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Thoughtful product design.

Software that works for you.

From idea to working product. I design, prototype and build intuitive software for ambitious teams and founders.

Book a free callSee what I’ve built
  1. You’re a founder. Your product has to stand out.
  2. But now anyone can build an app in a weekend.
  3. Everyone is moving faster than ever. Good design still takes time.
  4. The products people love are built close to the people who use them.
  5. Know who they are and what they’re trying to get done. Then make it feel like magic.
  6. Most ideas get a no. Better to hear it in week one than after launch.
  7. I help you run the experiments that find the yes. Then I design it and build it.
Ways to work together

Where are you starting from?

Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.

Live productFor teams with real users and no designer.

I find where users get stuck, then design and ship the fix as working code.

Duration
2 weeks
Price
$8,000 USDPaid in two parts. You can stop after the first week.
Explore Fix Sprint

Your top product priority, designed and shipped every week. A senior designer on your team, without the hire.

Duration
Monthly
Price
From $3,500 USD a monthStarts after a Fix Sprint. Pause or cancel any month.
Explore Design Partner

New productFor founders turning an idea into something people can use.

A working first version you own, with sign-in, data and hosting. We test the core flow first, so you only build what’s worth building.

Duration
4–6 weeks
Price
From $16,000 USDPaid in two parts. You can stop after the first.
Explore MVP Sprint

Your businessFor small businesses that want everyday work to take less time.

A custom tool or automation built around how your business works. It starts with a short look at where the hours go.

Duration
By scope
Price
Quoted after a free callStarts with a short paid review. You can stop after it.
Explore Custom Software

WebsitesFor anyone who needs a new site or a better one.

A website, designed and built, that says what you do and gets people to act.

Duration
By scope
Price
From $1,500 USD
Explore Websites
Not sure which fits?Book a free call
Process

How it works

  1. Free 30-minute call

    30 minutes

    Tell me what you’re trying to do. I’ll tell you whether it’s worth building yet.

  2. Figure it out

    1–2 weeks

    I find where users get stuck, shape your core flow, or map where the hours go. You see something working before you commit to the build.

    Paid as the first part of the project. You can stop here.

  3. Build it

    1 week for a fix, 3–4 for an MVP

    The fix ships in your product, your first version launches, or your tool goes live. Fixed price, and you own everything.

    Custom software and websites are quoted by scope.

  4. Keep it going

    Monthly, optional

    Keep shipping every week with a Design Partner plan, or keep things running with a care plan.

    Not every project needs it. You decide after launch.

Selected work

A closer look at the work.

The problems, the decisions, and what was built.

01LastingMind

From product vision to working prototype.

A four-week coded prototype that gave the engineering team a clear reference for the production iOS app.

Product designCoded prototype

Read the case study
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02Agent Control Plane

Clear flows. Thoughtful interfaces.

A two-week sprint on a SaaS interface for monitoring AI agents, reviewing exceptions and managing permissions: research, a design system and a working prototype.

Product designDesign systemPrototype

Read the case study
Agent Control Plane — Medications division
03Somni

Designed and built solo.

A dream journal with AI interpretation, taken from first sketch to a working app.

Product designSolo build

Read the case study
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Somni Dream journal screen
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Portrait of Stefan Navarrete
About

Technology is only worth what it lets people do. So I start with the people.

I came to product design through architecture and sociology, then earned a master’s degree in UX design at the University of Toronto. Since then I’ve designed 0-to-1 products at Scope Labs, tested AI design tools for Netflix R&D with a small team, and built apps of my own. On the side, I coach kids to build and launch their own web and mobile apps with AI.

More about meHiring? See my resume
Skills
  • Prototyping
  • UI/UX design
  • Product evaluation
  • UX research
  • Digital strategy
  • Project management

Résumé

Stefan Navarrete · 2 pages · PDF

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Project value

Why me

  • One person, start to finish

    From “what should we build?” to working software, so nothing gets lost between strategy, design and build.

  • Built with you

    Working sessions, clickable prototypes and regular reviews keep you in every decision. If the answer is a tool you already have, I’ll say so.

  • Senior product design

    Research, flows and interfaces people want to use, not just code that runs.

  • Fixed price, yours to keep

    Scope and price are set up front, and you own everything: files, code and accounts.

Book a free call
Testimonials

See what others say about me

I’ve helped founders, product teams and small businesses bring their ideas to life. Ready to start on yours?

Book a free call

  • Since launching LastingMind 2.0, we’ve seen a substantial improvement in overall usage and engagement.

    Clarke AllenCo-Founder and President, LastingMind

  • Working with Stefan was transformative for our Tribal Parks website. He brought a deep understanding of our mission and values, translating them into a user experience that feels both welcoming and impactful. Stefan’s strategic approach ensured that our messaging was clear, our resources were accessible, and our vision for sustainable tourism was front and center.

    Julian Hockin-GrantOwner at Allied Certifications Ltd.

  • His excellent work has left us with a package of strategies, wireframes, and other documentation that continue to provide a robust foundation for our website. His ability to combine technical expertise with strong presentation and relationship management skills made for a very productive collaboration.

    Cate MacLeodCommunications @ CASCADES

  • Stefan has a keen eye for design and user experience. He took both aspects very seriously and helped us significantly improve our digital product’s wireframe. He was able to translate our complex requirements into simple, intuitive, and effective interfaces.

    Arushi BhardwajHead of Product @ Reimagine LABS
FAQ

Questions, answered

For clients

What does it cost?

Every project has a fixed price, agreed before work starts. A Fix Sprint is $8,000 for two weeks. An MVP starts at $16,000, and websites at $1,500. After a Fix Sprint, a Design Partner plan starts at $3,500 a month. Custom software is quoted after a free call. Prices are in US dollars, or Canadian dollars for companies in Canada.

How do you use AI?

To build faster. It’s a big part of why an MVP takes four to six weeks. Before any code, I write a detailed spec that tells the AI exactly what to build and where to stop. The decisions stay with me: what gets built and how it feels to use.

How do you check work built with AI?

One piece at a time. I break every build into small steps, starting with what everything else depends on. I test each step and check it’s set up correctly before I move on, so when something breaks, I know exactly where to look. You see working builds as we go.

Who owns the files, code and accounts?

You do. The design files, the code and every account, from hosting to the domain, belong to you. Nothing is locked to me, so another designer or developer can take over at any point.

What happens after launch?

Up to you. Some products run fine on their own. If you want to keep improving yours, a Design Partner plan ships something new every week. If you just want it kept running, a care plan covers updates, monitoring and fixes.

Do you work with businesses that aren’t tech companies?

Yes. You don’t need a tech team, just work that takes longer than it should. If hours go to spreadsheets and copy-paste, a short paid review maps what’s worth fixing. Then I build the tool or automation at a fixed price.

For hiring managers

Are you available for full-time roles?

Yes, and I’m open to contract work and projects too. I’m a senior product designer with five years of experience, based in Toronto and working remotely since 2023. If you’re hiring, I’d like to hear about it.

Do you work in Figma or in code?

Both. Figma is still where I explore directions, work out detailed custom design and lay out options so people can see my thinking. Then I move to code: engineering built LastingMind’s production iOS app from my React prototype.

What do you code in?

Mostly React, TypeScript and React Native, with Supabase on the back end. AI gets me up to speed in an unfamiliar codebase fast: I’ve built features directly in the production code of two client products. This site runs on Astro, React, TypeScript and Three.js.

How do you use AI in your work?

Daily, with a critical eye. I write a detailed spec first, then build in small steps with Claude Code, checking each one before the next. I’ve built my own prompt libraries and evaluation checks to keep AI output consistent from project to project. For Netflix R&D, I tested AI tools across the design workflow with a small team, and our findings on where they helped and fell short went to Netflix’s product teams.

How do you work with engineers and product managers?

Closely, from discovery through to handoff. At Scope Labs, I worked alongside founders and engineers on several client builds at once. At Pamoja, on a team of five designers, five engineers and a PM, I ran the design sprints that took the app to MVP.

Can I see more of your work?

Yes. The case studies here are a few highlights. My resume covers more, from a healthcare training platform to a website for Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. None of it is under NDA, so I can walk you through any of it on a call.

See my resume