01
Start with the task.
Understand what someone came to do, what they need to know, and where the experience asks too much of them.
Independent mind. Shared ambition.
The person.
Behind the work.
Alfredo Mercedes
Design, with people in mind.
Design, with people in mind.
I’m Alfredo, a product designer and builder based in New York. I work where complex services, accessible interfaces, and the systems behind them meet.
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FORM & ROAMY / Concept brand identities
01 / My story
A spark.
A point of view.
A brighter web.
Blue Beacon Creative is my solo freelance consultancy. Since 2018, I’ve worked directly with companies as an independent designer and developer, often alongside their in-house teams.
My nonprofit work includes Goodwill Central Texas, World Education Services, its publication WENR, and Young Heroes. Those experiences connect very different tasks: finding a program, understanding a credential service, researching an education system, or supporting a child’s future.
Across that work, I care about the relationship between the visitor’s next step and the team’s ability to support it. A page needs to communicate clearly; the system behind it needs to remain useful as content and priorities change.
Explore my workDesign and development, together
From a shared question
to a working experience.
I contribute hands-on design and development while working with the people responsible for the organization’s services, content, and technology.
Flows, prototypes, and working interfaces give us something concrete to discuss. They help connect a stakeholder’s request to the person using the product, the choices available, and the work needed to deliver it.
I stay close to implementation because decisions about interaction, content, and accessibility continue after the design file is approved.
02 / My philosophy
A beautiful web.
For everyone.
Accessibility isn’t an option.
It’s part of the craft.
Accessibility shapes how I structure information and build interactions. Can someone find the relevant service, understand the next action, and use the interface with a keyboard or screen reader?
Readable type, meaningful labels, predictable navigation, and usable forms are part of that work. Automated checks help surface issues; manual review is needed to understand the experience around them.
Learn with Accessible Bits03 / The heart of the craft
Why I do
what I do.
02
Make decisions discussable.
Use flows, prototypes, and clear explanations to make choices and tradeoffs visible to the people doing the work.
03
Build for what comes next.
Connect the immediate experience to the reusable patterns and publishing tools that help a team maintain it.
A builder, too
I put my own
ideas to work.
I also develop AstralKit, Pinbly, A11yGenius, and LogoZap. These independent product explorations give me room to test ideas about accessibility, design systems, and useful interfaces, and to bring what I learn back into my work with teams.
Explore the products
04 / How I work
Curiosity first.
Then make it real.
01
Understand the real need.
Bring stakeholder context, user journeys, and the existing experience into the same conversation. Find the point of confusion before choosing a solution.
02
Make the thinking visible.
Use flows, prototypes, and clear explanations to explore alternatives. Share the tradeoffs so the team can make a decision together.
03
Build, learn, and refine.
Connect design to working interfaces and reusable patterns. Consider accessibility, feedback, and recovery throughout the experience.
05 / In good company
The work matters.
So do the relationships.
[Blue Beacon Creative] has been instrumental in helping our organization modernize our infrastructure with a keen eye toward accessibility, which is a key factor in reaching our target audience. It’s been a great relief knowing that our site is in the best hands.
“I had never met someone so devoted to his work. Alfredo is on a constant journey to evolve his craft through knowledge, and it's refreshing to see. Alfredo’s research-driven approach to web development and UX Design allows him to come up with ingenious solutions, which is like magic to me!”
“Whenever I have a need for website development or accessibility support, Alfredo is always my go-to expert. You won't find a better person that truly cares about your goals and supports your success.”
“Alfredo is an experienced web developer and consultant building premium digital solutions for the web. I have worked with him on several projects; he is known for his passion and expertise in creating inclusive, impact-driven web experiences using accessible technology.”
06 / Recognition
A little
outside perspective.
2024 / Web Marketing Association
Non-Profit Standard of Excellence
Goodwill Central Texas
2018 / Web Marketing AssociationWebAward for Outstanding Achievement
Young Heroes / Nonprofit
2018 / Graphic Design USAAmerican Web Design Awards
Young Heroes
USA Today / Contributor featureChampioning web accessibility for everyone
The mission behind my practice.
Collabs.io / InterviewWeb accessibility & inclusive design
The accessibility mission behind my freelance practice.
07 / Always exploring
A few things
worth exploring.
What is Blue Beacon Creative?
Blue Beacon Creative is my solo freelance consultancy. I do the design and development work myself, collaborating directly with companies as an independent contractor. Engagements often center on one primary client at a time or on adding hands-on capacity to an existing team.
How do you make accessibility part of the work?
I consider accessibility from the first content and design decisions through development and review. That includes readable type, clear navigation, keyboard interaction, meaningful image alternatives, and usable forms. Automated checks support manual review and feedback from the people using the experience.
How do you work with a team?
As a contractor, I work alongside the people responsible for the product, often as an extension of their in-house team. I make the thinking visible through flows, prototypes, and working interfaces, explain tradeoffs, and stay close to implementation. My focus is on contributing to the team’s priorities and carrying the work through.
What does your accessibility education cover?
My educational work helps designers, developers, and content teams understand accessibility in everyday decisions. Accessible Bits covers color contrast, typography, navigation, and inclusive UX, with videos and written transcripts.
How do you approach privacy and security?
I start with the information the product needs, who needs access, and how it will be maintained. I favor collecting less data, appropriate access controls, and maintained dependencies. The details depend on the product and platform.
What kinds of projects do you work on?
My work spans product design, accessible websites, design systems, and front-end development. I work with companies to understand the problem, shape the experience, and carry design decisions through to implementation.