Staircase
Led the design of key tools at Staircase, leveraging AI and advanced APIs to streamline the traditionally lengthy American mortgage process to less than 48 hours.
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Role
I joined Staircase in 2021 as a Designer and also took on the role of Product Manager while developing internal tools. From 2023 onwards, I focused on the company’s B2B and B2C products.
My role involved creating a process to deploy applications directly from Figma: generating components without traditional code development, writing automated tests, and publishing functional products. Key projects included Chat MTG, Staircase’s AI that connected the Rate Calculator, the digital PreApproval Letter, and the Listings tool.
User Journey and Products
Users begin their journey with the Listings tool, a platform with a simplified, minimalist user experience similar to Airbnb. Here, they can browse properties, apply for PreApproval through Chat MTG, contact an agent, or schedule home visits.
The Listings tool also uses AI to select the best photos, organize them, and generate standardized descriptions for properties. Staircase differentiates itself by offering lower rates through reduced intermediaries, thereby lowering costs.
The Chat MTG serves as a mortgage-focused AI chatbot, similar to Chat GPT, where users can input their data, ask questions, and determine their loan eligibility. Traditionally, obtaining a pre-approval letter from a bank can take several days or weeks, but Chat MTG reduces this process to mere minutes.
Once the user completes the Chat MTG process, they receive a PreApproval, which is a digital version of traditional pre-approval letters. This digital format is not only more convenient but also promotes Staircase, as users can easily share it with others involved in their mortgage process.
During Open Houses, visitors use the Rate Calculator to sign up and calculate their mortgage rates on the spot. This tool helps users quickly check their eligibility and see potential rates, enhancing their experience and engagement with the Staircase platform.
Challenges and Impact
Collaborating closely with the CEO and CTO, we set and achieved daily goals in a high-pressure environment. This required managing tight deadlines and adapting quickly to new information. Additionally, I worked with branding from an external company, which posed challenges in aligning with accessibility standards for digital interfaces. These experiences significantly enhanced my leadership skills, resilience, and ability to take on multiple roles, including Product Manager, Product Designer, test writer, and app developer.
Product Designer
Guido Avogadro
Throughout our collaboration, Vini consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of user needs and a keen eye for detail. He approaches every project with enthusiasm and professionalism, and always goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional results. He brings fresh and innovative ideas to the table, while still adhering to project requirements and timelines.
Software Engineer
Alonso Godinez
Vini is one of the most dedicated professionals I’ve worked with and is always willing to put that extra help whenever you need it. He has a keen eye for detail and as a manager he helped our team come up with quick solutions on complex features while balancing the workload.
Senior Staff Software Engineer
Oscar Liguori
I've had the pleasure of working with Vinicius for the past couple of years. His insight as Scrum Manager and Product Engineer makes a perfect match with his background in Design. Vini is one of the most effective, creative, and committed teammates I have ever worked with; he consistently comes up with fresh and elegant solutions. Having him on your team is a win-win.
Since this work, the company has pivoted into AI-powered real estate data verification and rebranded as Elephant. The designs presented here reflect the Staircase mortgage platform from that earlier chapter.