Hi! I’m Jeff Fontelera, a Product Designer living in sunny and pretentious Los Angeles.
Now you might be wondering why I’m posing as a Baker… That’s because in my ten years experience in UI/UX, I’ve also been baking up a storm! I’ve worked from small startups to Fortune 500 companies, and as of recently, the education tech space.
And at the same time, I went from baking basic cookies to high end Parisian patisserie. I love creating products that make lives easier as much as I love making sweets to treat my friends, family, and the occasional crush of the week. Life is hard - eat your dessert!
Left - Stiff peaks (pervs!!!), Right - Verona, Italy 2023
My Toolbox:
UX Methods: User Interviews, User Research Analysis, Wireframes and User Flows, Competitive Audits, User Journeys, Affinity Mapping, Crazy 8’s
Graphic Design: Consumer Product and Packaging, Illustration, Editorial, Typography
UI Design: Component Libraries, Design Systems, Rapid Prototyping, Interaction Animation
Apps: Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Confluence, Asana, SVGator
Time For A Side Quest!
I'm currently obsessing over my latest fashion project: The Filipiniana Bolero Jacket...with a twist. This jacket dates back to the Spanish colonial times of the islands and Filipinos adopted flair of Spanish taste into their traditional clothes. The jacket originally comes from Spain which are worn by bull fighters and Filipinos transformed it to fit the tropical climate. Traditionally made from light and sheer fabrics indigenous to the Philippines, like the piña which is made from pineapple fiber, the bolero was versatile enough to be worn on any occasion. Special "butterfly" sleeves would often be attached so that women can wear the jacket on sophisticated evening events.
Here's the catch... this jacket is worn by women. My side quest, was to change that. I'm creating a bolero jacket that's unisex. Modern Filipino society has changed: often times it's male dominated (and toxic) and in many families, the woman has to take on the role of both mom and dad (e.g. single moms). As a proud gay, I want to challenge these norms and wear a jacket that breaks male patriarchy, highlight the feminine and embody the Filipino.
You can see a bit of my process here. Keep checking this space to see where this Side Quest takes me.
