Product Designer
I design products
people trust.
9+ years designing AI and data-heavy B2B tools, from first click to daily habit.
Epic MegaGrant recipient · Shipped to DoD · 4 design systems built
-
01
Apiphany.ai· Access on request
Turning billions of manufacturing data points into trusted insights
Lead Product Designer 2024–Present -
02 In The Loop AI· Coming soon
Multi-channel inventory and warehouse management for resale, from capture to listing
Product Design Consultant 2026 -
03
Dynepic, Inc.
Digital learning and collaboration tools for defense training
Lead UI & UX Designer 2024 -
04
Sequin.app· Epic MegaGrant
A design tool for non-designers in virtual production
Lead Designer & Art Director 2020–2024 -
05
SequinAR· Epic MegaGrant
Sharing virtual worlds the way they're meant to be seen, in 3D
Lead Designer & Art Director 2023 -
06
include.io
Helping diverse technologists find jobs, at no cost
Lead Designer 2020
Ricardo E. Vargas
New York City
About
Designing with intention.
Pratt-trained graphic designer and art director, postgrad in Information Experience Design. Epic MegaGrant recipient. Nine years across B2B and B2C SaaS, defense tech, and XR — with a strong opinion about type and a gouache habit on the side.
I do my best work where the problem isn't fully defined yet — partnering with founders and engineers to shape vision, build systems, and ship things that hold up. Fast environments, high ambiguity, real stakes.
Day to day I work in Figma and prototype in code with Claude Code and Cursor.
What people say
"
Ricardo has a rare ability to bridge design and engineering seamlessly. He thinks in systems, collaborates deeply with developers, and always brings clarity to both the visual and structural aspects of the product.
Ross S.
Senior Frontend Engineer
Dynepic, Inc.
Dynepic, Inc.
"
Ricardo was able to work without a product manager and often had to perform the duties of one. The UI developed was clean and appealing — helpful and professional with our front-end development team.
Justin LaBroad
Head of Engineering
Sequin.app
Sequin.app
"
Ricardo led our design work across UX/UI and marketing, setting our direction and delivering under challenging timelines across multiple simultaneous projects.
Robert DeFranco
CEO
Sequin AR
Sequin AR
"
Ricardo excels as a communicator and collaborator, actively engaging with stakeholders to align design solutions with project goals. His openness to critique fosters a truly collaborative experience.
Siera Smith-Vargas
Transformation & Ops Executive
Goodwill NYNJ
Goodwill NYNJ
"
He's a deft and thoughtful collaborator, quickly adapting to stakeholder feedback and always conscious of balancing business goals with HCI principles. Any company would be lucky to have him.
Kennon Hulett
Product Lead
include.io
include.io