# Sotera Costello > Results-Driven Product Design Leader with 15+ yrs. of experience leading product design and management from concept to execution, modernizing digital services on various platforms, including public facing web and mobile. Location: Oakland, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/soteracostello Dynamic and Results-Driven Product Design Professional with over 15 years of experience leading product design and management from concept to execution, and modernizing digital services on various platforms, including public facing web, mobile, and internal-facing content management systems. I possess a clear understanding of common web patterns, foundations, discerning when to innovate versus adopting existing standards. I bring a passion for crafting exceptional user experiences across diverse platforms and am adept at driving innovation in user-centric solutions. I strive to break down complex experiences and design with consideration for all touch-points. I am a builder who loves being hands on, crafting high quality, high-impact solutions for all customers. I embrace ambiguous situations as opportunities to create. My motto is, design with compassion, and make complex concepts simple. OBJECTIVE: Seeking a new full-time opportunity, preferably individual contributor role or manager of a small team, to contribute my expertise in product design, user experience, and design strategy. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Design Leadership: Led a global team of designers and managers across 5 time zones and conducted design reviews and managed design sprints across all digital products and initiatives. Collaborative Approach: Known for fostering collaboration among diverse teams to achieve design excellence. Innovative Problem-Solving: Proven track record in solving complex design challenges with creative and effective solutions. Communication Skills: Stellar written, verbal/presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, driving successful interactions throughout the organization. CORE COMPETENCIES: Leadership, People Management, Innovation, Independent Initiative, Strategic Thinking, Concepting, Project Planning, Design Solutions, Seamless UX, Design Decisions, Design Documentation, Solving Design Challenges, Defining Product Goals, Setting Design Milestones, Design Refinements, Design Artifacts, Deadline Management, Effective Communication, Stakeholder Communication, Remote Collaboration, Cross-Functional Collaboration DESIGN AND SOFTWARE SKILLS: Figma, Interaction Design, Product Design, Design Strategy, User Research, User Testing, Web Design, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Amplitude, User Interface Design, User Experience Design, Low to High-Fidelity UI Design, Prototyping, Cross-Platform Design (web, iOS, Android), User Insights, User Flows, Wireframes, Visual Designs, Brand Alignment, Usability, Usability Testing, Iterative Design ## Work Experience ### Principal Product Designer @ Alaska Airlines Jan 2025 – Present | Remote ### Senior Product Designer @ Gap Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | San Francisco Bay Area ### Principal Designer @ Giant Eagle, Inc. Jan 2019 – Jan 2024 | United States As a Principal Product Designer at Giant Eagle & Hatched Labs (Owned by Giant Eagle), I led design initiatives across multiple apps and websites with 1M+ users, including the Giant Eagle app and website, GetGo app and website, Market District website, and myPerks mobile app, focusing on user-centric experiences that transcend native and web interfaces. I spearheaded the complete revamp of the GetGo native experience, prioritizing seamless end-to-end user journeys which resulted in a 15% increase in GetGo mobile orders and elevated the brand in the digital space. Through the introduction of an efficient design system, I fostered rapid implementation, resulting in continuous improvements. My role extended to orchestrating the merger of design teams, ensuring cohesive strategies for a unified, branded, and user-centric experience across platforms. Advocating for design changes based on user feedback and business requirements, I played a pivotal role in innovating and refining the overall design landscape. The work on all platforms has led to improved metrics in MAU (Monthly Active Users). ### Senior Visual Designer @ SEPHORA Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco, California, United States As a key contributor at Sephora, I drove interactive educational module designs for impactful product awareness campaigns. My collaboration with developers ensured seamless integration, enhancing the overall user experience. Within a cross-disciplinary team, I played a significant role in shaping UX strategy and execution. I adeptly incorporated user feedback and business requirements into ongoing product experience updates. ### Senior Visual Designer @ LeadGenius Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 | Berkeley, CA As Senior Product Designer at LeadGenius, I spearheaded the elevation of design aesthetics across marketing and product domains, aligning with stringent enterprise standards. I played a pivotal role in harmonizing the visual design language, ensuring cohesion with the overarching company brand. My collaborative approach with technical and design teams facilitated the crafting of wireframes, user flows, and user interfaces. Additionally, I seamlessly integrated user feedback and business requirements into iterative design updates, consistently enhancing user experiences. Elevated design aesthetics to meet enterprise standards. ### Director Of User Experience @ Oxeon Partners Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | Portola Valley, California, United States As the UX/UI Director at Oxeon Partners, I spearheaded the conception, testing, and delivery of cutting-edge digital products and services for healthcare technology startups. This role involved successfully launching four startups and products within a year, showcasing a dynamic approach rooted in user insights. I directed impactful brand and product strategies for diverse clients, managing multiple priorities and leveraging advanced data and analytics tools for iterative refinement. Navigating lean teams through resource limitations, I optimized day-to-day operations with streamlined processes, fostering a dynamic startup environment. My commitment to cross-functional collaboration and effective communication contributed to a thriving ecosystem, making a mark as a strategic thinker, innovator, and results-oriented leader. I managed two people. ### Senior Visual Designer @ PagerDuty Jan 2016 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco, California, United States ### Creative Director @ Recommind Jan 2012 – Jan 2015 | San Francisco Bay Area As a transformative design leader, I strategically revitalized Recommind, Inc.'s design and messaging for targeted enterprise solutions. Fostering collaboration across teams, I streamlined workflows, promoting efficient design processes. My proficiency in effective communication transcended organizational levels, influencing product design strategy and guiding holistic design processes. ### Web Producer/Designer @ Shaklee Jan 2007 – Jan 2012 | Pleasanton, CA ### Web Producer/Designer @ FoundValue Jan 2006 – Jan 2006 | San Francisco, CA ### Web Designer/Producer @ LIFT, Inc (Life Is For the Taking) Jan 2002 – Jan 2004 | Mill Valley, CA ## Education ### Academy of Art University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sotera - Website: http://www.scostello.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/soteracostello JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/soteracostello/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-07