

- Location
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Bio
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Hello! My name is Isabella Joao. I am currently a Master of Information student at the University of Toronto, specializing in User Experience (UX) Design. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science, where I developed a strong foundation in human-computer interaction, computation, and research methodologies. My academic background is complemented by practical experience in user-centred design, UX research, and product design across both government and private sector projects.
I have applied these skills in a variety of roles, including UX design for small businesses and federal agencies, as well as creating accessible visual content for student services and equity-focused programs. I am especially passionate about designing inclusive, intuitive, and impactful digital experiences that reflect the users' needs and values. My multidisciplinary skill set also includes visual and graphic design, qualitative and quantitative research, service design, content strategy, and program coordination.
As someone with experience at the intersection of design, advocacy, and community engagement, I will bring an equitable and inclusive design-thinking approach to any project at your company. I am always looking for opportunities to expand my skills and contribute meaningfully to innovative design challenges.
Please feel free to explore my portfolio at www.isabellajoao.ca and review my work experience below. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. I look forward to connecting with you!
- Resume
- IsabellaJoao-Resume.pdf
- Portals
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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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- Categories
- Branding & style guides Graphic design Market research UI design UX design
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Achievements



Recent projects

UI/UX Redesign Project
At Infogenetica Solutions Ltd., we are dedicated to empowering individuals with 100% natural, science-backed health supplements and skincare products designed to enhance mental and cardiovascular health, as well as healthy aging. As a growing B2C company, our website serves as the primary touchpoint for our customers—but we know there’s room for improvement to make it more engaging, intuitive, and user-friendly. We are seeking a talented student team to help us redesign and enhance the UI/UX of our website, ensuring an exceptional user experience that aligns with our brand, improves customer engagement, and optimizes the online shopping journey. 💡 Project Goals: • Conduct a UI/UX audit to identify areas for improvement • Optimize website navigation, usability, and visual appeal • Enhance the mobile experience to ensure seamless browsing and purchasing • Improve product discovery and customer journey flow • Incorporate persuasive design elements that drive conversions and build customer trust • Develop wireframes, prototypes, and design recommendations for implementation 🛍 Our Primary Users: 🔹 Adults focused on healthy aging: Seniors and individuals looking to prevent or manage cardiovascular conditions, dementia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, sleep difficulties, focus issues, and low energy. 🔹 Parents of children with neurodivergencies like Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety (and adults who experience these too!): Families seeking science-backed nutritional support for cognitive and emotional well-being. ✨ What We Offer: ✅ Full access to our current website and analytics for research purposes ✅ Branding guidelines and marketing assets to maintain consistency ✅ Regular mentorship and feedback meetings to guide the project ✅ Potential opportunity for implementation of selected designs This is more than just a project—it’s a chance to make a real impact by improving accessibility, usability, and the overall digital experience for our customers. If you’re passionate about user-centric design and want to build a portfolio with meaningful, real-world work, we’d love to collaborate with you!

Targeted Landing Page & Customer Journeys Design for Easy Vegan Foods Customer Archetypes
Easy Vegan Foods aims to enhance its market presence by increasing awareness of its plant-based meal prep service. The project involves designing and developing 4–5 engaging landing pages tailored to unique customer archetypes. The currently and roughly defined archetypes include the eco-conscious, the plant-curious, the vegans, and the loves-it-local folks. The goal is to create a personalized experience that resonates with each archetype. By doing so, the company hopes to attract new customers and strengthen its brand identity. Students will apply their classroom knowledge in digital marketing and web design to create visually appealing and strategically sound landing pages. Additionally, they will propose a strategic email journey and social media acquisition strategy for each archetype, ensuring a comprehensive approach to customer engagement.
Work experience
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Toronto – Department of Arts, Culture, and Media
March 2025 - June 2025
- Conducted qualitative research for a university-led project titled “Digital Misogynoir: Navigating Racism and Sexism in Online Spaces,” analyzing algorithmic bias on social platforms (YouTube, TikTok) to identify patterns of anti-Black women sentiment, utilizing Black feminist media studies frameworks and ethical considerations.
- Mentored undergraduate researchers in research methodologies, data collection methods and research findings that contribute to the design of counter-content initiatives against oppressive media practices.
Graphic Designer (Club)
The University of Toronto – The iJournal
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 2024 - August 2025
- Designing visually engaging layouts, covers, and social media posts for Master of Information students’ journal issues and promotional events, focusing on readability and user engagement across digital and print platforms.
Visual Designer
University of Toronto – Innovation Hub
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
September 2024 - April 2025
- Designing user-friendly infographics, icons and user personas to communicate user research insights, making complex data accessible and actionable for project stakeholders.
- Developing digital materials for special projects, including website design and content creation, ensuring consistency with Innovation Hub’s design standards and enhancing user experience across platforms.
Web and Graphic Design Consultant (Freelance)
Inclusivity
July 2024 - August 2025
- Providing graphic and website design updates to enhance Inclusivity’s digital presence, aligning visuals with brand standards and accessibility guidelines to improve usability and engagement.
User Experience Researcher
Health Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
February 2021 - February 2023
- Conducted user research, developed personas, and performed usability testing to optimize a cybersecurity training program, enhancing cybersecurity awareness and engagement among Health Canada staff.
- Analyzed user behaviour data on Terranova Security’s platform, generating actionable insights that informed improvements in training completion and effectiveness.
Website and Graphic Designer
Health Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
January 2021 - February 2023
- Conducted a comprehensive IT Security web content audit, identifying user pain points and optimizing content layout to improve usability and clarity, aligning with user-centred design principles.
- Coordinated and managed regular updates to the IT Security website, implementing iterative changes based on user feedback to enhance accessibility and engagement.
- Designed digital marketing and communication assets, such as infographics and promotional materials to support IT Security Education initiatives, using visual storytelling to simplify complex information and promote best practices in cybersecurity.
Education
Master of Library Science (M.L.S.), User Experience (Ux) Design Concentration
University of Toronto
September 2024 - November 2026
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Cognitive Science Major, Cognition And Computation Concentration
Carleton University
September 2019 - November 2023
Personal projects
Isabella Joao's Portfolio
https://www.isabellajoao.caMy portfolio website showcases my work as a UX designer and researcher. I aim to show my dedication to crafting solution-oriented, human-centred, and equitable user experiences.