Product Designer · Miami-Fort Lauderdale

Good design doesn't just look right. It works right — for real people, in real situations.

I'm Nelson, a product designer with roots in hospitality and a track record of turning complex systems into experiences that actually make sense.

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I'm a senior product designer based in Miami-Fort Lauderdale with experience designing enterprise tools, native mobile apps, and guest-facing hospitality platforms. Most recently at Hyatt Hotels, where I led design across internal colleague tools and guest experiences used at thousands of properties worldwide. My background in hospitality gives me a perspective most designers don't have — I understand the operations behind the screen, not just what shows up on it.

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Areas of expertise

The work behind the work.

01

Research & Discovery

Good design starts before the first wireframe. I use research to reduce assumptions — through usability testing, interviews, personas, and journey mapping — so every decision is grounded in what real people actually need, not what we think they do.

"When it comes to designer discovery, Nelson is one of the best. Whether diving into user research, exploring new tools, or brainstorming creative solutions, he leads with curiosity and innovation."

— Zach Steele, Product Manager, Hyatt

Usability testing Personas Journey mapping Synthesis
User persona — Carlos M., The Determined Discoverist Titan user persona — Sarah Davis, Digital Content Project Specialist

02

Systems & Complexity

Complex systems need more than clean screens — they need a clear logic that holds up across every user, device, and scenario. I design for the edge cases, the conditional flows, and the moments most people don't think about until something breaks.

"Nelson has an uncanny ability to distill multifaceted challenges into intuitive, user-centric solutions... his creativity and strategic thinking to design a scalable system that optimized data workflows."

— Kaycee Collins, Product Design Manager, Hyatt

User flows Conditional logic Multi-platform Systems thinking
HotSpot 2.0 user journey map — Web OSU setup HotSpot 2.0 captive portal landing — desktop

03

Enterprise & Internal Tools

Internal tools are some of the hardest things to design well. The users are experts, the workflows are complex, and there's no room for confusion. I've spent years designing for the people behind the scenes — the ones who make everything else run.

"His meticulous attention to detail ensured the solution was not only functional but delightful for stakeholders across multiple teams."

— Kaycee Collins, Product Design Manager, Hyatt

Enterprise UX Internal tools Information architecture Workflow design
Titan Atlas Author — Amenities screen Titan Atlas Author — Send for Translation workflow

04

Native Mobile & Guest Experience

Hospitality is about how people feel at every step — including the digital ones. I've designed native iOS and Android experiences for millions of travelers, turning friction-heavy moments like check-in into something that feels effortless and considered.

"Nelson brings a unique perspective to his work, drawing from his diverse experience in the hospitality industry to design solutions that are both innovative and user-centered."

— Najia Sabir, Accessibility Specialist, Hyatt

iOS Android Transactional UX Guest experience
Digital Check-In full flow — home screen to confirmation HotSpot 2.0 in-app module — iOS home screen integration

05

Accessibility & Content

Design isn't accessible if it only works for some people. I approach accessibility as a core part of the work — not a final checklist — through inclusive content, clear language, proper structure, and multi-language support for global audiences.

"Passionate about design patterns and consistency, and it shows in everything he creates."

— Heather Riddle, Lead Software Engineer, Hyatt

WCAG UX writing Localization Content structure
Titan Atlas Author — View Translations (French, source vs translated) HotSpot 2.0 Web OSU landing — plain language content

06

Collaboration & Facilitation

Design doesn't happen in isolation. I run workshops, lead critiques, align stakeholders, and make sure the people in the room — engineers, PMs, researchers, content teams — leave with clarity and confidence in the direction. The best work I've done has always been with a great team.

"His prototyping sessions are well-planned, keeping the team aligned and moving forward efficiently. His combination of customer focus and collaborative spirit makes him an asset to any team."

— Zach Steele, Product Manager, Hyatt

Workshops Stakeholder alignment Design critique Cross-functional
HotSpot 2.0 FigJam project board

What colleagues say

Testimonials

"I've had the privilege of working with Nelson over the past two and a half years, and it has been incredible to watch him grow into the designer he is today. He approached every challenge with curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to learn — and over time expanded his research, planning, and strategic design skills in ways that consistently drove user-centered outcomes."

Jillian Kurz

Director, Product Design — Hyatt Hotels Corporation

"Nelson is easily one of the most rounded, inquisitive, and talented designers I've had the pleasure of working with. His ability to take research and craft it into something inspiring while ensuring that the needs of the business are met is remarkable."