programming Analyst career, so Capicua is an opportunity to develop as a front-end programmer.

What is your favourite gift you have received so far?

My favorite gifts are the ones that nature gives us every day, like a sunset, the moonrise, or the shooting stars. It may sound cheesy, but I keep being surprised by the natural phenomena, and I take it as a gift.

Get to know Sara!

Since she started working at Capicua in August 2019, she has demonstrated true talent and responsibility towards every project involved. She has a strong team spirit and never hesitates to help her peers or give advice, whether it's about work or life in general. Her relaxed and untroubled personality fosters the comfortable environment at Capicua. If you have any questions for Sara, please contact us.