Costa Rica
Available for work
idvargas21@gmail.com
About
I lead design teams. But what actually matters to me is whether the work moves the business forward.
13+ years doing this for brands like Abbott, Coca-Cola, Meta, Nike, and Virgin, and delivered work that moves the needle on conversion, revenue, and brand loyalty. London, Dubai, Chicago, San Francisco, Riyadh, Latin America. Different markets, same lesson every time: design that doesn't connect to a business goal is just decoration!
Right now I lead the design vertical for small and medium business (SMB) at Toptal, and figuring out what design leadership even looks like with AI in the mix. Less about pixels, more about judgment. Knowing what's worth building, and whether the AI-generated version is actually any good.
Skills
Experience
Remote
Head of SMB Design
2026 – Present
Toptal
Led a global team of Design Directors to deliver design work that drives client conversion and revenue
Reviewed performance data and team behaviors to identify improvements in delivery speed and quality
Guided the team toward a stronger client experience and a more proactive, business-focused approach
Leveraged AI tools to enhance team workflows and accelerate creative output at scale
Remote
Design Director
2024 – 2026
Toptal
Advised clients on vision, strategy, and product roadmaps for market validation and growth
Secured key projects by aligning Toptal’s value proposition with client business goals
Recruited and mentored Design Directors, strengthening leadership and team performance
London, Dubai and Riyadh
Design and Innovation Manager
2021 – 2024
Accenture
Streamlined creative processes to deliver MVPs and scale design solutions up to 20× faster
Built and led a team of 12 designers, fostering growth and performance through mentorship
Improved brand trust and usability, increasing satisfaction scores by 25%
Led the winning pitch for a £200K marketing campaign for a Dubai real estate client
Contributed to a £1.9M project expansion for a leading UK telecom brand
Costa Rica
Design Lead
2019 – 2021
Facebook/Meta @Accenture
Created global event branding and marketing assets to boost engagement across Meta teams
Worked on-site with Meta HQ stakeholders to ensure rapid, high-quality creative delivery
Estimated, delegated, and directed tasks for multiple projects to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery
Collaborated directly with Meta’s Head of Design for final approvals
Costa Rica
Senior Designer
2017 – 2019
Accenture
Designed user-centric dashboards, service flows, and branded digital experiences
Developed UX/UI prototypes to validate product goals and marketing strategies
Maintained brand consistency across all channels and campaigns
Costa Rica
Designer and Project Coordinator
2015 – 2017
Pixel Canibal
Delivered creative assets under tight deadlines, ensuring quality and alignment
Participated in client meetings, estimates, and creative presentations
Costa Rica
Junior Designer
2014 – 2015
Pixel Canibal
Supported marketing campaigns across digital and print
Education
Costa Rica
2010 – 2015
Visual Arts and Communication
Universidad Nacional