Maria G. Salcedo

BizForge Design Solutions

From Solopreneur to Strategic Design Partner.

I craft captivating Web3 experiences that fuel user growth and brand recognition for ambitious startups. As a full-service agency of one, I wear many hats, taking ownership of all aspects of Web3 design projects, from branding and UI/UX design to crafting compelling marketing materials.

👉 Led cross-functional teams using agile methodologies to deliver impactful design solutions for a diverse range of projects (2D art, web interfaces, social media content, UI/UX).

👉 Collaborated closely with founders and developers to ensure seamless integration of design elements into applications.

👉 Within the Web3 space, this included leading the design of over 8 NFT projects, encompassing 28,000+ unique NFTs and 3,500+ conceptual assets (characters, PFPs, environments).

Let's discuss how I can elevate your project:
https://calendly.com/mgsalcedon/15min

Graphic Designer and Web Developer

Web3 Doers

I'm part of Web3 Doers PRO - Premium Web3 Growth community for Web3 Entrepreneurs - founders, consultants, thought leaders, builders, and content creators!

Our purpose is to create a diverse and inclusive platform that brings together Web3 doers and professionals from around the world, fostering growth, collaboration, and innovation in the Web3 space.

Our mission is to empower every community member to realize their full potential in the Web3 space.

Our vision is to become the world's leading community for Web3 doers and professionals, recognized for our commitment to diversity, collaboration, education, and innovation.

If you're interested in joining the Web3 Doers community, just send me a DM!

Web3 Doers PRO member

Lighthouse Cowork

Fueled community growth at Lighthouse, a crypto-friendly coworking space in Uruguay, by spearheading a cohesive design strategy across all channels.

👉 Crafted eye-catching social media graphics that resonated with their audience.
👉 Designed their entire website with Odoo website builder (They are Odoo Partners).
👉 Produced multiple offline and online design materials (brochures, pitch decks, etc.) that communicated Lighthouse's vision effectively to both crypto enthusiasts and traditional businesses.

Graphic designer 

Realtok

👉 Boosted brand awareness and user acquisition by collaboratively designing marketing materials across all channels (campaigns, social media graphics, website, branding assets, stickers, and print materials).

👉 Supported the sales team by crafting impactful graphic materials (stickers, banners, posters, and cards) that increased nodes per month.

👉 Leveraged design thinking to plan and create visuals for a new website.

WizBuds

👉 Crafted 2D illustrations for the NFT collection, website, and social media platforms, bringing the WizBuds world to life.

👉 Collaborated with a UX/UI team to design an intuitive and engaging website, resulting in a significant boost in traffic and user engagement.

👉 Created a suite of impactful social media graphics and web visuals that resonated with the target audience and strengthened brand recognition.

👉 Stayed ahead of the curve by identifying emerging market trends and incorporating them into the design process, ensuring WizBuds remained at the forefront of the NFT landscape.

👉 Collaborated effectively with the design team to streamline workflows, enhance team morale, and boost productivity in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

NFT Artist and Web Designer

UNEFA

If you've made it this far, you're likely curious as to how my background in Telecommunications engineering fits into my current business.

You see, being a tech enthusiast is an integral part of who I am. 

I have a passion for learning about innovative solutions, with a particular interest in IoT protocols and Satellite communications. I possess coding skills as well as the ability to create electronic circuits.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "What does this have to do with design?" 
While it may not seem related, I recognized the potential to leverage these skills in the Web3 space.

As a university professor, I often found myself teaching my students about Starlink and other technical topics. At the same time, I began freelancing and creating unique designs for clients around the world.

Despite being referred to as the "youngest teacher," I loved my job.

However, in 2018, I discovered Bitcoin and became in love with it.
One day I decided to focus all my efforts on designing for Web3 business. 

So I did.

And I won’t lie – turning my passion into a business felt incredibly good.
Web3 is the perfect match for creativity and tech.

So, how does being a "University Professor" make me a better Designer than I am today? 
1. It's easier for me to understand the technicalities of Web3.
2. I learnt how to explain complex things easily.
3. It's me being me. Authenticity rules!

Profesor universitario

Universidad José Antonio Páez

Professor & Lecturer – Telecommunications and Electronics Department

•	Use of technical schematics and manuals to understand operations and make successful repairs.
•	Communicate operational issues and changes to supervisor on regular basis.
•	Providing training and supervision for 6 new technicians and apprentices.

Assistant Electronics Technician – Telecommunications and Electronics Department

I help Web3 businesses improve their brand awareness 🚀 Brand Strategist | Graphic Designer | 2D Artist | Web Designer | I’m passionate about blockchain, NFTs and the power of building decentralized communities.

Hi! If you're reading this, it's likely because:
👉 You want to turbocharge your growth.
👉 You're a designer looking to improve your skills.
👉 You are a Web3 Recruiter looking for a designer.

After years of freelancing, I saw a gap – a need for design that spoke the language of Web3.

I can effectively communicate complex design concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. I love working collaboratively with developers, product managers, and marketing teams. I'm always looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow as a designer. 

Building in the decentralized world comes with unique challenges. You need to stand out in a crowded marketplace, foster trust with a new audience, and create interfaces that are intuitive and secure. That's where I come in.

Here's how I help you win in Web3:

✅ Web3 Marketing: Create compelling marketing materials that drive adoption and engagement.
✅ UI/UX: Design user interfaces that are not only beautiful but also intuitive.
✅ Branding: Build a strong brand identity that resonates with your audience.

Ready to turn your vision into reality?

🔥 Book a discovery call:
https://calendly.com/mgsalcedon/15min

CORE Member

We are LinkedIn's first official Alpha group & social syndicate.

We work together to learn, grow and build on the LinkedIn platform to ultimately curate inspiration and motivation within our communities.

The community was initially created as a social experiment to see if 100 individuals could work together to help each other grow.

Over the past 5 months, every single community member has seen growth in their relationships, sales, content engagement & impressions.

This is all because we have no leader, we work together, collectively, as a unit to help progress each other's growth.

If you're interested in joining the 100 community, send me a DM!

Snap-on

• Produce and execute social media and internal content for Snap-on and sub-brands Bahco and Lindström tools, enhancing brand visibility and improving team morale.
• Collaborate with end users/influencers and employees to create engaging campaigns for Instagram/YouTube/LinkedIn, strengthening relationships with target audiences.
•. Produce photo and video shoots of everyone from indie jewelers to our own factory employees to strengthen the Lindström community and bring the brand to life.

Communications Strategist

Star Atlas

- Penned keynote speeches, white papers and long form articles 
- Wrote and produced creative short videos for gaming audience
- Helped with social strategy and copy for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
- Developed relationships with key gaming journalists
- Produced live events like Twitter Spaces and Town Halls on Discord

Content Director

Verizon

- Help define the comms strategy for keeping Verizon's 135k employees informed and engaged.
- Develop content for Verizon's internal comms on social media.
- Develop/produce/write Inside Verizon's daily news show "Up To Speed".
- Produce/interview/edit written and video profiles of inspiring Verizon employees.
- Conduct research w/ employees to better understand UTS's audience's needs
- Host Up To Speed (daily news show).

Content Strategist/Communications Writer

Two Six Technologies

Co-led innovation workshop developing new branding for digital security services for physical retail locations. Conducted desk research and led cross-functional team in brainstorming exercises.

Innovation Consultant

Consumer Eyes

Manage projects as key client contact
     • Facilitate client & vendor interaction; manage junior staff, in-house art dept.
     • Responsible for project proposals/timelines/budgets
Write and present innovation platform/brand strategy decks
     • Distill data from multiple sources, organizing key insights into a clear narrative; 
        present to senior leadership 
Design and moderate empathic consumer interactions
     •	Develop research screeners, discussion guides, key takeaway reports, etc.
     •	Moderate focus groups, in-home ethnographies
Lead ideation sessions 
     • Inspire cross-functional teams to identify actionable consumer insights 
        that lead to distinct  opportunity areas
Develop concepts for new products
     • Craft consumer-friendly copy for concepts in a range of CPG categories
     • Collaborate with team on naming, brand architecture and pack/structure design
Research and identify future trends
     • Categories include global food and beverage, health & wellness, Millennials
        Gen Z, Boomers, Latin-x, etc.
Interview thought-leaders
     • Identify and recruit national/international experts, moderate discussion

Senior Writer/Project Director

•  Write dynamic, compelling concept copy 
•  Develop insight-driven brand strategies
•  Present Powerpoint reports to client teams
•  Manage national and global online qualitative research projects 
•  Mine key consumer insights from focus groups
•  Build innovative new product ideas
•  Conduct and edit video interviews with leading experts/ trend-setters 
•  Lead client teams on trend tours of NYC

Associate Project Director

•  Moderate 2 hour in-home ethnographic interviews
•  Edit video capturing key consumer insights

Ethnographic Researcher

"Whoopi" (NBC)

Freelance Sitcom Writer

Third Rock From The Sun (NBC)

• Pitch story ideas
• Develop seasonal arcs/break stories in writers' room
• Last minute joke punch ups during tapings

Staff Writer

Hope & Faith (ABC)

Seasoned communications lead with additional experience in social media marketing, market research and Hollywood storytelling.  

Strong belief that human creativity combined with leading tech (including AI, blockchain and AR/VR) will transform how companies operate, market, and connect with their customers and employees.

Proven track record of content success from LinkedIn to Instagram to primetime television.

A consummate team player with a dash of Midwestern positivity and a “boots on the ground” work ethic honed while serving at tech startups, Fortune 100 companies and Manhattan consultancies. 

Past clients/employers include Verizon, Starbucks, Nestlé, Colgate, McDonalds, Samsung, Snap-on, Lindström, Benjamin Moore, ATMTA (Star Atlas) and Pfizer.

Key Achievements
• Increased Star Atlas global community 26% over 6 months, despite bear market / crypto winter
• Grew Inside Verizon's LinkedIn followers over 94% for 4 straight quarters
• Part of Verizon team named 'Best Internal Corporate Comms During the Pandemic'
• Pitched and sold scripts to multiple Hollywood sitcom production companies
• Won Microsoft Interactive Script Competition for 'Stealin' Cecil's Smokes'

CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Using AI to boost marketing and content productivity
• Strategic Content Marketing Campaigns
• Internal Communications
• Content Creation and Production
• Leadership & Team Management
• Storytelling and Humor
• Social Media Strategy 
• Community Engagement
• Data Analysis & Performance
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Copywriting & ghostwriting
• LinkedIn Profile/Content Optimization
• Speech Writing 
• Public Relations / Press Releases
• Market Research

taplio

The Battle

Maria G. Salcedo

Dave Boerger

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