I started making websites as a hobby over 15 years ago, soon after graduating with a B.A. in Graphic Design from the University of Costa Rica. At the time, it was a way to connect with people around the world with the same interests as mine, namely anime; but I quickly found that I found the world of web design inherently fascinating. I took an introduction to web design course, and then taught myself to code just when websites were moving from table-based HTML to CSS.

Roughly at the same time, I began to work at Grupo Nación, a media company in Costa Rica, and home of its most important newspaper, La Nación. I started out in a very junior position in print design, but my goal was to move up to web design. I am particularly proud of achieving that goal because I was the first and only female web designer in my department.

Eventually I felt it was time to move on. I wanted to “fill in the blanks” of my self-taught web design and development skills. I moved to Barcelona and enrolled in the Master’s Degree in Design and Internet Web Project Direction at ELISAVA Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. The program was focused on user experience and on the basics of project management.

When I returned to Costa Rica, I decided to stay independent. I’ve worked as a freelance web design and development consultant for the last four years.

I still enjoy anime on occasion, and even learned basic Japanese because of it. I travel whenever I can, and I enjoy reading, following tv series, and practicing Ashtanga Yoga. I live with a former stray tabby cat named Milo.

Matilde Rosero