Kansas City, KS

Hello! Maryl I’m Maryl,
an AI-Native Design Engineer.

I specialize in AI-Native Design Engineering, designing and shipping products end-to-end.

My selected works

A few of my most recent projects: the brands, products, and experiences I’ve crafted lately.

What I do

A blend of design, technology, and a little magic, end to end.

01

AI-Native Design Engineering

Designing and shipping products with AI at the core, pairing with Claude Code from concept to production.

02

Design Systems & Branding

Brand systems and visual identities that make products unmistakable, from logo to a full design language.

03

Product Design (UX/UI)

Usable products that start with real problems and lead to interfaces as clear as they are beautiful.

Also comfortable with: e-commerce builds (Shopify/WordPress), technical SEO & AEO, and Agile delivery.

How it works

Thoughtful process,
a little magic.

From first idea to confident launch: here’s how I turn problems into products.

Step 01

Discovery & Framing

Understanding real user needs and business goals, and defining a clear direction before a single pixel.

Step 02

Design & Systems

Shaping ideas into flows, interfaces, and a scalable design system that stays on-brand as it grows.

Step 03

Build with AI

Pairing with Claude Code to go from concept to production for faster iterations and tighter design-to-dev.

Step 04

Ship & Refine

Polishing visuals, performance, and technical SEO/AEO to launch with confidence.

The stack

Tools behind the work

The kit I reach for to design, build, and ship, with AI woven through it all.

Figma
Claude Code
ChatGPT
Next.js
React
Tailwind CSS
TypeScript
Storybook
Webflow
Shopify
WordPress
GitHub
Vercel
Netlify
Notion
Maryl Gonzalez

Hey! That’s me.

I’m Maryl Gonzalez, an AI-Native Design Engineer & Design Technologist based in Kansas City, KS, originally from Guadalajara, México.

With 10+ years across product design and branding, I now build products end-to-end by pairing with Claude Code.

Founder of Talexa and Co-Founder of The App Chefs, and that founder-level ownership is what I bring to every product I touch.

I’m a product designer, entrepreneur, and builder passionate about creating technology that feels intuitive, beautiful, and genuinely meaningful.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked at the intersection of design, engineering, AI, and business, helping startups and growing companies transform ambitious ideas into products people love to use. My work spans UX strategy, visual design, branding, design systems, front-end development, and AI-native experiences, always with one goal: turning complexity into clarity.

I believe great products aren’t just functional: they create trust, inspire curiosity, and make people’s lives a little better every time they’re used.

That belief has led me to build companies, launch digital products, mentor teams, create communities, and explore how thoughtful design can bridge technology with human connection. Whether I’m designing an AI-powered platform, crafting a brand identity, or imagining a physical space where people gather, I’m always asking the same question:

How can this experience make someone feel seen, empowered, and delighted?

My process blends systems thinking with craftsmanship. I care deeply about the details (interaction, typography, motion, storytelling, and visual hierarchy), but I never lose sight of the bigger picture. Every interface is part of a larger experience. Every product is part of someone’s story.

Outside of work, I’m endlessly curious. I’m inspired by emerging technology, thoughtful architecture, editorial photography, psychology, spirituality, and the small moments where design quietly improves everyday life. Those influences shape not only how I design, but also how I lead, collaborate, and build.

I don’t just enjoy creating products.
I love creating experiences that people remember.

UI/UX Design96%
AI-Native Design Engineering93%
Design Systems & Branding92%
JavaScript (React/Next.js)78%

Certifications

Always learning: a few of the certificates and courses along the way.

Webflow 101 Certification

Webflow University·Online·Sep 2024

Empower Women Speakers for Your WordPress Events in Latin America (#WPDiversity)

Ericka Barboza (@Pastelitocr) & Jill Binder (@jillbinder)·In person · San José, Costa Rica·Nov 2021

Product Owner Accredited Certification™

International Scrum Institute™·Online·Oct 2019

Mastering Innovation & Design Thinking

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)·In person · Boston, MA·Jan 2018

Scrum Master Accredited Certification™

International Scrum Institute™·In person · Guadalajara·Jun 2017

Design Sprint for Voice Interface

UX Digital Summit Guadalajara 2018·In person · Guadalajara·Nov 2017

Agile UX Masterclass

UXPin·Online·Mar 2017

User Experience and Interaction Design Certification

The Interaction Design Foundation·Online·Jan 2017

User Experience for the Web

Open2Study·Online·May 2013

Cross-Platform Mobile Development with Appcelerator Titanium

DWSoftware·In person · Guadalajara·May 2012

Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)

Interlingua México·In person · Guadalajara·Sep 2012

Talks & Workshops

I love sharing what I learn with agencies, companies, and tech communities. “Sharing is caring.”

Introduction to No-Code (Web Development Without Code)

(Introducción al No-Code (Desarrollo Web sin código))

Talk·GeekGirl Meetup · Wizeline Guadalajara·Jan 2025

WordCamp México 2020: Closing Session

(Acto de Clausura)

Talk·WordCamp México 2020 (panel, 15 speakers)·2020·Watch

How to Take In-Person Businesses Online

(Cómo llevar negocios presenciales a internet)

Talk·WordPress Meetup Guadalajara · with Jean Saldaña·Apr 2020·Watch

Meetup #21: Design Workflow, Design Process with WordPress

(Meetup #21: Design Workflow: Proceso de diseño con WordPress)

Talk·WordPress Guadalajara·Nov 2019·Watch

How to Work with Remote Teams (The New Normal)

(Cómo trabajar con equipos remotos (Nueva normalidad))

Talk·WordCamp Guadalajara·Oct 2019·Watch

Design Thinking for New Development Teams

Talk·Women Who Code Boston · Boston, MA·Jan 2018

TECH & Women

Talk·WordCamp Mexico City 2017 (WordCamp CDMX)·May 2017·Watch

How to Start a WordPress Community in Your City

(Cómo iniciar una comunidad de WordPress en tu localidad)

Talk·WordCamp Bogotá 2017 · Colombia·Sep 2017·Watch

WordPress Basics: Workshop & Meetup

(WordPress Básico (Workshop & Meetup))

Workshop·Campus Party México·Jul 2017

Web Design Patterns & Trends 2017

(Patrones y tendencias de diseño Web 2017)

Talk·Talent Woman · Campus Party México·Jul 2017

How to Build Your Website with WordPress from Scratch

(Cómo crear tu sitio Web con WordPress desde 0)

Talk·TechWo Community·Jun 2017

How to Build Your Website with WordPress from Scratch (Workshop)

(Cómo crear tu sitio Web con WordPress desde 0: Workshop)

Workshop·TechWo Community·Jun 2017

1st Meetup: Introduction to WordPress Guadalajara

(1er Meetup: Introducción a WordPress Guadalajara)

Talk·WordPress Guadalajara·Jun 2017

UX Nights GDL: UI Design Patterns & Trends

(UX Nights GDL: Patrones y Tendencias de diseño UI)

Talk·UX Nights GDL·Feb 2017

#devHangout: Design Thinking

Talk·devHangout·Sep 2016

Campus Party 2016: Design Thinking

Talk·Campus Party México·Jul 2016

Design Thinking (Workshop)

Workshop·Tech Women Community·May 2016

Technovation Challenge Masterclass: How to Monetize Your App

Workshop·Technovation Challenge·Mar 2016

Mobile App Design & Development (Native & Hybrid)

(Diseño y desarrollo de Apps Móviles (Nativas e Híbridas))

Talk·Campus Party 2015 · UdeG & Tech Women Community·Jun 2015

Behind the magic

Currently conjuring.

A peek behind the curtain, where brand systems, products, and visuals are taking shape in the studio.

Luuvi: Brand identity WIP

Luuvi

Brand identity

FlowSuite: Brand identity WIP

FlowSuite

Brand identity

WPBueno: Mascot illustration WIP

WPBueno

Mascot illustration

SmartPlant: Mobile app screens WIP

SmartPlant

Mobile app screens

Kind words

They loved working together.

Words from clients I’ve partnered with through The App Chefs, the design & development studio I co-founded.

The App Chefs' team helped us transform our website, providing an e-Commerce solution far superior to our previous site with a streamlined user experience.
GRGabrielle RichardsonMarketing Manager · Ten Minutes by Tractor
Ash, Maryl and team don't just become your Dev/Design partner, but also your friend. They are 110% committed to the success of your web, app, or software launch.
WWWeston WoodwardFounder · Woodward Media
The team's work is genuinely deep and thoughtfully crafted. Both the GardenSage™ app and our new site generated positive feedback from every direction: our team, our users, and our partners.
BWBert WahlenFounder · SmartPlant®
FAQ

Questions you might have
before we begin.

Yes. I design and build custom products end to end, from brand and UX/UI to a production-ready front-end. Because I pair with AI (Claude Code), I move from concept to shipped much faster than a traditional design-then-dev handoff.

Founders, startups, and small teams who want something thoughtful and distinctive: SaaS products, brands, and e-commerce. Through The App Chefs I’ve partnered with everyone from early-stage founders to established brands.

We start with discovery: understanding your users, goals, and constraints. From there I frame a clear direction, then move into design, build, and launch, always in small, reviewable steps so you’re never in the dark.

Whatever works best for you, but I lean on an Agile rhythm with regular check-ins and shared progress, so feedback is easy and the work stays aligned with your vision.

Absolutely. A lot of the value is in shaping the idea. If you’re unsure, we’ll talk it through and I’ll help turn a fuzzy concept into a clear, buildable plan.

Have a project
in mind?

Let’s make a little magic together.

maryl@theappchefs.com
Designed & built with Claude Code

© 2026 Maryl Gonzalez. All rights reserved.