For over 20 years, Alvi Raquel Santos works at the intersection of technology and human experience, a space that continues to fascinate him. “I’m most excited about the power of design to bring technology and the human experience closer together,” he says. “Rapid advances in technology in this field are expanding the power of design to shape the human experience in entirely new ways.”
As a senior staff UX manager at googleArvi leads the app foundation team for the Google Search app on iOS and Android, directly contributing to the company’s mission to make the world’s information accessible and usable by people everywhere. It’s a role that’s at the heart of how millions of people interact with technology every day.
The San Francisco-based designer and educator brings a broad perspective shaped by her work across the technology spectrum. His career spans startups and global technology giants such as Meta, Fitbit, and Instacart. Through these various situations, Arvi has focused on creating beautiful and enjoyable experiences while building a design team that can tackle complex problems. His driving force remains constant: designing products and services that connect people, inspire creativity, and transform.
human element
But while Alvi celebrates the expanding potential of technology, he worries about what the profession could lose in the process. “Over the years, we have seen technology move the profession forward,” he reflects. “While the industry has grown with each technological leap forward, I am concerned about the commoditization of design. We risk losing the essential ‘art and craft’ that makes design human and impactful.”
It’s a tension that speaks to his dual role as both practitioner and educator. Someone who is invested in not only what design accomplishes today, but also in how the field evolves for tomorrow.
start with the right questions
When evaluating the submissions of 2026 Core77 Design AwardAlvi will bring this same basic idea to the jury process. His advice to applicants goes to the heart of design methodology. “Understand the core problem clearly and vividly. Too often, designers jump to creating solutions without first asking themselves: ‘Are we solving the right problem?'”
This is a reminder that before aesthetics, before execution, before innovation, you need to be clear about what you really need to solve.
professional winner of Apps and platforms Categories from 2025 are WE: Wellness support for non-native speaking women project From QIMU Design.
If you have a forward-thinking idea that will ignite a jury, please share it with us until 2026. Core77 Design Award.
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