About Me.

Hi, I’m João Acácio Santos, a UI/UX & Graphic Designer from Portugal, currently based in Barcelona, with 8+ years of experience.
I create interfaces that feel alive and tell a story. My focus is on experiences where function and atmosphere blend, and the user interface feels like part of the world, not just something sitting on top of it.
My creative journey started really early. I loved video games that allowed me to customize everything like cars, characters, emblems, shields... That obsession with customization soon became my fuel for creation.
Later in 2015, I started playing around with Photoshop, designing abstract wallpapers, social media graphics, logos, and assets for gaming communities all over the world for fun. What began as simple curiosity quickly turned into discipline.
In 2017, I moved from my hometown to Lisbon where I got my Graphic Design Certificate. At the same time, I kept growing as a self-taught designer, focusing on brand identity, artwork, merchandising, and visual communication. I especially loved working within gaming, esports, and music worlds.
My specialization in UI/UX for video games came later through actual production work. Upon an unexpected offer, I joined Gameloft Barcelona in 2022 as a 2D Artist, and my role soon evolved into UI Designer where I saw better potential for my career. That change forced me to rebuild my entire skillset from the ground up. I learned interface design, UX logic, HUD systems, and so much more through personal projects at home plus a UI Masterclass to build a stronger foundation, while applying it all daily in my professional work. It completely reshaped how I think about visuals. It's not just about how they look anymore, but how they behave and feel.
Today, I design UI/UX, HUDs, and 2D assets for games like the Asphalt Legends series and Disney Speedstorm. My job is to balance performance and style within these complex game worlds.
I'm naturally drawn to the futuristic and the dark. I'm driven, adaptable, and always learning. I push my work further every single day, building visual languages that don't just guide players, but truly immerse them in the experience.
Software Stack
Experience
Years of experience
8+
Satisfied clients
100+
Projects completed
100+
















