“The world has changed — and with it, the way people interact with websites.” – Marcelo Alejandro Cedeno Velasco.
A few years ago, a hover on the button or a cool scrolling effect would’ve been enough to impress our clients or users. Today, however? Things have evolved. The definition of a modern UI/UX design is no longer about flat and basic motion – it’s building digital experiences that are all about interaction, emotion, and overall, storytelling.
Design isn’t just meant to look good anymore – it has to feel alive.
For Marcelo Cedeno, this isn’t just a trend, but rather a standard. As the CEO of MDX and a designer well known in the design community for his futuristic, rule-breaking websites, his mantra is about constantly looking to bring innovation into his products. “I don’t just design to follow trends — I design to challenge them”, he revealed.
More and more brands and creators are also starting to understand that immersive design isn’t a “gimmick”. This is the future, as Marcelo also points out. This is why we, as designers, should always push boundaries with every project.
The biggest problem with many websites today is that they all look the same, “a static layout filled with blocks of information that nobody really reads”. When a website follows the same cookie-cutter recipe, it might become “forgettable”. This is especially true for small companies or startups.
The secret behind Marcelo’s projects is that he focuses on the entire experience, and not just putting pages together. Every element, every interaction, every design decision has a purpose: whether it’s to evoke “a feeling, a moment, or a reaction”.
This is why motion and micro-interactions have become essential to building websites that connect users. Especially now, with artificial intelligence and the integration of such technologies into the way we consume content, websites need to bring their information to life.
“I believe animation and interaction will soon become the baseline — not an add-on.”
Marcelo is already designing what the future in mind, as he has embraced “these micro-moments of interaction” as “the new standard for engagement”. Take Munity, which is one of the best examples of blending futuristic visuals and interactivity, and proof that thoughtful design can still feel cutting-edge years later.
There’s no denying: these bold, dynamic web experiences are becoming the norm among big brands as well. So, as designers, that means evolving too – not just to keep up, but to lead with creativity, innovation, and intent.
For most of us, inspiration rarely follows a straight path. Sometimes, it comes from the most unexpected places – like a mission in GTA V involving a million-dollar bottle of tequila.
Believe it or not, that’s exactly how Marcelo Cedeno’s creative process started for one of his projects. After he found the real brand of that bottle, he “instantly” imagined what their website could look like if he designed it.
This only proves that “inspiration can come from anywhere”. Marcelo describes how his ideas come to life as a “‘what if’ moment” – something that we can all probably relate to. But the real challenge lies in knowing how to translate that spark into a fully functional interface.
Unfortunately, sometimes it is not as easy as just playing GTA. Burnout is a reality every designer faces, and it’s something that can quietly creep in, draining both motivation and creativity.
Being an incredible designer isn’t just about pushing boundaries – it’s also about knowing that it requires balance. The key to this balance? Easy. For Marcelo, that means simply disconnecting from design and diving into unrelated hobbies. We’ve all heard this advice before, but it’s true: taking that break often sparks our ability to come back stronger with sharper ideas.
“Sometimes the best design ideas come when I’m not even thinking about design.”
This led Marcelo to create so many rewarding projects, including the collaboration with a major chicken franchise in Venezuela. What made it special wasn’t just the project itself or its scale – it was the client’s openness to bold, futuristic design ideas.
Where creativity is encouraged, we’re all able to experiment freely, allowing us to deliver unique results, just like Marcelo and his team at MDX.
While Marcelo’s personal projects reveal a lot about his creative instincts and design philosophies, his role at MDX is where those ideas turn into real impact. As a CEO, he ensures that everyone in his team grows alongside him – “not behind me”.
Keeping people motivated and focused on innovation may be challenging at times. But for Marcelo, this is a collaborative effort built around the idea that every person – whether it’s a designer, a developer, or a strategist – has a role in pushing boundaries. This is an environment where we’re all allowed to grow and thrive.
That’s what makes Marcelo such an incredible leader. He leads with intention – What’s the purpose? What problem are we solving? How will this connect with the user? These questions are the foundation of building a culture based on sharing ideas, trust, and continuous learning.
“It’s not about pushing them — it’s about pulling them forward with vision.”
Marcelo and his team at MDX are well-known for experimenting with the design. Maybe this is also why he’d love to collaborate with a brand like Tesla, as “their mission, tech-forward vision, and aesthetics are a perfect match for the type of digital experience I strive to create.”
However, what makes a designer – a great designer – comes down to one thing: adaptability. To be able to adapt your style to your client’s needs, even though this may not be your preferred choice. Marcelo knows this. So, he tries to avoid forcing creative direction.
Instead, the Marcelo Cedeno method for navigating potential difficulties with a client – especially when their vision might not always align, is simple. He doesn’t push back just to prove a point. No. His goal? To guide the conversation toward the best possible outcome for both of them.
He explained that “When there’s mutual trust, bold ideas feel less risky”. But he also added the importance of having a “synergy” within his team that brings these projects to life in such a futuristic and out-of-this-world way.
When people hear the term futuristic design, the first thing that comes to mind is overwhelming motion, with heavy graphics, and that they’re just “for show”. But Marcelo is here to debunk this myth. With the technology that we have today, such websites are “highly functional” and “optimization is entirely possible”.
As web designers, our goal is to create high quality websites without compromising performance. And the truth is that a good futuristic design doesn’t ignore usability. It doesn’t sacrifice function for style. Instead, it finds a balance between the UI design and UX design.
“A lot of people still see them as superficial or impractical, but that’s not the case when they’re done right.” – stated Marcelo Cedeno.
In his view, creating such websites is all about building projects that belong to the future. And the reason is simple: storytelling. Animation isn’t just about motion anymore. It’s about giving meaning to your elements and your page.
So, next time you start a UI/UX design project, “ask yourself: what would I want to feel, to discover, to understand?”.
That’s not just the future of design. That’s good design.
