PRODUCT DESIGNER
MPS | BFA

Let’s Connect! Reach out about new opportunities at SophiaLLaPietra@gmail.com


Sophia brings a nuanced depth to her role as a product designer at Mercury Financial, armed with a Master's Degree in User Experience Design from the Maryland Institute College of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from James Madison University. Her tenure in the fintech startup’s in-house design team is the latest chapter in a distinguished 10+ year career that spans UX and UI design, as well as graphic design.

Her eclectic professional journey has seen her navigate through a variety of design landscapes—from her collaboration in the redesign of the Mercury Cards App at Mercury Financial to spearheading corporate design initiatives at CBRE, engaging in creative freelance ventures, contributing to The College of William & Mary, and executing print design projects for Graphek, a boutique design agency. This breadth of experience has endowed Sophia with the ability to approach design challenges with innovative solutions, making her an invaluable asset to her team, stakeholders, and clients alike.

Sophia's design sensibilities are not only underpinned by her academic excellence, having graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master's from one of the United States' premier art institutions, but are also enhanced by her innate business acumen and natural leadership skills. Her ability to mentor and guide her colleagues, combined with a strong sense of empathy and emotional intelligence, makes her not just a pivotal force in design but also an invaluable teammate and business professional. These qualities enable Sophia to navigate the complexities of project dynamics with ease, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. Her adeptness at understanding user needs and business objectives alike, through an empathetic lens, further amplifies her contributions, making her designs not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically impactful. Sophia stands out as a comprehensive designer whose skills transcend the traditional scope of design, embodying the essence of what it means to be a leader in the evolving landscape of product design and business.


MERCURY FINANCIAL

UX/UI Designer | July 2022 – Present

CBRE

Senior Graphic Designer | February 2020 – July 2022

THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY

Graphic Designer | September 2018 – April 2019

GRAPHEK

Jr Graphic Designer | October 2015– October 2016


Education

Maryland College Institute of Art

Masters of Professional Studies
UX/UI Concentration
Summa Cum Laude
May 2021

James Madison University

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Graphic Design Concentration
May 2015


Honors & Awards

Mercury Financial Brand Summit:
2023 Kudos Award & 2023 VMA Finalist

In 2023 at Mercury Financial's Brand Summit in Austin, Sophia was honored with the Kudos Award and nominated as a finalist for the yearly VMA Award. The Kudos Award is given by ones peers, and is a testament to dedication and exceptional effort in exceeding collective team goals. It reflects Sophia’s commitment to going above and beyond in collaborative projects, particularly highlighting her role in fostering outstanding team dynamics and project outcomes. Her nomination for the VMA Award, which is given by the Director of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer at Mercury Financial, further underscores her significant contributions to the marketing and UX team, marking her as a key player in driving high-impact initiatives within the company. As a product designer on the in-house design team, she works closely with both external partners—including Best Western and Spirit—as well as internal stakeholders and c-suite executives to deliver cohesive and innovative designs for the flagship Mercury Cards App, which is used by millions of users around the country. These accolades exemplify her commitment to excellence, collaboration, and the strategic impact of design on Mercury Financial's brand and its initiatives.

TEDx William & Mary Speaker

Sophia was nominated to be one of 4 professional speakers for the 2018 annual TEDx conference held at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. The speakers were tasked with speaking about their experience with hitting a roadblock that changed the path of their career or life. The talk is now hosted on TED’s official website, was presented live in person to nearly 700 people, and live-streamed to hundreds more. 

100 Years of Women Round Table

Prompted by the 100-year anniversary of women being admitted to the College of William & Mary, six “Dinner & Discussions” were held around campus throughout the 2018-2019 school year. Students, faculty, and select guests were invited to the intimate gatherings to ‘break bread’ and discuss the future of women in leadership. Each evening kicked off with a guest speaker who prompted the discussion with a personal anecdote about their own experiences with being a woman in the business world. Sophia was the final speaker of the year-long series and was invited to discuss her experiences with Imposter Syndrome and her advice on how to combat the feeling.

The Creative Process Lecture Series

While working as a designer for The College of William & Mary in 2019 Sophia was approached by The Mason School of Business to put together a crash course in “The Creative Process” that taught students not only how to approach creative endeavors in the world of design and business, but to also tap into those skills and apply them to everyday work and life settings. Sophia gave the lecture three times to various schools on campus, discussing how to tap into one’s creative process, how to generate ideas, and how to make small changes in your workflow that can make a major impact on your daily life.

Malnutrition Awareness Week, Ad Campaign

2017 Bronze Excel, There were 830 total entries this year — but just 235 of those were selected by judges as worthy of an EXCEL Award. Of those, there were 64 Gold, 82 Silver, and 89 Bronze awards.

2017 Graphic Design USA, GDUSA’s 54th Design Annual, was chosen from nearly 10,000 entries worldwide.

2016 Graphic Design USA, GDUSA’s 53rd Design Annual, was chosen from nearly 10,000 entries worldwide.

Casual Actuarial Society, Hand-lettered Magazine Cover

2016 Graphic Design USA, GDUSA’s 53rd Design Annual, was chosen from nearly 10,000 entries worldwide. 

JMU Graphic Design Program Representative 2015

Was selected out of the BFA design students at James Madison University to represent the design school in an interview for a viewbook for incoming freshmen. 


Testimonials


Working with Sophia is truly enjoyable, as her positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and sense of humor contributes to a pleasant and supportive work environment. Additionally, Sophia has remarkable attention to detail and a keen eye for precision that defines her design work. Her ability to quickly learn and translate concepts into pixel-perfect designs is commendable, showcasing her unwavering commitment to excellence. Her efficiency in learning and producing top notch experiences sets a high standard for the entire team. Sophia has demonstrated great knowledge of design tools and best practices, which has helped create an enjoyable experience for millions of users on our platform. I highly recommend her for any fast-paced UX team; she’s a quick learner, solid team player, and without a doubt one of the best designers I’ve worked with.
— Fahd Abdellaoui | Senior UX Designer at Mercury Financial

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Sophia, a multifaceted creative powerhouse and design expert who has made her mark at Mercury Financial.

As a core member of Mercury’s UX team, Sophia is responsible for driving key changes in redesigning the company’s app and website. Additionally, she handles a variety of design work for internal stakeholders and external co-brand partnerships alike. With a diligent methodology and a focus on optimization, she quickly delivers eye-catching design solutions that raise the bar for the rest of us. From building library components, to email layouts, to UX flows, she designs with intelligence and grace in a way that is unmistakably hers. To complement her strength as a designer, Sophia is an exceptionally skilled communicator.

She can distill any concept to its purest form, summarize the lengthy tangents of others in one breath, and quickly identify and address miscommunications during meetings with stakeholders. Her concise and articulate nature increases the value of any conversation she’s involved in and promotes efficiency among collaborators.
Sophia is an anchor of a team member. She brings a bright and charismatic energy to meetings, goes out of her way to lend support if anyone is overburdened, and takes a leading role during brainstorming sessions. She additionally supports teammates on an individual basis, always willing to draw from her pool of wisdom and offer assistance as needed.Sophia is an invaluable designer and teammate, bringing professionalism and positivity to every project she touches. She will revolutionize all future endeavors with her skill, and I feel privileged to work with her in the meantime.
— Aylin Erkan | Senior Visual Designer, Mercury Financial

Sophia is an absolute joy to work with. Extremely reliable and eager to learn. She’s often requested by stakeholders to work on their projects and is very collaborative across all the teams ensuring we have a great end product!
— Simon Chapman | Head of Digital, UX & Payment Strategy at Mercury Financial

I had the pleasure of working with Sophia during my time at Mercury Financial. Sophia is an exceptional designer and an invaluable teammate who consistently brings creativity, collaboration, and professionalism to every interaction.
During our time working together, Sophia’s remarkable talent and dedication were seen in every project she supported. As a designer, she’s incredibly creative with a strategic mind, delivering high quality work that exceeds expectations.

Beyond her design skills, Sophia is a true team player who thrives in collaborative
environments. As a member of a lean marketing team, priorities would often shift rapidly and Sophia handled the ever-changing needs with grace and kindness. She actively seeks input and feedback from team members, valuing diverse perspectives and leveraging them to enhance her work.

Sophia champions diversity in design to reflect the diverse consumer base who is the end user of her content. Additionally, she fosters a inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone who works alongside her feels empowered to share their ideas.

Moreover, Sophia is a reliable and supportive colleague who goes above and beyond to help others succeed. When a new designer joined the marketing team, Sophia immediately jumped in to bring them up to speed on current projects and looped them into the designer group chat. She willingly shares her expertise and offers assistance whenever needed, demonstrating her commitment to the team’s collective success. Her positive attitude and willingness to pitch in make her a pleasure to work with and a valuable asset to any team.
— Emily Cornell | Media Relations Manager

Through my time working with Sophia, she never failed to impress! Sophia is an excellent communicator, collaborator and demonstrated her ability to go above and beyond expectations for our client. Outside of her natural gift for design and ability to manage multiple competing priorities, she is also a team player and extremely hard working. She is an asset to any organization lucky to work with her.
— Hannah Christman | Sr Technical Recruiter, Optomi

Sophia is highly talented and working with her was a pleasure. She is a strong collaborator who thinks strategically to design solutions that will drive business results.
Sophia’s creativity, skill and focus made her an exceptional partner in building the brand!
— Karen Stuerenberg | Founder and CEO at Multiplier Marketing Group

Being on a UX project with Sophia made me a better designer. Any assigned group dynamic can be difficult to maneuver. Sophia approached every interaction with empathy and understanding first. This approach brought out the best in the group. Her leadership skills and ability to recognize people’s talents make her an ideal team member. If she sees that something needs to be done, she gets on it right away and finds the best solution for everyone involved. Beyond her interpersonal skills, she is an incredibly gifted designer. As a team member or a leader, Sophia has earned my highest recommendation.
— Janet Walker | UX Writer

I had the pleasure of working with Sophia for some time at CBRE. Her positive attitude is infectious and her willingness to go the extra mile on whatever she does is noteworthy. She is extremely organized, a hard worker and always hits the mark when her back is against the wall with tough deadlines. She takes pride in everything she does and is a pleasure to be around.
— Jeff Oesterblad | Senior Vice President of Leasing at IQHQ

I had the pleasure of designing along side Sophia for two years, and she has become both a collaborator and a friend. What impressed me most about Sophia was her ability to continue to adapt to new clients, environments, and tools, never hesitating to learn something new. Even during the most stressful moments, her passion allowed her to problem-solve and keep her cool.

I’ve now known Sophia for seven years now, and I continue to go to her for advice, critique, or a laugh. If you’re looking for a colleague, collaborator, or leader on your creative team, I can’t think of anyone I’d recommend more highly than Sophia. I can’t wait to see where the future takes her.
— Lauren Poole | UX Designer

Sophia was the greatest help when I transitioned positions at CBRE. Whenever I had a question about how to do something, she took the time to explain every step so that I had a greater understanding of not only how but why we do these things. She is such a hard worker, especially when dealing with tough deadlines/ large dynamic projects. Her drive and passion to find solutions and get things done quickly and efficiently are what makes Sophia an amazing person, team member, graphic designer, and leader. I highly recommend Sophia and am excited to see her talents grow.
— Anna Andrade | Client Services Coordinator, CBRE

Sophia is a creative and collaborative Graphic Designer who consistently delivers high quality designs and exceptional customer service. Sophia and I worked together on a wide variety of team projects for two years. One of Sophia’s biggest strengths is her ability to deal with conflicting priorities in high-pressure situations. Her drive, positivity, and proactive mindset make her a standout Graphic Designer. Without hesitation I highly recommend Sophia and know she will be an asset to any company!
— Jodi Barber, MBA | Capital Markets Analyst

Sophia is an incredibly hardworking and talented designer whom I had the pleasure of meeting in graduate school. While there, we worked on multiple projects together and she was a great collaborator. What has always impressed me about Sophia is her enterprising nature. She always took initiative during our classes, which helped the rest of us learn more due to her ability to ask the right questions. Sophia’s energy also helped our virtual classes feel more engaging and interactive. She’s a great leader and often felt like our de facto class president. Sophia is also an amazing designer. Her skills in graphic design translated so well into UX design. Also, she’s such an expert with InDesign that I often found myself asking her for tips! I’m confident that Sophia would be an outstanding addition to any design team!
— Sahar Naderi, MPS | UX Researcher

Sophia completed design projects for me over the last several years from logo design to brochures and training materials. Her design skills are top notch. I’m am so pleased with her work that I continue to return time and time again. I would highly recommend her services both from a quality perspective and on time delivery.
— Kim Ramsey | Founder & CEO of The Executive Edge

Sophia and I were in the same cohort of our Master’s program at Maryland Institute College of Arts. She utilizes her background in Graphic Design in addition to her UX knowledge to create visually beautiful designs backed by data and research. Besides having extensive knowledge of how to create user-centric designs, Sophia also ensures her designs are incorporating accessibility and inclusivity. In addition to being a fantastic teammate, Sophia is also a great leader that is kind, supportive while setting clear expectations and ensuring that projects stayed on plan. Sophia is not worried about wearing various hats in order to get the job done and is a great asset to any team that she is on. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Sophia and learned so much from her during our time on projects together!
— Elsa Bengu, MPS | UX Designer

Sophia and I were in the User Experience Design MPS program together at Maryland Institute College of Art. During our time in this cohort, I worked with Sophia on several projects and was able to experience her professionalism, design thinking, and project management skills first hand. I quickly noticed Sophia has a “can-do” attitude and knack for getting things done quickly and logically, always with the user in mind. Her designs were always creative and stunning and easy to use. It was a pleasure working next to Sophia and I would recommend her for any design role.
— Dana Frey, MPS | Instructional Designer