Design Across the Aisle: Bridging Brand and Product

Some design journeys begin with a clear destination. Others unfold when opportunity knocks. For Pedro Lopes, the move into product design wasn’t a pivot, it was an expansion.

Originally joining Mercedes-Benz.io as a Brand Designer, Pedro brought with him a strong background in UX/UI. His focus was on visual storytelling, identifying systems, and helping shape how the company shows up to the world. But when the chance came to contribute to product work, it isn't a switch, it was a step into a space he already knew and valued.

It wasn't about feeling limited in branding. It was about getting closer to the product and having a direct role in shaping the user’s experience.

Today, Pedro continues to work across both Brand and Product, a hybrid rhythm that challenges him to balance long-term storytelling with short-cycle delivery.

PI Planning: A Trial by Fire

There’s no better crash course in product than your first PI Planning. For Pedro, it felt like stepping into the engine room of a massive ship: “I had never worked in such high-stakes, structured conditions. It was intimidating at first but energising too.”

What was his biggest challenge? Planning. Thinking ahead. Breaking goals into realistic, deliverable parts. It wasn’t about the perfect solution, it was about alignment, visibility, and setting the pace for the team.

That shift helped me feel more confident, structured, and aware of how my work fits into the broader sprint goals.

Iteration with Intention

In brand design, the pace is different: milestones are set, campaigns are crafted, timelines can be more fluid. But in product design, Pedro discovered is a different kind of tempo.

The cadence is much faster, but it’s also deeply intentional. Daily standups, refinements, they’re not chaos, they’re rhythm.

That rhythm allows for tight collaboration, fast feedback, and a shared focus on improving the experience in real-time. For someone used to polishing visuals in longer cycles, it was a new challenge.

Designing Together

Working in Brand meant working closely with the Communications team, but often, Pedro was the only designer in the room. Shifting into Product changed that.

Now, I get to have regular syncs with other designers, exchange feedback, and discuss different approaches to similar challenges.

That peer-to-peer collaboration opened up a new layer of growth. It wasn’t just about getting input, it was about developing ideas in dialogue with other designers.

Having that space to talk design with peers has been a game-changer. It’s not just about sharing opinions, it’s about growing together through conversation.

For Pedro, it was a reminder that great design isn’t a solo pursuit, it’s a shared effort shaped through open conversation and creative trust.

Bringing Brand Into Product

Pedro’s brand mindset didn’t disappear when he joined a product team. In fact, it became one of his biggest assets.

I bring a strong visual foundation and a sense of storytelling. That helps me align the team around ideas, pitch solutions, and advocate for users.

Design isn’t just how it looks. It’s how it communicates. How it feels. How it explains itself. That understanding helped Pedro navigate cross-functional conversations and elevate the clarity behind each solution.

What’s Next?

Pedro isn’t “done” learning, he is really far from it. What excites him now is building on this new layer of context. He wants to get involved earlier, contribute more proactively, and continue bridging the two worlds he straddles every day.

Now that I understand how planning flows into delivery, I want to shape solutions from day one.

After my first PI, I’ve learned that…

…design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. And the more context you gain, the more meaningful and strategic your work becomes.