Mateo’s story: learning to think like a designer

For Mateo, studying Interaction Design at Harbour.Space was about more than learning how to create beautiful experiences. It was about developing a mindset: learning how to approach problems, think beyond his own discipline, and find inspiration in the people around him.

Today, Mateo is a Senior Product Designer at Perk, building experiences in the Travel and Expense space. But his journey started in Barcelona, where his time at Harbour.Space helped shape not only his approach to design, but also his career and his perspective on the world.

I studied for a Master’s degree in Interaction Design. What I enjoyed most was getting to work closely with top-level designers from all over the world and learning more about their ways of working and how they approach design.

I also learned that design is much more about hard work than just talent.

Barcelona is a great city with lots to offer. I didn’t expect as much from the city as I ended up getting, but one of the things that made the experience even better was the opportunity to share it with students from all over the world and from many different backgrounds.

Barcelona was also a door to the world for me. I’ve been very lucky to have lived here and to have had the chance to travel to places I never thought I would visit.

During my studies, I had the chance to do a couple of internships. During my last one, I was lucky enough to receive a full-time job offer in Barcelona.

I worked there for a couple of years, helping to build a peer-to-peer payment app. Five years ago, I switched jobs, and I’m currently working as a Senior Product Designer at Perk, where I build experiences in the Travel and Expense space.

More than specific knowledge, the thing that stuck with me was the mindset I developed towards work.

Being a designer isn’t only about building beautiful layouts and experiences, although we certainly learned how to do that. There’s also a huge part of the job that involves bringing together tools from different skill sets, from conducting research to building a narrative and finding the right way to communicate and sell your designs.

I’m also very grateful for the wide range of topics I was able to explore during my studies. I remember taking a module on finance, for example, which helped me better understand how the world works and how my work as a designer is connected to it.

Come with an open mind. Be ready to step outside your comfort zone and find your own answers, while knowing that you have the support of very smart people around you: your teachers and your colleagues.

For Mateo, the most valuable lesson from his time at Harbour.Space wasn’t a specific tool, technique, or design skill. It was learning how to think.

From discovering new perspectives in an international community to exploring subjects beyond design, his experience in Barcelona helped him develop a mindset that continues to shape the way he works today.

Because great design isn’t just about what you create. It’s about how you think, how you approach problems, and how you understand the world around you.