Gabriela Abello González
Strategic Designer & Researcher
I’m a Strategic Designer and Researcher with experience working across domains from reimagining sustainable housing systems to shaping a historical strategy game. I help teams navigate ambiguous problem spaces and move projects forward through sensemaking, co-creation, and early alignment around what really matters.
Across my work, I’m interested in how design decisions interact with larger systems and how those systems influence the way people live, move, and connect.
Across my work, I’m interested in how design decisions interact with larger systems and how those systems influence the way people live, move, and connect.
Selected Work
The Goodreads Paradox
Exploring the behavioral and structural forces behind Goodreads’ domination to show why better UX isn’t always enough
Rethinking housing in mountain towns to align technical, environmental, and social constraints into an award-winning housing strategy
My Approach
Design thinking
Human-centered design
Systems thinking
When problem spaces aren’t clear, I start mapping. I create structure by identifying what we know, what we don’t know (yet), and who’s involved. This helps teams see the situation more clearly, align early, and decide next steps.
From there, I focus on building a deep understanding of the context before trying to solve anything. I look at systems, habits, and social dynamics that shape how people interact with what I’m designing, so that I know we’re solving the right problem. My work is both collaborative and visual. I use simple frameworks, sketches, and workshops to engage different perspectives and challenge assumptions.
Through research and analysis, I look for patterns that lie under the surface. Often, I can use them to reframe the problem or point the team in a new direction altogether. From there, I use an iterative process, prototyping, testing, and adjusting as I go, while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Human-centered design
Systems thinking
When problem spaces aren’t clear, I start mapping. I create structure by identifying what we know, what we don’t know (yet), and who’s involved. This helps teams see the situation more clearly, align early, and decide next steps.
From there, I focus on building a deep understanding of the context before trying to solve anything. I look at systems, habits, and social dynamics that shape how people interact with what I’m designing, so that I know we’re solving the right problem. My work is both collaborative and visual. I use simple frameworks, sketches, and workshops to engage different perspectives and challenge assumptions.
Through research and analysis, I look for patterns that lie under the surface. Often, I can use them to reframe the problem or point the team in a new direction altogether. From there, I use an iterative process, prototyping, testing, and adjusting as I go, while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
Get in Touch!
I’m always happy to connect, whether digitally or in person, over a coffee.