Design for taking care of each other
We’re a design agency building products that help people take care of each other — whether that’s healthtech, social apps, or community-driven experiences.
Fun to work with, serious about shipping.
Our team members work/collaborate/volunteer with companies across industry
CuroNow
Suffolk University
Acquia
Department of Aging
Census Bereau
Laolao's values
Bring devs into the design process
I value having blueprinting sessions with my sprint team early on to figure out technical constraints and to give devs agency in the design process.
Accessibility: Design for all
I believe accessible design often leads to better overall design practices, such as clearer navigation, more intuitive interfaces, and improved readability, benefiting all users.
Create systems and work smarter
I am always thinking about how to streamline systems and precesses to enable us to work smarter, not harder. I made templates to document design decisions and facilitate meetings, and share them with my team.
Team
Founder/Lead Designer
Val is a product designer and illustrator with 8+ years of experience designing for tech companies and the public sector, driven by curiosity, care, and a passion for making complex systems feel simple. She’s led product design across startups and large teams, from healthtech platforms for caregivers to AI-powered enterprise tools, with a background in public service and human-centered design that keeps her focused on meaningful impact—especially in aging, healthcare, and socially driven tech.
Service/product designer
Jeff is a multidisciplinary UX designer, service engineer, and artist who works at the intersection of design, technology, and social impact. His experience spans nonprofits, artists, activists, and technologists—solving complex problems through thoughtful design, research, and collaboration, from creative tools for artists to conversational AI and AR/VR experiences.
Pricing
Packages you can choose from & sliding scale based on impact
*Don't see what you fits your company? Reach out and we will figure something out!
🌱 Lite / Advisory
10h/week
$1,500 – $2,000 / month
Best for
Early-stage founders
PMs without a dedicated designer
Teams that need senior feedback, not full execution
What’s included
UX/UI reviews & critiques
Product thinking & tradeoff discussions
Light design work (small screens, tweaks)
Async feedback (Slack / email)
Optional biweekly sync
Advantages
Lowest commitment
Fast access to senior perspective
Prevents costly design mistakes early
🚀 Part-time Designer
20h/week
$7,000 – $9,000 / month
Best for
Startups actively building or iterating
MVPs preparing for launch or fundraising
Small teams without in-house design
What’s included
UX + UI design for features or flows
Wireframes → hi-fi screens
Design system setup or updates
Developer-ready handoff
Weekly sync + prioritized task queue
Advantages
Balanced strategy + execution
Feels like a part-time senior designer
Clear momentum week over week
🧠 Design Partner
40h/week
$7,000 – $9,000 / month
Best for
VC-backed startups
Complex products (healthtech, SaaS, marketplaces)
Teams needing design leadership
What’s included
Product discovery & UX strategy
Journey mapping & usability testing
End-to-end feature ownership
Design system leadership
Close collaboration with PMs & engineers
Faster turnaround & priority access
Advantages
Design lead–level impact
Deep product context & continuity
Strongest leverage for shipping high-quality product