Hi! I’m Erika (she/her), a product designer based in Los Angeles with 5+ years of experience across fintech, education, and startups. By day, I design products; by night, I teach Pilates— where I connect with people and cultivate empathy – skills that are essential in creating effective user experiences.

Design excites me because I thrive on the challenge of thinking beyond perceived constraints. This curiosity drives me to discover thoughtful solutions for complex problems. I value building relationships with users to understand their thoughts and emotions, as I believe that the best solutions are grounded in real human experiences.

In my free time, you’ll find me:

🎀 teaching or taking Pilates classes

📖 getting lost in a book [currently reading: Invisible Women]

🐱 cuddling with my cats, Pua and Luca (named after some of the best Disney/Pixar characters)

🔮 finding gems at the flea market

Work History

Product Designer @ Branch

Apr 2022 – Present

UX Designer @ Core Digital Media for Rocket Mortgage

Mar 2021 – Apr 2022

Product Designer and Strategist @ Moken Group

Jan 2021 – Jul 2021

UX Designer @ Stanford Center for Health Education – Digital MEdIC

Jun 2020 – Sep 2020

UX/UI Design Fellow @ UCSB Center for Mindfulness and Human Potential

Jun 2019 – May 2020

Education

B.A. in Art @ University of California, Santa Barbara

Designlab: UX Academy

General Assembly: Visual Design

Contact Info

— Email

— Linkedin

Adam, Director of Product Design at Branch

“Over the past three years, Erika has helped shape nearly every product experience we offer- from core wallet features to our new tips offering. Her impact runs deep across the team and our products. Her creativity, user-centric approach and hard work have been instrumental in shaping our products and processes. We’re lucky to have her shaping the designs our users rely on everyday.”

Jooyoung, Product Designer at Branch

“Erika’s attention to detail is unparalleled, and her work ethic is second to none. She consistently demonstrates a strong desire to learn and improve, and her openness to feedback enables her to iterate on designs quickly and effectively. Beyond her technical skills, Erika’s warm and approachable personality makes her an absolute joy to collaborate with. She fosters a positive, inclusive team environment where critique is embraced, and everyone is encouraged to grow into their best selves as designers.

Erika also excels in leadership, particularly when it comes to supporting new team members. She played an instrumental role in my own onboarding process, making sure I felt truly included and cared for as I settled into the team. Her genuine approach to mentorship helps new employees feel comfortable and confident, and her guidance accelerates their growth within the company.

Her combination of positivity, strong problem-solving skills, leadership, and diverse design expertise makes Erika a valuable asset to any team. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking a top-tier product designer.”