Kansas City, KS
Hello!
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.
AI-Native Design Engineering
Designing and shipping products with AI at the core, pairing with Claude Code from concept to production.
Design Systems & Branding
Brand systems and visual identities that make products unmistakable, from logo to a full design language.
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.
Thoughtful process,
a little magic.
From first idea to confident launch: here’s how I turn problems into products.
Discovery & Framing
Understanding real user needs and business goals, and defining a clear direction before a single pixel.
Design & Systems
Shaping ideas into flows, interfaces, and a scalable design system that stays on-brand as it grows.
Build with AI
Pairing with Claude Code to go from concept to production for faster iterations and tighter design-to-dev.
Ship & Refine
Polishing visuals, performance, and technical SEO/AEO to launch with confidence.
Tools behind the work
The kit I reach for to design, build, and ship, with AI woven through it all.
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.
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
Currently conjuring.
A peek behind the curtain, where brand systems, products, and visuals are taking shape in the studio.
WIPLuuvi
Brand identity
WIPFlowSuite
Brand identity
WIPWPBueno
Mascot illustration
WIPSmartPlant
Mobile app screens
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.
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.
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.
From the blog

How I Write a DESIGN.md Before Writing Any Code
The real DESIGN.md (colors, type scale, component specs, and all) that keeps WPBueno's landing page, dashboard, and Storybook system speaking the same visual language. Real tokens, real reasoning, copy-paste structure.

How I Build Device Mockups Without Figma or Photoshop
No mockup plugins, no PSD templates, just a browser, some CSS, and Claude Code taking the screenshot for me. The exact technique (code included) behind every project thumbnail on this site.
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.
© 2026 Maryl Gonzalez. All rights reserved.








