Vlad Burca is a product designer and design lead with 15+ years of experience building intuitive interfaces, design systems, and digital experiences. He co-founded Product Rocket, a design agency based in Iasi, Romania, serving clients across Europe, the US, Israel, and the UAE.
I turn complexity into clarity. Whether it's an enterprise dashboard or a consumer mobile app, I'm always asking the same question: "Does this remove friction?" Complexity is fine. Confusion is the problem.
Academic institutions use these dashboards to monitor research integrity. Three weeks of analytics told us researchers were spending 60% of their time scrolling, not analyzing. We switched to tabbed navigation with sticky metrics and dynamic filtering. Information retrieval got 60% faster, WCAG compliance hit 100%, scrolling dropped 5x. Full case study.
Users didn't trust the data. That was the core problem. I rebuilt the visualization layer with a three-tiered typography system and five component states so you could always tell what the data was doing. Tasks got 38% faster, errors dropped 71%, and user confidence hit 9.4/10. Full case study.
120+ components for a global live video broadcasting platform. Atomic design, dual-typeface system (Plus Jakarta Sans + Inter), 8px grid. The system now runs across multiple products and regions. Design velocity went up 60% and cross-platform consistency hit 100%. Full case study.
The university's website was a decade old, slow, and hemorrhaging prospective students. We had four weeks. Stripped the IA down, killed the bloat, optimized everything. That year they got +4,200 new students (a record), pages got 91% smaller, loading went 10x faster. Full case study.
1,300+ scattered design variants. No documentation, no governance, no consistency. I consolidated the whole thing into a token-based system with proper docs and component governance. 60% fewer components, 40% faster handoff, 100% accessibility compliance. Full case study.
Took an HR tool from concept to an investor-ready standalone mobile product in 5 months. Designed the complete mobile experience — onboarding flows, performance management, feedback loops, and team dynamics dashboards. Launched as #3 Product of the Day on Product Hunt. Worked on this project for 6+ years alongside the founding team. Full case study.
The existing smart home app was cluttered and confusing. I redesigned it with a time-aware dashboard that adapts to daily routines, room-based navigation for grouping devices, and AI-powered recommendations. Visual clutter dropped 40%, onboarding got 2x faster. Full case study.
The interface was built by engineers, for engineers. I made it work for everyone else. Dark-mode-first, a slide-to-connect interaction that felt physical, and a 3-step onboarding you could finish in 30 seconds. Full case study.
Feature-heavy dashboard where power users thrived and everyone else drowned. I broke it into three modules with progressive disclosure. Power users kept everything; marketers could finally navigate without a manual. Tasks got 40% faster, retention went up 30%, cognitive load dropped 45%. Full case study.
Five founding recipes, one brand. Mid-century American diner aesthetic across logo, menus, packaging, signage, and digital. Big5 American Diner became #1 Hospitality Brand in Iasi within its first year. No paid ads, purely organic. Full case study.
"Generosity builds futures." A Christmas gift-giving campaign for underserved children in rural Romania. I designed the logo, campaign materials, social templates, and volunteer kits. Kit production went 3x faster once everything was templated and consistent. Full case study.
Educational workshops for children in rural Romania. The brand had to work for two very different audiences: kids (playful) and corporate donors (credible). Getting that balance right drove volunteer sign-ups and donor engagement. Full case study.
CyberGhost VPN, LiveU, CognitiveSEO, Signals, Anylyze, ResNet AI, Socyal, App4Home, Comodo, Dribbble, GlobalAI, Golden Path, Optymyze, SkyControl, Nestle, WHO, FameUp, Horexa, Digitail, BrandMentions, SedCom Libris, Portokal, Big5 American Diner, Katiusa, TUIASI, Holy Cow, Ideate Plus, Wawsome, Local Happinez, Uzina de Zambete — across Europe, US, Israel, and UAE.
Email: contact@vladburca.com
Phone: +40 786 652 539
Location: Iasi, Romania
Agency: Product Rocket — productrocket.ro
Open to: design leadership roles, consulting, design system engagements, workshops & talks.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vladburca
Facebook: facebook.com/im.vladburca
Instagram: instagram.com/vlad.burca
Agency: productrocket.ro
17 articles on design systems, UX, branding, and product strategy, published on Product Rocket.
"Vlad was one of the original mentors for the Design Systems course. As a clear expert in his field, Vlad sculpted each lesson with clarity and precision, transforming complexity into teachability — which is an incredible skill. His influence didn't stop at imparting knowledge; it permeated the very fabric of the mentorship program, shaping it into a nurturing environment where budding designers could flourish. What sets Vlad apart is his exceptional ability to forge personal connections with his students. His classes aren't just about teaching design principles; they're about fostering meaningful relationships and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and inspired."
— Jessica Ibbotson, Education Support at Dribbble (managed Vlad directly, 2021–2022)
"He's a top-notch Product Design expert whose work really makes a difference in every project he touches. What's impressive about Vlad is not just his skill in making things look good, but also how he thinks about the whole user experience from start to finish. This kind of thinking is crucial for creating successful apps. Vlad is also great at communicating. He really listens to what everyone has to say, takes the time to analyze things before making decisions, and always comes up with smart solutions to any problem. This is a rare quality that I really appreciate."
— Adrian Banu, VP Product at Optymyze
"Vlad possesses a rare combination of creativity, technical expertise, and leadership skills that make him stand out in the field of UX design. His deep understanding of design principles and methodologies enables him to consistently deliver intuitive and user-centric solutions. Whether it's crafting wireframes, conducting user research, or refining prototypes, Vlad approaches each task with meticulous attention to detail and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Vlad fosters a collaborative work environment where ideas are freely exchanged, and everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work."
— Vlad Hilitanu, Lead Experience Designer at EPAM Systems
"I highly recommend Vlad for his outstanding skills in UI/UX design. Throughout our collaboration, he showcased exemplary leadership qualities and demonstrated a proactive approach to every task. It was a pleasure working with Vlad, and I'm confident he will continue to excel in his future endeavors."
— Ionut Patrascoiu, CEO & Founder at FameUp (client)
"What truly sets Vlad apart is his knack for thinking outside the box and bringing innovative solutions to the table. Whether it's his UX expertise or his inventive approach to problem-solving, Vlad consistently impresses. Vlad is a dedicated and hardworking individual who isn't afraid to take initiative and go the extra mile to ensure project success. His open-mindedness and willingness to listen make him not only a great manager but also an invaluable teammate. I've always appreciated how Vlad fosters a collaborative environment where everyone's ideas are valued and respected."
— Earl Carvalho, Product Solutions Manager, Mobile Apps
"His designs are consistently intuitive, creating an effortless experience for end-users. I appreciate his collaborative approach to design. He is open to suggestions, actively listening to feedback and engaging in constructive dialogue. Vlad's capacity to grasp technical aspects, despite his non-technical background, is impressive. This proficiency not only facilitates smoother collaboration with technical teams but also enables him to envision innovative solutions that seamlessly integrate with technical needs."
— Lavinia Gherasim, Senior Java Software Engineer at Socyal
"Vlad is among the best of the design mentors I've worked with, and I learned a lot from him. His patience and determination to make a design system work smarter rather than harder is something all Product Designers and engineers truly value. Vlad demonstrated a brilliant technical mindset and a particularly sophisticated visual design aesthetic."
— Elena Levy, UX UI / Product / Design Systems Designer (Dribbble mentee)
View all recommendations on LinkedIn.