a person wearing a baseball cap
a person wearing a baseball cap
a person wearing a baseball cap

Hiya, I'm Nirel!

Hiya, I'm Nirel!

Curious soul at heart, Product Designer by trade.

Curious soul at heart, Product Designer by trade.

I’m the founder of Oolong Studio, where I channel the beauty I see in others into both visual identity work and digital products that help businessesβ€”and peopleβ€”blossom. While I love building brands, my heart lies in designing innovative solutions that genuinely improve lives, especially in health-tech.


My passion for UX stems from a combination of personal experiences: watching my immigrant parents care for others, supporting my grandparents, assisting older customers at Apple, and volunteering in hospitals. I’ve seen how technology can either empower or frustrate the people we love most, and I’m driven to make it empowering.


Drawing from my experience of running my own creative studio, working in tech, and design marketing, I bring a collaborative, business-minded approach to every project. I specialize in listening deeply and cultivating awareness to the root human need that layers through conversations and translating them into elegant, accessible solutions that prove simplicity and beauty can be purposeful.

I’m the founder of Oolong Studio, where I channel the beauty I see in others into both visual identity work and digital products that help businessesβ€”and peopleβ€”blossom. While I love building brands, my heart lies in designing innovative solutions that genuinely improve lives, especially in health-tech.


My passion for UX stems from a combination of personal experiences: watching my immigrant parents care for others, supporting my grandparents, assisting older customers at Apple, and volunteering in hospitals. I’ve seen how technology can either empower or frustrate the people we love most, and I’m driven to make it empowering.


Drawing from my experience of running my own creative studio, working in tech, and design marketing, I bring a collaborative, business-minded approach to every project. I specialize in listening deeply and cultivating awareness to the root human need that layers through conversations and translating them into elegant, accessible solutions that prove simplicity and beauty can be purposeful.

I’m the founder of Oolong Studio, where I channel the beauty I see in others into both visual identity work and digital products that help businessesβ€”and peopleβ€”blossom. While I love building brands, my heart lies in designing innovative solutions that genuinely improve lives, especially in health-tech.


My passion for UX stems from a combination of personal experiences: watching my immigrant parents care for others, supporting my grandparents, assisting older customers at Apple, and volunteering in hospitals. I’ve seen how technology can either empower or frustrate the people we love most, and I’m driven to make it empowering.


Drawing from my experience of running my own creative studio, working in tech, and design marketing, I bring a collaborative, business-minded approach to every project. I specialize in listening deeply and cultivating awareness to the root human need that layers through conversations and translating them into elegant, accessible solutions that prove simplicity and beauty can be purposeful.


Hiya, I'm Nirel!

Curious soul at heart,
Product Designer by trade.

My experiences

My experiences

My experiences

JAN 2022 - PRESENT

Creative & Product Designer at Oolong Studio

Lead designer & marketing through sculpting bold ideas into immersive experience through illustrations, web design, & photography.

JAN 2022 - PRESENT

Creative & Product Designer at Oolong Studio

Lead designer & marketing through sculpting bold ideas into immersive experience through illustrations, web design, & photography.

JAN 2022 - PRESENT

Creative & Product Designer at Oolong Studio

Lead designer & marketing through sculpting bold ideas into immersive experience through illustrations, web design, & photography.

JAN 2025 - APRIL 2025

Product Designer at Oulala

Sole Product Designer collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement a new social & itinerary feature.

JAN 2025 - APRIL 2025

Product Designer at Oulala

Sole Product Designer collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement a new social & itinerary feature.

JAN 2025 - APRIL 2025

Product Designer at Oulala

Sole Product Designer collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement a new social & itinerary feature.

JAN 2024 - MAY 2025

Marketing & Creative Designer at In My Elements

Led strategy, execution, and digital design for a wellness retreats, spanning paid ads, email marketing, social media, graphic design, and website redesign.

JAN 2024 - MAY 2025

Marketing & Creative Designer at In My Elements

Led strategy, execution, and digital design for a wellness retreats, spanning paid ads, email marketing, social media, graphic design, and website redesign.

JAN 2024 - MAY 2025

Marketing & Creative Designer at In My Elements

Led strategy, execution, and digital design for a wellness retreats, spanning paid ads, email marketing, social media, graphic design, and website redesign.

Design Philosophy

Lead with Curiosity.

I dig deep with open-ended questions, believing creativity and story spark the best solutions.

Collaboration sparks the brightest ideas.

Great design comes from many voices. Thoughtful listening and open feedback shape every outcome.

Simplicity with Heart.

"Keep it simple, silly!" is one of my mottos. Simple, accessible design empowers everyone to benefit from technology.

My Corner

educational Background

π–¦Ή BA in Psychology & Nutrition from San Diego State University

π–¦Ή DesignLab UX Academy (diversify design scholarship receipient)

π–¦Ή BA in Psychology & Nutrition from San Diego State University

π–¦Ή DesignLab UX Academy (diversify design scholarship receipient)

Outside of design i'm..

π–¦Ή an INFJ personality (the advocate)

π–¦Ή drawing my own manga (japanese comics!)

π–¦Ή cooking organic food for my dogs

π–¦Ή trying to finish my endless Letterboxd list of films

π–¦Ή an INFJ personality (the advocate)

π–¦Ή drawing my own manga (japanese comics!)

π–¦Ή cooking organic food for my dogs

π–¦Ή trying to finish my endless Letterboxd list of films

Currently Inspired By:

The Creative Act

The Creative Act Cover

Principles of UX

Principles of UX Cover

App Icon Book

App Icon Book Cover

Creating Character Arcs

Jony Ive Cover

Star Wars: Episode III

Kinfolk Entrepreneur Cover

Grid Systems

Grid Systems Cover

The Creative Act

The Creative Act Cover

Principles of UX

Principles of UX Cover

App Icon Book

App Icon Book Cover

Creating Character Arcs

Jony Ive Cover

Star Wars: Episode III

Kinfolk Entrepreneur Cover

Grid Systems

Grid Systems Cover

The Creative Act

The Creative Act Cover

Principles of UX

Principles of UX Cover

App Icon Book

App Icon Book Cover

Creating Character Arcs

Jony Ive Cover

Star Wars: Episode III

Kinfolk Entrepreneur Cover

Grid Systems

Grid Systems Cover

You've made it to the bottom!

While you're here, let's connect.

made with lots of love and matcha

Β© 2025 – Designed by Nirel Manalili

You've made it to the bottom!

While you're here, let's connect.

made with lots of love and matcha

Β© 2025 – Designed by Nirel Manalili

You've made it to the bottom!

While you're here, let's connect.

made with lots of love and matcha

Β© 2025 – Designed by Nirel Manalili