Portfolio - Ignacio Vergara

How I approach complex problems, navigate ambiguity, and make strategic design decisions with examples from past projects.

What I cut and why — prioritizing long-term value over short-term completeness.

Pichincha web redesign

Cut department-specific layouts and enforced reusable components.

IMPACT: Avoided recreating fragmented navigation in the new CMS

AI reading assistant

Limited AI capabilities to asistance tasks only

IMPACT: Sacrificed 'wow' factor to protect cognitive engagement

QR Transfers

Cut flashy and "beautiful" ideas for a more plain version

IMPACT: Users with lower technological literacy understood the function better.

Turning tangled systems into understandable experiences

Pichincha web redesign

Audited 100+ scattered pages and reorganized them into a clear information architecture with defined ownership

IMPACT: Users can now find what they need quickly and in predictable locations.

AI reading assistant

Converted cognitive theory into a clear two-mode system, supporting users during reading and after reading.

IMPACT: Experience behaves differently during reading and after reading to support specific needs.

QR Transfers

From a broad “add QR transfers” requirement, I designed a user-centered flow focused on clarity and accessibility.

IMPACT: Reinforced clarity at key moments, improving confidence in digital transfers.

Considered potential impact beyond the immediate future

Pichincha web redesign

Designed a component system that scaled across departments without allowing one-off exceptions to break consistency

IMPACT: Prevented future fragmentation as new pages were created.

AI reading assistant

Designed prompt constraints to prevent AI generated, hallucinated or low-context responses.

IMPACT: AI Would never generate content on its own that could affect enjoyment in the long run.

QR Transfers

Ensured error states and edge cases were clear to prevent irreversible transaction mistakes

IMPACT: Protected users from costly errors in critical moments.

Evolution of my design approach over time

Early in my career, I focused heavily on visual polish. Today, I prioritize structure and decision logic before UI refinement.

I've learned to push back on business-driven solutions when they risk long-term complexity.

I now involve technical constraints early, especially in complex systems.