About me

Introduction

Hi, I'm José Pereira — a designer with a degree in Graphic Design from IPCA, born and raised in Portugal. I grew up in a modest family: we weren’t poor, but luxuries were rare. This upbringing taught me early on to value financial stability, which naturally sparked my interest in entrepreneurship and personal finance

From a young age, I was both creative and curious. I loved playing on the computer and soon started exploring design software like Photoshop and Illustrator. That curiosity evolved into a passion for graphic design and marketing — two pillars I believe are essential to building a successful business.

Without financial support for university, I started working at 16 and saved every cent I could. After high school, I took a year off to work and study for national exams. My efforts paid off when I was accepted into the Graphic Design program at IPCA in Barcelos — one of the most respected design schools in Portugal. I graduated with a degree in Graphic Design, an achievement that marked a turning point in my career. It was a dream come true — though I laugh now at how unprepared I was. I didn’t even realize I’d need a laptop for the course! At the time, I had only a desktop computer and €50 in my bank account. I had to take out a loan to buy a laptop and camera for photography classes.

University life wasn't easy. With growing expenses, I worked multiple jobs and eventually had to sell my family home in 2021. I moved in with my grandmother and lived there until 2024 — some of the toughest, yet most transformative years of my life. I discovered my love for UX/UI design, met incredible people, and started helping entrepreneurs around me.

I designed logos for friends, helped my personal trainer with social media strategy, and even built a simple website for the café where I worked. The site — still online today — featured just a homepage, menu, and contact section. But it solved real problems. Customers used to call daily to ask about prices and location. With the website, we saved time, improved service, and I discovered the incredible feeling of creating something genuinely helpful.

That project sparked it all. I earned a symbolic €300 — way below market value, but to me, it was priceless. It combined everything I love: design, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance — even my first taste of tools like Google Analytics and SEO. I registered as a freelancer, learned to invoice clients, and realized: this is what I want to do for a living.

Although I paused my freelance journey to focus on studies and work, I never stopped learning. I completed Google’s UX Design certification, took Webflow courses, and kept refining my skills. In 2024, my wife got a job opportunity in Switzerland and we moved. Adjusting to a new country and language wasn’t easy, and after months of job hunting, I decided it was time to return to what I love: helping businesses grow through smart, impactful design.

So here I am — building beautiful, functional websites and digital experiences that save you time and help you thrive. Let’s create something amazing together.