The Ameba design studio, founded by Martínez, D’Agata, and Vallvé, received an award from the Union of Uruguayan Exporters (UEU) for being the country’s leading exporter of graphic design services.
According to Ms. Martínez, this award recognizes efforts in the export sector, taking into account export volumes, market diversification, and the jobs created.
“The idea is to promote and publicize the efforts and achievements of companies involved in the export of services,” explains the graphic design graduate from Universidad ORT Uruguay.
The award, the graduate says, confirms that Ameba is on the right track.
“It positions us as a company that is doing things right, and that gives us even more motivation to continue working in international markets and strive to represent our country well. It is also a way to begin shifting the perception of Uruguay from a primary exporter of raw materials to one of services. It’s a matter of positioning,” says Mr. Martínez.
A company that was born out of necessity
Ten years ago, when the Ameba design studio was founded, there were eight college classmates behind the company.
They had decided to join forces so they could enter the job market with greater impact; combining their individual portfolios made them more competitive.
Over time, and for various reasons, only three remained, and they are currently at the helm of the company:
- Lucía Martínez, B.A., and Fabricio D’Agata, B.A. (graduates of ORT’s Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design program);
- Miguel Vallvé (who also completed the program and earned an associate’s degree in graphic design).
They describe themselves as a creative studio that combines design and technology in their various projects, while always keeping the user experience at the forefront.
The three main areas they work in are graphic design, web development, and digital marketing.
The first customer came from an ad in the newspaper
It was by looking at the classified ads in the newspaper that Vallvé landed his first client, and it turned out that the client was a foreigner.
This ended up opening up a number of opportunities for them in the future.
“They were a couple who were just starting to set up an agency. Then they moved to the United States, and it was there that we secured more clients in that country,” says Mr. Martínez.
"From the very beginning, they enjoyed the experience of working abroad, not only because of the scale of the projects, but also because of the standards followed in other countries," explains the ORT graduate
In Search of Major Markets
Today, the company's team consists of 13 people, including designers, developers, and project managers.
In addition to the United States, Ameba also has clients in the Netherlands, Japan, and Ireland.
In Uruguay, he works with the law firm Guyer & Regules and the Mi Dinero card from Redpagos.
Regarding studying in the country, Mr. Martínez explains that it can sometimes be expensive for the local market.
“The marketing budget in Uruguay isn’t as high as in other countries, where companies and markets are larger. That’s why we also decided to start exporting,” he explains.
“Overseas companies are willing to invest on an ongoing basis, because what we offer them is a plan for continuous improvement; it’s not just about building a website and leaving it untouched for years, but rather analyzing how users behave on the site and proposing improvements along the way,” he concludes.