© 2026 Mara Estalilla. All rights reserved.
Beautiful and clear?
that's my style.
Mara is a product designer based in Manila, focused on clarity in complex digital systems.
She has worked on digital products in high-constraint environments such as banking, insurance, and internal tools, where clarity matters more than cleverness and decisions need to ship. Her strengths lie in complex flows, information design, and helping teams move from ambiguity to alignment.
Outside of work, she gravitates toward slow, hands-on hobbies like knitting, good food, and spending time with her cat.
How did I get here?
Discovered the internet early and became curious about how websites were made. Taught myself HTML and CSS, designed custom MySpace and Friendster layouts, built my first website, and learned Photoshop through online communities.
Turned curiosity into my first paid work, earning $10 for basic HTML and CSS services. Learned WordPress, PHP, and MySQL, and started understanding how design and development fit together.
Shifted focus toward visual design, building celebrity fansites and refining my CSS and layout skills in Photoshop.
Began freelancing more seriously while in college, designing websites for small businesses and individuals.
Returned to design after a brief hiatus with a stronger interest in product thinking. Joined design communities, studied design systems, and worked on early product-style projects like dashboards and content-heavy tools.
Landed my first UI/UX role at an e-commerce startup, designing multiple products end to end and occasionally contributing to front-end development. A fast, formative experience that built confidence and clarified how I wanted to work.
Joined a major insurance company as a UX designer, working on enterprise-level products in a regulated environment where clarity, consistency, and collaboration were essential.
18+ years in the digital world and 7+ years focused on product design. Now in consulting, still focused on clarity, craft, and turning complexity into calm, usable experiences.
What I Do
- 01. Product Strategy
- 02. UX Research & Design
- 03. UI Design & Systems
- 04. Prototyping & Testing
My Design Philosophy
User-First
Every design decision starts with understanding the people who will use it.
Simplicity
The best solutions often come from removing complexity, not adding features.
Craft
Details matter. Great experiences are built on countless small decisions made well.