My Emergn journey: João’s insights as Product Design practice lead
Meet João Ferreira, Product Design practice lead and Portugal location lead at Emergn! Since he was young, João had a passion for design, but it was when the internet emerged that he knew he wanted to put that passion into practice by creating truly delightful and accessible experiences. That’s why he joined our Product Design practice in 2021 and, since then, has been an integral part of the team working with our clients to create experiences that fit their needs. Explore the professional journey of João and the opportunities and challenges he has faced within a career in product design.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Emergn
I’m João, and I was born less than 40 years ago, just a block away from the Emergn Porto office. I joined Emergn in 2021 as a design engineer / UI developer but have since taken on the responsibilities of Product Design practice lead and Portugal location lead.
How did you get started in product design?
From an early age, I loved designing – from football kits, to cars, to motorsport liveries. Still, it was when the internet emerged that I knew I wanted to create digital products and experiences. Therefore, my learning journey was directed towards this goal, graduating in Communication Design from the University of Porto after taking optional classes in web design and spending some time abroad doing Erasmus in Madrid. After college, I started a small design studio with a friend before eventually joining a startup more focused on web applications, where I moved my way up to become the design team lead.
How did you come across Emergn, and why did you decide to join us?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company I worked for struggled as we had products targeted at civil aviation authorities. With planes on the ground, a refocus was in order, and we agreed to part ways. Later that year, when everything seemed to be in place to join another company, additional health restrictions in Portugal turned into a hiring freeze. But that gloomy story took an unexpected turn because, around that time, Emergn was growing its team in Portugal! Even if the product designer position was already filled when I applied, the Talent Acquisition team was able to spot my potential and suggested I could make a good design engineer. After meeting some team members during the interview process, I had no doubts this would be the right place for me!
What is it like being a Location Lead at Emergn?
The Emergn Portugal community is unique – being able to grow the team and having a sense of belonging when we were all locked at home and working remotely, just with weekly “Coffee Break” calls, was remarkable! Then we got back to the office, and we had such a chemistry and positive vibe like I hadn’t ever seen before. When I was invited to take the location lead role, it felt like a huge honor. Some months later, it’s still as amazing as I could expect, and having people who are not only very talented but also engaged, dedicated, and supportive makes it as easy as it is pleasurable.
What was the most significant professional challenge you overcame at Emergn?
I’ve only been here for a little over three years, so I’m happy not to have had too many big difficulties yet. Emergn keeps us busy between assignments, as those can sometimes end unexpectedly, but I’ve been fortunate that when one assignment ends, an exciting one has always been just around the corner.
Tell us about the work you’re most proud of.
As I’m currently using two leadership hats, I can’t really be only proud of one of them – I’m delighted with the team and environment we are able to foster in Portugal and how we keep coming up with new ideas and events to keep everyone engaged and motivated. Still, I’m no less amazed by the incredible talent in the Product Design practice. On a more personal note, the client work I’ve been involved in since I joined Emergn has always challenged me to be the best professional I can be, and I’m very excited by the results and the process of getting them.
What final advice would you give someone looking to join Emergn?
If you are looking for a place to hang out with great talent, look no further! And the best part is that we are all able to share and learn from each other, so every day, you will be going home (or staying there) thinking about new things.
If you enjoyed this reading, don’t miss the opportunity to get to know the journey and valuable insights of our amazing team. Meet the journey of our product marketing manager Kristin, from classrooms to the corporate world, dive into the insights shared by Elisabetta as a senior consultant, or simply browse through our Careers Blog, where you can find every type of professional journey, career insights and valuable tips.
Are you looking for a new professional adventure? Look no more! We are hiring for several of our multidisciplinary teams. Explore our open opportunities and reach out if you see a match.
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