I thrive in ambiguity and bring structure to complex, high-stakes financial products, designing for trust, clarity, and impact.
I’m Erika (she/her), a product designer with 5+ years of experience translating complexity into clarity — especially in fintech and fast-moving startups. I specialize in crafting intuitive, trustworthy experiences that empower people to feel more confident navigating their finances.
Whether I’m scoping an MVP or simplifying a legacy workflow, I approach problems with intention, curiosity, and close collaboration.
Outside of design, I teach Pilates, a practice that sharpens my ability to listen, lead with empathy, and build connection. These same qualities fuel my design process and shape how I work with teams and advocate for users.
In my free time, you’ll find me:
🎀 teaching or taking Pilates classes
📖 getting lost in a book [currently reading: Invisible Women]
🐱 hanging with my cats, Pua and Luca
🔮 finding gems at the flea market
AI & My Design Practice:
I see AI as a collaborator, not a replacement.
In my design work, I use AI tools to streamline repetitive tasks, accelerate early exploration, and create space for deeper problem-solving. Whether I’m summarizing research notes, generating UI variations, building efficient Figma plugins, or refining microcopy, AI helps me move faster, without sacrificing craft.
But I believe the most impactful design still comes from human empathy, curiosity, and context — qualities no model can fully replicate. For me, AI is here to amplify thoughtful design, not replace it.
Some bragging rights:
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.”
career path
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