UX Designer Based
in Chicago

Sean McCarthy Art and Creative - Designs

I design intuitive, accessible digital experiences for SaaS products, web platforms, and mobile applications. 8+ years of experience partnering with product and engineering teams to ship scalable, user-centered design. M.Sc. in Creative Technologies.

View my work
A profile of Sean, with glasses and a beard in a red pullover sweater and a black collar standing in front of a blurred office background. The image is overlaying a faded mockup of application design phone screens.

Past clients and employers

Thatcher Oaks Commercial Awnings logo in black with a red awning going through it.Epsilon logo in blue spelled out.Rex logo with rex spelled out in black at the bottom and the logo mark of the rex dinosaur drawn like a childs sketch with a gold crown on its head sitting above the words.Vision Sign & Design logo with an anagram of the V and S combined with the V in black and the S in white and the words Vision Sign and Design, Design, Manufacture, Install written below it.Liquidus logo in blue spelled out with the logomark to the left of it showing a rounded square outlined in blue and 3 wavy lines starting from center flowing to top rightGDS Retail & Display Graphics logo all spelled out with a blue wand like object to the right and 2 gold rings orbiting the tip of the wand.
What I do

What I Do

My areas of expertise across UX, UI, and brand design.

UX Research
A journey map showing three different user journeys and how they will get to their desired destination.

UX Research

I take a research-driven, user-first approach grounded in two critical phases: Research and Define. Through user interviews, audits, and behavioral analysis, I uncover real needs, friction points, and opportunity gaps. In the define phase, I translate insights into clear problem statements, structured user journeys, and aligned product goals. The result is a strong strategic foundation that ensures every design decision is intentional, validated, and built around both user and business priorities.

UI Design
A journey map showing three different user journeys and how they will get to their desired destination.

UI Design

With a strong strategic foundation in place, I move into Design and Deliver. I craft clean, purposeful interfaces that balance usability with strong visual identity. From scalable design systems and typography to component libraries and interaction patterns, every element is built for clarity and cohesion. The final deliverables are polished, test-ready solutions that perform seamlessly across devices and support long-term product growth.

Graphic Design
A journey map showing three different user journeys and how they will get to their desired destination.

Graphic Design

I develop cohesive brand and visual systems that communicate with clarity and impact. From identity design and typography to campaign graphics and digital assets, I focus on building scalable visual languages rather than isolated pieces. Every element is crafted to maintain consistency across platforms while supporting long-term brand growth.

Case studies

My Work

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Multisensory Branding Research

Designing inclusive brand experiences beyond vision, a graduate research capstone exploring tactile, sonic, and olfactory identity systems.
UX Research
Accessibility
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SquareWaves Brand Identity System

Leading a full company rebrand from a fragmented visual identity to a scalable, documented brand system adopted across all platforms.
Brand Identity
Visual Design
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MeridianConnect — Enterprise SaaS UX Design

Redesigning a fragmented enterprise dealer portal into a unified, accessible SaaS experience through end-to-end UX design and a scalable component library.
UX Design
Design Systems
View project
Testimonials

What the clients say

Don't just take my word for it, see what the awesome people I work with have to say.

"Sean has a strong grasp of design fundamentals, the technical expertise to work across all major design software, and a genuine passion for creativity that shows in his work. He approaches every project with thoughtfulness and professionalism, consistently delivering work that is both strategic and visually compelling. He is proactive, collaborative, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the final result exceeds expectations. Anyone would be lucky to have him on their team!"

Ray Coklan

Co-Founder | SquareWaves

"Sean consistently brings a high level of professionalism and design expertise to the projects he supports for McCarthy Group. Whether working on large-scale trade show environments, digital assets, or print branding for major agricultural brands, he approaches each assignment with precision, creativity, and a strong understanding of brand standards. He is dependable, detail-oriented, and capable of executing under tight timelines without sacrificing quality. His ability to balance strategic thinking with polished execution makes him a valuable asset on any team."

Adam McCarthy

VP | McCarthy-Group

"Sean delivered an exceptional logo and brand kit for Keldorn Environmental Services. The quality of the work exceeded our expectations, and we're excited to roll it out across our marketing efforts. We'd absolutely work with him again and recommend him without hesitation."

Vanessa Peña

Marketing Manager | Geneva Holdings