Designer Stories: MDS Watch Faces

Rooted in a passion for thoughtful design and a willingness to explore new creative ground, MDS Watch Faces has quickly made a name within the Facer community. Her work reflects a strong sense of balance between visual clarity and everyday usability, bringing a fresh perspective to Apple Watch design.

That approach has not gone unnoticed. Earning the title of Best New Designer in the Apple Watch category in the 2025 Facer Awards, MDS Watch Faces has already begun to carve out a distinctive voice on the platform. In this month’s Designer Stories, she shares more about her creative journey, the inspiration behind her designs, and how she continues to evolve with each new watch face.

Tell us about yourself! 

Hi! My name is Milena Dias and I'm from Brazil. I'm passionate about technology, movies, and TV series! Throughout my life I've worked in all sorts of jobs, and today my main income comes from watch faces.

Recently, I had the immense joy and honor of being invited by Facer to be an official Partner Creator! It's incredible to be able to transform ideas into functional and beautiful interfaces that go straight to people's wrists around the world.

How was it to be named Best New Designer in the Apple category at the 2025 Facer Awards? Was there any particular watch face that you consider to have contributed to this victory?

It was a wonderful surprise! The year 2025 demanded a lot of dedication. Seeing this effort recognized in the Apple category, which requires an absurd level of polish, was extremely rewarding. 

I believe the MDS06 face made a big difference that caught users' attention, and that was precisely because it focused on delivering a clean interface that everyone could enjoy.

What sparked your interest in watch face design, and how did you discover Facer?

When I bought my first smartwatch (Moto 360) in 2014, I realized that the watch face is the first thing you see several times a day, and I wanted to create something that had my own identity. I discovered Facer while researching tools that would allow me to create a watch face that had my own style.

Which of your watch face designs (or collections) are you most proud of and why?

Among my collections, one of the projects I'm most proud of are:

What inspires your watch face designs? 

My inspiration comes from everywhere, but it mainly comes from everyday needs. I constantly observe what would make my routine—and that of users—more practical and agile.

I like minimalist styles, weather forecasts, and health information, and I try to combine everything into a single project.

What’s your design process like? Any specific tools or habits?

My main and indispensable work tool is Affinity Designer for iPad and Photoshop for final adjustments. The freedom and precision that the iPad gives me, combined with Affinity's vector tools, allow me to test elements and assemble the entire display structure wherever I am. I also use AI assistants throughout the process when I need to create illustrations.

How do you stay inspired when you hit a creative block?

To keep my inspiration flowing and combat frustration, I always listen to good music or watch a movie. Sometimes roadblocks are tough, or the technology doesn't help, and I need to start an entire project from scratch again. In those moments, I simply step away from everything. I spend time with my family, play with my son, have a good coffee, and clear my mind.

Are there any designers in the community you love following or find especially inspiring?

The Facer community is fantastic and full of incredible talent. I enjoy following the general highlights tab and being inspired by the diversity of styles that explore fluid animations, illustrations, and those that find totally out-of-the-box solutions to display information in a clean and intuitive way.

What’s next for you as a designer? Any exciting future projects?

I'm working on completely new concepts, seeking to take this idea of "solutions for everyday life" to a new level. I want to explore interactivity more and create watch faces that adapt even better to the routine of those who use them.

Anything else you would like to add?

I want to sincerely thank the community for downloading and using my watch faces every day. And, of course, a huge thank you to the Facer team for the incredible invitation to join the design team. It's a privilege to be here!

Our thanks to MDS Watch Faces for offering a closer look into her creative journey and design approach. Stories like these continue to highlight the depth of talent across the Facer community. And to everyone reading, we appreciate you spending time with us. Be sure to check back next month for the next Designer Stories feature.