About Me
I’m a designer based in Patras, Greece, with 8 years of graphic design experience and nearly 2 years working in UX/UI. That combination is the work — editorial and brand craft brought into digital product design.
Most UX designers come to the field from engineering, product, or visual design. I came from publishing. Since 2017 I’ve been the lead designer of NHEG Guide Magazine, a Globee Award-winning educational publication. Every issue taught me what editorial designers know early: that consistency is harder than novelty, that systems beat single decisions, and that good design has to hold up in year eight as well as in week one.
That discipline now shapes how I approach product work. For Plavio Uganda I redesigned an NGO website for low-bandwidth mobile users in Northern Uganda. For Flow Care I designed a menstrual health app for teenage girls in rural Uganda — many of them first-time smartphone users. Both projects forced harder design decisions than a single-audience brief would have demanded.
What I work on
Brand systems · Editorial and publication design · UX/UI for digital products · Long-term editorial partnerships
How I work
Clear briefs
Direct communication. No mystery hours. I overcommunicate when I’m uncertain, push back when I disagree, and ship when I say I will. I’m transparent about tools — Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, AI-assisted creation where it earns its place — and honest about what I haven’t yet tested.
Beyond the desk
I read more psychology than design books — human behavior is the most useful UX research there is. I enter design competitions to stay sharp (Stellars Awards 2021 Finalist, 99designs winner 2024). I work best with clients who care as much about why as what.
I’m a designer based in Patras, Greece, with 8 years of graphic design experience and nearly 2 years working in UX/UI. That combination is the work — editorial and brand craft brought into digital product design.
Most UX designers come to the field from engineering, product, or visual design. I came from publishing. Since 2017 I’ve been the lead designer of NHEG Guide Magazine, a Globee Award-winning educational publication. Every issue taught me what editorial designers know early: that consistency is harder than novelty, that systems beat single decisions, and that good design has to hold up in year eight as well as in week one.
That discipline now shapes how I approach product work. For Plavio Uganda I redesigned an NGO website for low-bandwidth mobile users in Northern Uganda. For Flow Care I designed a menstrual health app for teenage girls in rural Uganda — many of them first-time smartphone users. Both projects forced harder design decisions than a single-audience brief would have demanded.
What I work on
Brand systems · Editorial and publication design · UX/UI for digital products · Long-term editorial partnerships
How I work
Clear briefs
Direct communication. No mystery hours. I overcommunicate when I’m uncertain, push back when I disagree, and ship when I say I will. I’m transparent about tools — Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, AI-assisted creation where it earns its place — and honest about what I haven’t yet tested.
Beyond the desk
I read more psychology than design books — human behavior is the most useful UX research there is. I enter design competitions to stay sharp (Stellars Awards 2021 Finalist, 99designs winner 2024). I work best with clients who care as much about why as what.
Skills & Expertise
UX/UI Design
- User research and wireframing
- Responsive web design and prototyping
- User‑centered interface design
- Usability testing and iteration
Graphic Design
- Brand identity and visual systems
- Typography and Color Theory
- Editorial and publication design
- Marketing materials and promotional graphics
Tools & Platforms
- Figma,
- Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD
- WordPress and Elementor
- Canva for rapid iterations
UX/UI Design
- User research and wireframing
- Responsive web design and prototyping
- User‑centered interface design
- Design systems, components, and style guides
Graphic Design
- Brand identity and visual systems
- Typography and Color Theory
- Editorial and publication design
- Marketing materials and promotional graphics
Tools & Platforms
- Figma,
- Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD
- WordPress and Elementor
- Canva for rapid iterations
Soft Skills
How I actually work
Soft skills are easier to claim than to demonstrate. Here’s specific evidence of mine
- Long-term client relationships. I’ve been the lead designer of NHEG Guide Magazine since 2017 — 40+ issues, one client, 8 years. Most freelance designers don’t survive year three with a single client. Surviving year eight requires very different skills than year one: editing your own ego, accepting feedback gracefully, and making peace with the fact that consistency matters more than personal creative ambition.
- Remote work across time zones and cultures. I coordinate design work with Plavio Uganda’s leadership in Lira, Northern Uganda — 6+ hour time zone differences, intermittent internet, primarily WhatsApp-based communication. I’ve adapted my workflow to feedback delays measured in days, not hours.
- Cross-functional collaboration. I’ve worked alongside NGO founders, healthcare professionals (Dr. Erin Tenney on her postpartum book cover), volunteer photographers (eight years of rotating contributors at NHEG), and trained moderators (designing Flow Care’s community features). Different stakeholders, different vocabularies, same outcome: design that works in their world.
- Continuous practice. I enter design competitions (Stellars 2021 Finalist, 99designs 2024 winner) to stay sharp on briefs I’d never get from clients. The competitive context forces decisions I’d otherwise avoid.
Soft Skills
- Problem-Solving & Adaptability – I thrive in navigating creative design roadblocks and adapting to mid-project scope changes. For example, I mastered Figma during a project transition and delivered on time while improving usability scores by 15%.
- Adaptability & Interpersonal Skills – I work seamlessly with diverse clients, teams, and stakeholders, adjusting my communication style and approach to meet different needs and personalities. Whether collaborating with developers, NGO founders, or small business owners, I build strong working relationships based on trust and understanding.
- Continuous Learning – Passionate about staying at the forefront of design trends and technologies, I regularly complete courses and certifications to expand my expertise.
- Collaboration & Communication – I excel in working with cross-functional teams, developers, and stakeholders to transform creative concepts into impactful solutions that meet client objectives.
- Remote Work Excellence – I have extensive experience working professionally with remote teams across different time zones. I excel at maintaining clear communication, meeting deadlines, and collaborating through digital tools to deliver high-quality results regardless of location.
Awards & Recognition
Over the years, my work has been part of award‑winning projects and teams.
POSTER STELLARS
Dionysus Pub *Marina Klimi* Greece
SELECTED STELLAR ADVERTISING CATEGORY PROFESSIONAL
View My submission here.
Empowered Postpartum Planning
An award-winning cover designed for Empowered Postpartum Planning Guide by Dr. Erin Tenney (DNP, CNM, WHNP), a certified nurse-midwife.
Selected as the winning concept on 99designs for its calm, emotionally resonant, and authentic feel, this cover features an original image I created using Midjourney.
2021 BRONZE STEVIE® WINNERS
New Heights Educational Group, Defiance, OH:
Marina Klimi, Volunteer Social Media and Marketing Team Lead
2020 SILVER WINNER
New Heights Educational Group, Inc |
Defiance, Ohio 43512
Marina Klimi and NHEG EDGuide | Marina Klimi
2020 GOLDEN BRIDGE AWARD WINNERS
New Heights Educational Group | Defiance, OH USA | Marina is Production Manager of our magazine which is published bi-monthly and has been volunteering with us for 7 years.
She is the Lead Social Media and Marketing (AVDD) and a graphic designer. | Marina Klimi
