SILVIA BENAVENTE

I'm a Product Designer with a strong UX focus and over a decade of experience shaping products. I've led UX/UI at two startups as the first and sole designer, both earning App of the Day, and worked with global brands including Hearst, Condé Nast, and Globant.

I help teams turn early ideas and complex challenges into human-centred design with clear product impact. My process starts with understanding the real problem, then moves into rapid iteration, cross-functional alignment, and validation.

I lead through clarity and collaboration, and I care deeply about building products that feel intuitive, meaningful, and valuable.

Silvia Benavente
How I Think & Work

Six Areas Where I Add The Most Value

I work across the full product design spectrum — from discovery and research through to high-fidelity design, systems thinking, and shipping. These are the areas I'm most energised by.

01

Research & Discovery

User interviews, surveys, usability testing, benchmarking, and synthesis. I ground every design decision in real insight, not assumptions.

02

UX & Interaction Design

End-to-end flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI. I design experiences that are clear, intuitive, and aligned with business goals.

03

Design Systems

Building and maintaining scalable component libraries that ensure consistency, speed up delivery, and bridge design and development.

04

Product Strategy & Growth

Connecting design to outcomes — from activation and engagement to retention and monetisation. I think in user journeys and business metrics.

05

AI-Augmented Design

Applying generative AI across the design process — from research synthesis and ideation to prototyping and testing. Trained through IBM and Fractal Analytics certifications.

06

AI-Assisted Prototyping

Using Figma Make, Lovable, and LLMs to rapidly build interactive prototypes, bridging design intent and working code.

Skills

What I Bring

Research & Discovery
User Research User Interviews Qualitative & Quant. Research Synthesis Affinity Mapping Personas JTBD Problem Framing Co-design Workshops Journey Mapping Concept Validation Usability Testing
Product & Interaction
UX Design Product Design End-to-End Flows Information Architecture Interaction Design Wireframing Prototyping Design Systems UI Design Responsive Design
AI & Tools
AI-Assisted Design AI for Research AI Prototyping Human-Centred AI Figma Make Lovable UXPilot Miro AI Visily Uizard ChatGPT · Claude
Leadership & Delivery
Sole Designer Exp. End-to-End Ownership Design Strategy Product Thinking Cross-functional Collab. Design Handoffs Agile / Lean Stakeholder Comms Mentoring
Experience

Where I've Worked

Numan
2025
Product Designer · Women's Health · 0→1
Birda
2021 – 2025
Head of UX/UI · Sole Designer

End-to-end product design for a community-driven birdwatching app.

App of the Day · 148 Countries
Thortful
2017 – 2021
Head of UX/UI · Sole Designer

Led design from early stage through scaling.

App of the Day · 2019 & 2020
Globant
2017
Senior Service Designer

Openbank (Santander Group) — London and Madrid.

Hearst Magazines
2015 – 2016
Senior Digital Designer

ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, Digital Spy.

Tails.com
2015
Senior Digital Designer
Monsoon & Accessorize
2015
Ecommerce Design Manager
Condé Nast
2014 – 2015
Creative Design Manager
Sweaty Betty
2014
Senior Digital Designer
Education & Certifications

Education And Certifications

Certifications
  • Generative AI for UX/UI Design
    IBM & SkillUp
    2026
  • Mastering User-Centric Design with Gen AI
    Fractal Analytics
    2026
  • Unlocking Creativity
    IDEO U
    2021
  • Foundations in Design Thinking
    IDEO U
    2021
  • From Ideas to Action
    IDEO U
    2021
  • Insights for Innovation
    IDEO U
    2021
Education
  • How to Be an Advertising Art Director
    Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Fashion Magazine Business
    Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • 100 Design Projects
    Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Master in Art & Communication
    University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Graphic Design — Print, Editorial & Advertising
    Spain
  • Business Studies
    University of Santiago de Compostela