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.
Experience
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.