Designing products.
Building teams.

I’m Raphael, a product design lead based in Vienna. I work across product strategy, UX and interface design, with 12+ years of experience in banking, fintech, AI and Web3.

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Raphael Wartanian standing beside a window.

Hands-on design.
A wider perspective.

I’ve taken products from their first concept to launch, built a UX chapter at ING, and coordinated designers across mobile and web at Raiffeisen. My work brings together product direction, interface design and the people needed to make it happen.

I work closely with founders, product teams and engineers, and represent UX in leadership discussions. I care about clear decisions and about carrying the design through to implementation.

Experience

  1. Gubbi Digital Assets

    2024–Present

    Product Design Lead, UX / UI

    Leading design for B2B digital asset platforms, working closely with the CEO from strategy through delivery across Central Europe and Southeast Asia.

  2. Independent

    2021–2024

    Product Design & UX Consultant

    Product strategy, onboarding and customer experience for startups including Mava AI, Sweatcoin, Clearfund and Anyline.

    View Mava AI case study
  3. brokkr.finance

    2021–2023

    Product Design Lead, UX / UI

    Took an automated Web3 portfolio platform from concept to launch, working with product and engineering. Brokkr raised more than $5M to fund the launch.

    View case study
  4. Raiffeisenbank AT

    2020–2021

    Head of UX, Digital Banking

    Led product UX for the digital banking relaunch, coordinated four designers and represented UX in leadership steering committees.

    View case study
  5. ING Direktbank

    2019–2020

    UX & UI Lead, Digital Banking

    Led UX and UI for retail banking products, increasing onboarding completion by 70%. Established the UX chapter and grew the team to two designers.

    View case study
  6. IBM iX

    2017–2019

    Art Director, UX / UI

    Led UX/UI delivery for clients including BMW, Wienerberger and Heineken. Work included a Wienerberger platform rolled out across 30+ international websites.

    View Wienerberger case study
  7. GGK MullenLowe

    2015–2017

    Designer, Digital & Brand

    Created digital campaigns and UX concepts for Austrian brands and new-business pitches.

  8. mySugr

    2013–2014

    Designer, Generalist / UX

    Joined as the first design hire while studying, shaping the early product and brand with the founders.

Education

Master’s in UX Management

2019–2022

Technikum Vienna

Thesis: Usability Evaluation of Crypto DeFi Platforms.

Diploma in Media & Game Design

2011–2016

HTL Spengergasse

IBM Enterprise Design Thinking certified.

Outside work

I’m a father and husband, and I like to spend my weekends outdoors. I’m also interested in modern architecture and city planning: how the places we build shape everyday life.