The Challenge:
In the early 2010s, sharing large volumes of photos from mobile devices was clunky and inefficient. Users were limited by email attachments, slow uploads, and a lack of centralized sharing solutions.
The Vision
The inspiration for Mr. Gallerino struck during a cross-country road trip, one night in New Orleans.
Surrounded by jazz, whiskey, swing dancing, and a hotel rumored to be a haunted former brothel, we captured hundreds of photos... only to realize there was no intuitive way to share them all at once.
This sparked an idea: what if a photo-sharing app could be more than just a utility? What if it embodied the spirit of the images it contained? An experience as evocative as an old Victorian hotel bar, filled with the ghosts of memories past?
Our Solution:
Beyond functionality, we saw an opportunity to elevate photo-sharing into an experience: one that reflected the nostalgia, mystery, and indulgence of the moments themselves.
Thus, Mr. Gallerino was born: an iOS-to-online image gallery app wrapped in vintage decadence.
As Co-Founder and UI/UX Designer, I played a hands-on role in shaping both the product & the brand.
Ideation & UX Strategy – Defined the app’s IA & workflows to ensure a seamless yet immersive UX.
UI & Brand Design – Crafted a vintage-inspired UI, using dark, rich tones, ornate typography, and tactile textures to evoke a sense of old-world luxury.
Investor & Stakeholder Communication – Developed investor proposals that secured $15K in angel investment from three investors.
Product Development & Team Management – Recruited and coordinated freelance engineers from Asia and Australia, overseeing development and managing project timelines.
Marketing & Branding – Led a guerrilla marketing campaign across East and Downtown LA, distributing custom merch and stickers emblazoned with "Mr. Gallerino Loves You!" to generate intrigue and organic buzz.
Despite launching successfully, Mr. Gallerino did not sustain beyond its first year due to funding constraints.
While the app is no longer active, Mr. Gallerino remains a project I’m deeply proud of: a bold, immersive vision that pushed beyond conventional photo-sharing experiences.
In Loving Memory of the co-founder, my friend and partner, CM. It was an honor to work beside you.
