About

Designer, builder, and concert collector.

Hey, I'm Janita, a Product Designer in Toronto. Previously at The Guardian and AND Digital.

Portrait of Janita Da-Costa

My approach

I like getting to the problem before getting to the pixels.

A brief is often just the starting point. I want to understand what's driving it, who it affects and whether it's the right thing to solve, using research, data and collaboration to turn ambiguity into a clear direction. From discovery and workshops through to interaction design and prototyping, I work closely with product, engineering and stakeholders to bring ideas through to delivery.

I'm also exploring how AI accelerates exploration and execution, and understanding where human judgement in decisions is essential.

Experience

How I work

I’m comfortable with unfinished work

I don't need to have everything figured out before I start sharing. I like putting ideas out early, seeing what sticks, exploring different directions and making changes when things aren't working.

I’m practical

I like knowing what's possible and what we're working with. I think about constraints early and enjoy finding solutions that are useful for the users and realistic for the team building them.

I’m curious beyond my role

I like understanding how things work, even when they're outside my usual responsibilities. That might mean getting closer to the technical side, trying a new tool or learning something completely new just because I'm interested in it.

I care about doing good work

I want to make things I'm proud of, but I don't think good work is just about the final output. I care about the decisions behind it, learning as I go and working with others to make something better.

Outside of design

I'm a big fan of live music. My notes-app list of every show I've been to eventually became Scenes. I also play tennis, love travelling and like trying new creative experiences.

  • Janita standing courtside on the grass at WimbledonWimbledon
  • Light beams and confetti over a concert crowdLive music
  • Janita holding a pink tufted rug at Kreative Crafts ClubFirst time rug tufting
  • Janita on the pier in front of a Virgin Voyages cruise shipCaribbean cruise
  • An orange sunset over the Toronto skyline from a lakeside boardwalkToronto sunsets