Edu Couchez Design

UX & Product Design

A Journey Through the Layers

Edu Couchez Design

UX & Product Design

A Journey Through the Layers

Edu Couchez Design

UX & Product Design

A Journey Through the Layers

Edu Couchez Design

UX & Product Design

A Journey Through the Layers

Edu Couchez Design

UX & Product Design

A Journey Through the Layers

Edu Couchez Design

Long time ago, When friends and family asked me what my job was about, I didn’t know what to say. UX or Product Design weren’t even defined fields back then. I usually replied, ‘applying common sense to web design.’

From Webmaster to UX and Product Designer

In the mid-2000s, as a web administrator for MC Ediciones, one of Spain’s largest publishers, I transformed their basic site into a comprehensive kiosk with over 100 publications, back issues, and subscriptions.

 

This project required user-centric planning, logical content structuring, and managing covers, summaries, and PDFs. I used MS SQL Server, XML with XSLT, and developed in VB.net/ASP.net, transitioning from Dreamweaver Ultra Dev to Visual Studio, and relied on early CSS 1.0 while rigorously testing across browsers.

 

My design approach balanced creativity with technical constraints, using image slices and “GIF spacers” for layout control. For marketing, I created animated GIFs in Photoshop and complex interactive campaigns with Macromedia Flash.

In my early career as a web administrator in the mid-2000s for one of Spain’s largest publishing companies, my primary task was building static catalogues to showcase their magazines and ensure every issue was represented and up to date.


My role was primarily in web design, it often required strategic thinking, bridging elements of what we now call UX and Product Design to ensure each feature served both the user and the broader purpose of the product


The workflow procedure was “simple”… HTML, tables, rudimentary CSS, JavaScript, Visual Basic and ASP.net dynamic pages feed with SQL Server databases, XML sheets to structure the content, and a primitive shopping cart payment gateway.

Back then design approach was the usual blend of creativity, experimentation, technical limitations. Multiple image slices were used as masonry to design elements and small “GIF spacers” to control layouts. I was a time when testing results on different web browsers was essential due to the lack of standards, and designs leaned toward naïve skeuomorphism.

Related Skills

HTML
CSS
SASS
Javascript
Visual Basic.net
Visual Studio
Dream Weaver
Photoshop
MS Access
SQL Server
Data Queries
Flash
XML
XML Schemas
XSL
XSLT

Influence of Conferences and Studies

During this period, I attended Microsoft events on User Experience, where UX was an emerging, overhyped concept. These experiences introduced me to foundational ideas that matured into user-centered design. Workshops and studies I participated in deeply shaped my understanding of true UX.

During this period, I attended Microsoft events on User Experience, where UX was an emerging, overhyped concept. These experiences introduced me to foundational ideas that matured into user-centered design. Workshops and studies I participated in deeply shaped my understanding of true UX.

During this period, I attended Microsoft events on User Experience, where UX was an emerging, overhyped concept. These experiences introduced me to foundational ideas that matured into user-centered design. Workshops and studies I participated in deeply shaped my understanding of true UX.

During this period, I attended Microsoft events on User Experience, where UX was an emerging, overhyped concept. These experiences introduced me to foundational ideas that matured into user-centered design. Workshops and studies I participated in deeply shaped my understanding of true UX.

Related Studies and Events

Microsft TheMIX 2007 - Las Vegas
Designertopia London 2008
La Salle
Javascript

Silverlight and WPF Projects

I worked on projects with Silverlight, a subset of Microsoft’s WPF and an alternative to Flash/Flex and AJAX. Despite its promise, Silverlight’s relevance waned due to poor browser support and Apple’s pivot to HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, as announced in Steve Jobs’ 2010 “Thoughts on Flash.”

 

Silverlight enabled rich, interactive experiences but often led to visually cluttered interfaces. Its decline marked a shift toward minimalist designs that emphasized content over decoration.

I worked on projects with Silverlight, a subset of Microsoft’s WPF and an alternative to Flash/Flex and AJAX. Despite its promise, Silverlight’s relevance waned due to poor browser support and Apple’s pivot to HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, as announced in Steve Jobs’ 2010 “Thoughts on Flash.”

 

Silverlight enabled rich, interactive experiences but often led to visually cluttered interfaces. Its decline marked a shift toward minimalist designs that emphasized content over decoration.

I worked on projects with Silverlight, a subset of Microsoft’s WPF and an alternative to Flash/Flex and AJAX. Despite its promise, Silverlight’s relevance waned due to poor browser support and Apple’s pivot to HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, as announced in Steve Jobs’ 2010 “Thoughts on Flash.”

 

Silverlight enabled rich, interactive experiences but often led to visually cluttered interfaces. Its decline marked a shift toward minimalist designs that emphasized content over decoration.

I worked on projects with Silverlight, a subset of Microsoft’s WPF and an alternative to Flash/Flex and AJAX. Despite its promise, Silverlight’s relevance waned due to poor browser support and Apple’s pivot to HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, as announced in Steve Jobs’ 2010 “Thoughts on Flash.”

 

Silverlight enabled rich, interactive experiences but often led to visually cluttered interfaces. Its decline marked a shift toward minimalist designs that emphasized content over decoration.

Related Studies and Events

Microsft TheMIX 2007 - Las Vegas
Designertopia London 2008
La Salle
Javascript

Remote and Team Leadership

With a programming background, I manage local and remote development teams effectively, coordinating across time zones and understanding developers’ needs. My involvement in Toastmasters International sharpened my communication and leadership skills, helping me articulate ideas, foster dialogue, and inspire collaboration.

 

Empathetic communication enables me to lead projects, guide multidisciplinary teams, and align stakeholders, creating a productive and problem-solving environment.

Related Studies and Events

Microsft TheMIX 2007 - Las Vegas
Designertopia London 2008
La Salle
Javascript

UX Design Process

My UX approach focuses on human psychology, aligning with perceptual biases and cognitive limits. Books like Designing with The Mind in Mind by Jeff Johnson and Visual Thinking for Design by Colin Ware have been influential in my methodology.

 

Good usability design incorporates these principles to create intuitive experiences, following Jesse James Garrett’s The Elements of User Experience, which still defines essential layers for digital products.

Jetlease Container Tracking App

Jettainer, a Lufthansa subsidiary, needed an updated version of Jetlease, their ULD tracking software, involving a refreshed interface, new features, and improved technology.

 

A ULD (Unit Load Device) is critical for air transport, securing cargo, mail, and baggage. Integrated with the aircraft’s Cargo Loading System (CLS), ULDs are regulated to ensure flight safety. Jettainer’s management ensures that ULDs meet safety and airworthiness standards, supported by Jetlease for efficient tracking and management.

Strategy

To ensure user-friendliness, I studied Jettainer’s detailed documents, including the app’s background, technical specs, and previous user manual. This helped me visualize and structure the app for user needs.

Related Skills

SCSS
Word Press
SASS
Wix
Javascript
Framer
VS Code
React
Angular
HTML
Interactive Design
CSS
Scope

I analyzed the old version to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Collaborating with developers and the client, I tested new features to ensure alignment with project goals and user expectations.

Related Skills

SCSS
Word Press
SASS
Wix
Javascript
Framer
VS Code
React
Angular
HTML
Interactive Design
CSS
Structure

I created Diagrams and flowcharts mapping the content hierarchy and information architecture, guided by operator interviews. Initial interactive wireframes were developed to test user flow and scenarios, ensuring intuitive navigation.

Related Skills

SCSS
Word Press
SASS
Wix
Javascript
Framer
VS Code
React
Angular
HTML
Interactive Design
CSS

Skeleton

With deeper insights, I refined layouts, UI positioning, visual hierarchies, and user behavior insights. This phase included mockups and prototypes using Indigo by Infragistics for accurate representation.

Related Skills

SCSS
Word Press
SASS
Wix
Javascript
Framer
VS Code
React
Angular
HTML
Interactive Design
CSS

Surface

Finally I developed all possible screens and user cases, delivering detailed prototypes and a comprehensive Design System. These provided developers with clear design and interaction guidelines, ensuring consistency.

Related Skills

SCSS
Word Press
SASS
Wix
Javascript
Framer
VS Code
React
Angular
HTML
Interactive Design
CSS

Shaping My Approach
with Foundational Literature

Shaping My Approach
with Foundational Literature

“Books became my mentors, laying the groundwork for UX and Product Design.” I found clarity in influential works on usability and strategic design, bridging user needs with business objectives—the essence of Product Design.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People
by Susan Weinschenk

Weinschenk’s book combines psychology and design, examining how human behavior, perception, and cognition impact design. Each chapter provides insights to enhance design choices, making 100 Things a valuable resource for UX/UI professionals.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Don’t Make Me Think
by Steve Krug

Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think is a practical guide on web usability, emphasizing that websites should be easy to navigate with minimal user effort. Using humor and simple language, Krug shares core usability principles, making it a staple for designers and developers.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things
by Don Norman

Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things is a seminal text in user-centered design. He examines why some products feel intuitive while others frustrate users, emphasizing affordances, signifiers, and feedback to help users navigate products.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
The Inmates Are Running the Asylum
by Alan Cooper

Cooper’s The Inmates Are Running the Asylum emphasizes the need for user-focused design over technical priorities. His “personas” concept guides teams to create intuitive experiences by prioritizing empathy and usability.

Apps used and expertise

Apps used and expertise

Related Skills

Adobe XD
Figma
Mind Mapping
Wireframing
Prototyping
Balsamiq Wireframes
Figma

Pro Expertise: Worked on it since version 1.

Mid to Pro Expertise: Latest in the shifting to

Pro Expertise: Years on delving on mind-maps to visualising and managing abstract ideas.

Pro Expertise: Years using wireframing as a means to distribute and managing complex

Pro to Expertise:

Pro to Expertise:

Pro to Expertise: