We’ve seen it time and again: capable teams, strong products, and meaningful value propositions undermined not because they lack substance—but because they look outdated, generic, or visually careless.
In 2026, with amazing design tools out there and with AI accelerating the creation of high-quality digital assets, there is no justification for weak websites, ineffective presentations, or low-impact imagery. Visual quality is no longer optional—it’s a baseline for trust and relevance.
I founded Umbralis to elevate those efforts. After two decades working in technology and business, I’ve seen how visual quality directly affects trust, decision-making, and growth. Umbralis exists to elevate how professionals and organizations present themselves—so their digital presence reflects their true value, sharpens their message, and supports their strategic ambitions.
Ricardo Arce
Umbralis Founder
Ricardo’s path into design is anything but conventional. His academic background includes a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Computer Science, a diploma in Business Administration, and a second master’s degree in Innovation Management. Technology and business came first—but design was always at the center.
While studying programming, Ricardo became deeply interested in crafting intuitive, well-designed interfaces. That passion led him to begin his career as a web designer in 2002. In 2004, he co-founded the digital agency InterGraphicDESIGNS, where he spent over 12 years serving hundreds of web design clients—working across roles including web developer, project manager, sales leader, and CEO.
In 2016, Ricardo joined Cognitiva, where he worked on early artificial intelligence initiatives, helping startups and ISVs across Latin America adopt AI technologies years before mainstream adoption. He later gained corporate experience at Roche, supporting IT project management initiatives with direct impact on patient outcomes.
Over the past four years, Ricardo has worked in the nearshore outsourcing industry, first as Delivery Manager at Growth Acceleration Partners and currently as Chief Revenue Officer at Hikru. These experiences have given him a broad, practical understanding of business challenges across marketing, sales, operations, and leadership—both in large organizations and small, founder-led businesses.
Photography has been a central part of Ricardo’s life since 2010. Across design, sales, UX, and photography, his defining strength is empathy—the ability to understand people quickly, build trust, and communicate with clarity. That same ability now helps brands and professionals build credibility and stronger connections with their audiences through Umbralis.
With over 25 LinkedIn recommendations, our work is best described by the professionals and teams we’ve had the privilege to support.
Jose has a clear sense of customer centricity that help him to focus in what actually add value to the customer and also to the business. He is always willing to propose ideas, collaborate and share his knowledge and good practices with everyone.
Roche
Ricardo is a well-rounded professional and entrepreneur with a strong ability to navigate numbers, strategy and negotiations with clarity and depth. He communicates effectively at all organizational levels and brings exceptional human values to every engagement.
SDI Institute
I’ve known Ricardo since our university years, and he has consistently stood out for his strong technical expertise and human skills. His entrepreneurial drive has led to the successful execution of impactful business projects in Costa Rica.
