# E Lai Sterns > Product Design Leader | Crafting Intuitive Experiences for Startups & Giants | Driving Innovation & Success Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/elaisterns I’m a seasoned Product Design Leader with a 15-year journey of turning ideas into intuitive experiences that resonate with users and drive success. At the core of my work, whether it’s with sprightly startups or industry titans like Intel and Wells Fargo, is a blend of entrepreneurial zest and a keen insight into what users really need. I’m on a mission to drive change and leave a lasting impact in the world of product design. Currently leading the charge as a Principal Product Designer at Raise, I’m all in on making WorkplaceOS not just functional, but a joy to use. It’s about creating those aha! moments that make everything click for the user. In addition to my primary role, I've also taken on the responsibility of supporting our marketing team in a significant rebranding effort. This project encompassed our website and all marketing materials, with the goal of crafting a unified, user-centric narrative. This narrative not only aligns seamlessly with our product's vision but also significantly enhances our brand's coherence and market appeal. My eclectic journey through product design is driven by a love for tackling diverse challenges. From revolutionizing the rental and real estate landscapes to exploring the uncharted territories of blockchain and crypto, my work is about making complex concepts accessible and engaging. Simplicity and scalability are my mantras when setting up design frameworks, ensuring every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly for a consistent product experience. This vision extends into branding too, where I love to meld product and marketing into a harmonious user journey. At the heart of everything? A commitment to truly understand and advocate for user needs. My approach is hands-on, delving into user research and testing to gather those golden nuggets of insight that shape successful strategies. It’s about building trust and collaborating closely with customers and stakeholders to push the envelope of innovation. When I’m not immersed in design, I’m out exploring the globe, keeping up with fashion trends, staying active, diving into a good book, capturing life through my lens, and appreciating the fine notes of single malt scotch. Through every facet of my professional life, I carry a commitment to excellence, creativity, and strategic innovation. Curious to see my work in action? Check out my portfolio at Elai.co, and let’s embark on a journey to redefine the boundaries of design together! ## Work Experience ### Principal Product Designer @ JLL Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States Raise’s acquisition by JLL marks an exciting phase in the evolution of real estate technology and workplace solutions. As Principal Product Designer, I now have the opportunity to expand upon the innovative work initiated at Raise, now amplified by JLL’s global platform. My role remains focused on delivering impactful, user-centered designs for our LeasingOS solution (formerly WorkplaceOS), now enhanced by JLL’s extensive resources, insights, and reach. In this position, I lead the design vision and strategic direction for LeasingOS, ensuring that each feature and interaction aligns with JLL’s high standards for functionality, simplicity, and innovation. My approach is to craft solutions that not only meet our client’s immediate needs but also anticipate the future of workplace design and real estate technology. To foster design consistency across LeasingOS, I maintain a cohesive, scalable design framework that enables alignment across teams. This framework supports product initiatives that integrate JLL’s and Raise’s objectives, delivering a unified, impactful experience across platforms. Collaborating closely with JLL’s global teams, I leverage a wealth of new data and insights to guide the design of adaptable, forward-thinking solutions. This expanded capacity enables us to respond dynamically to user needs, positioning JLL’s products at the forefront of real estate technology. ### Principal Product Designer @ Raise Commercial Real Estate Jan 2022 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States (Acquired by JLL) Raise is a pioneering real estate technology and brokerage firm operating across the US and globally. We revolutionize the industry by providing instant access to market insights, live collaboration tools, and portfolio management on a single, cutting-edge platform. We offer bespoke project management and workplace strategy services tailored to our clients' needs. As Principal Product Designer, I lead the design vision and strategy for our WorkplaceOS solution, ensuring it meets the highest standards of user experience and functionality. With a focus on simplicity and scalability, I establish and maintain a cohesive design framework for our team, driving consistency and excellence across all products while spearheading company-wide branding initiatives to align our product and marketing efforts seamlessly. ### Consultant & Principal Designer @ E Lai Design Jan 2004 – Present I work closely with a diverse range of clients, including industry giants such as Intel and Wells Fargo, leveraging my expertise to create compelling multimedia designs that resonate with audiences. Core offerings include: • Full-scope UX/UI product design services • Mobile and responsive design • Web design / Framer / Webflow no-code development • Branding and pitch decks • 1:1 consulting (project reviews, personal development, growing a personal brand From assisting startups in conceptualizing and launching digital platforms to leading brainstorming sessions for innovative product design solutions, I bring comprehensive end-to-end design services to drive market entry and user adoption. Additionally, I specialize in crafting branding and logo designs that effectively represent clients' brand identities, contributing to increased recognition and market presence. Check out my design portfolio: elai.co Have a project in mind? Reach out directly: get@elai.co ### Founder @ Pride Places Jan 2019 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California, United States Pride Places is dedicated to fostering LGBTQ community growth and prosperity by connecting individuals with LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-friendly businesses nationwide. Our mission is to strengthen and expand LGBTQ-friendly enterprises while providing a user-friendly platform for community members to discover and support diverse businesses and organizations. I cultivated a dynamic and diverse team, including 10 product designs, 8 engineers, 5 social media managers, and 4 product managers. I provided clear guidance, and championed user-centric design strategies to enhance the digital experience, empowering businesses to forge meaningful connections with the LGBTQ community. I strategically implemented user engagement initiatives, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance user experiences and foster community participation, thus driving exponential growth, and facilitating the platform's expansion to a nationwide scale. Successfully exited the company in 2024, achieving strategic goals and laying the positive groundwork for the organization's future trajectory. ### Senior Product Designer @ Earnity Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | San Mateo, California, United States Earnity was a Silicon Valley community-based crypto platform where users learn about crypto through community as well as buy and gift crypto. As a Senior Product Designer, I led the design efforts for a social-first crypto company, overseeing product experience, marketing, and branding initiatives. I managed design systems, wireframing, and delivered design mocks to developers, ensuring alignment with the overall product vision and implementing enhancements like an improved onboarding features. ### Senior Product Designer @ Chronicled Jan 2018 – Jan 2022 | San Francisco Bay Area Chronicled, based in San Francisco, CA, revolutionizes the Life Sciences industry by automating and ensuring trust in transactions through its blockchain-based MediLedger Network. As a Senior Product Designer, I spearheaded the design of Chronicled's blockchain-based platform, focusing on enhancing security, transparency, and accuracy within the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, I crafted innovative user interfaces and experiences for various platforms, ensuring seamless interaction and usability across web, mobile web, and native applications. ### Lead Product Designer @ Movoto Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 | San Mateo Movoto empowers individuals at every stage of their real estate journey with personalized tools, expert guidance, and tailored resources, fostering knowledge and confidence. We strive to create a world where homeownership is accessible to all, irrespective of race, class, or gender, by providing the support needed to make informed decisions and build long-term wealth. As the Lead Product Designer, I directed the design efforts at Movoto, ensuring the delivery of intuitive and visually appealing real estate experiences across various platforms. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I tested and validated interaction flows, integrated user feedback effectively, and achieved a significant 25% reduction in user churn through iterative design improvements. ### Senior Designer @ Apartment List Jan 2015 – Jan 2017 | San Francisco Bay Area Apartment List is committed to simplifying and personalizing the renting process, ensuring fairness and transparency for all, with a mission to revolutionize renting by eliminating complexity and matching individuals with homes that truly meet their needs, because home is a feeling everyone deserves to own. As a Senior Designer, I led the creation of a seamless rental experience by conducting user research, designing polished interfaces, and collaborating closely with engineering teams to ensure the effective implementation of designs across multiple platforms. ### Lead UX Product Designer @ TidePool Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | San Francisco Bay Area TidePool is a Quantified Self app focused on enhancing brain fitness through scientifically designed games and providing data-driven insights for personal growth, fostering a culture of freedom, responsibility, and continuous learning in a fast-paced agile environment, supported by top-tier investors and offering exceptional benefits in the vibrant setting of San Francisco. As the Lead UX Product Designer, I spearheaded the design of TidePool's mobile app, Cognito, by conducting brainstorming sessions, wireframing user interfaces, and crafting visually appealing mockups, while guiding engineers in implementing designs efficiently and reducing development time by 15%. ### Lead UX Visual Designer @ Elementum.com Jan 2013 – Jan 2015 | Mountain View, CA Elementum pioneers data-driven workflows, enhancing business processes with faster execution, reduced errors, and better decisions, all while ensuring data security and seamless integration within customers' cloud environments. As the Lead UX Visual Designer, I spearheaded the creation of visually compelling designs for desktop and mobile applications, ensuring seamless user experiences, and collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to enhance the brand's overall aesthetic and identity. My role involved setting design standards, crafting intuitive interfaces, and maintaining consistency across platforms to elevate the user experience and reinforce the brand's visual identity. ### CEO & Publisher @ The Pride Pages Jan 2010 – Jan 2013 As the CEO and Publisher of The Pride Pages, I directed daily operations, managed a team of sales and marketing representatives, and maintained our digital presence across website, mobile app, and social media channels. I successfully guided the company through its sale in November 2013, ensuring continuity and growth for our LGBTQ-focused directory. ### Interactive Art Director @ Bella Events Photography Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 As a pivotal member of Bella Events Photography, I orchestrated the revitalization of the brand identity while providing strategic consultation and design expertise for various interactive needs, including UI/UX design, logo creation, and nationwide email campaigns, ultimately expanding brand reach and visibility. ### Creative Director @ B2C Marketing and Technology Solutions Jan 2009 – Jan 2010 As the Creative Director for B2C Marketing and Technology Solutions, I led the creative vision and strategy, overseeing the development of logos, printed materials, custom websites, and interactive elements for 148 client projects, ensuring high-quality design solutions aligned with clients' brand identities and objectives. I managed a talented team, facilitated collaboration across departments, and delivered innovative marketing and technology solutions that empowered clients to effectively engage their target audience and achieve their business goals. ### Senior Designer @ Interlign Jan 2008 – Jan 2009 As a Senior Designer, I led the design and development of custom web-to-print portals, intranets, and software applications, delivering innovative solutions that met the needs of Fortune 500 clients and contributed to enhanced client satisfaction through modifications to HTML and CSS templates. ### Co-Founder - Graphic and Web Designer @ Think Tank LC Jan 2007 – Jan 2008 As a Co-Founder and Graphic/Web Designer at Think Tank LLC, I played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and executing engaging design concepts, including Flash animations and interactive elements, to enhance user experiences and drive higher website engagement. Additionally, I devised effective marketing strategies that propelled client campaigns to success, resulting in increased brand visibility and customer acquisition, while collaborating with a diverse client roster to provide tailored design and marketing solutions. ## Education ### Master of Fine Arts - MFA in Web Design and New Media Academy of Art University ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in Advertising and Marketing Communications Webster University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/elaisterns - Portfolio: http://www.elai.co - Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/elai --- Source: https://flows.cv/elaisterns JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/elaisterns/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13