Meet Tricia

We were lucky to catch up with Tricia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tricia, so great to have you on the platform and excited to have you share your wisdom with our community today. Communication skills often play a powerful role in our ability to be effective and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your communication skills.

I developed my ability to communicate effectively by working in cross-functional environments where misalignment could directly delay progress. Explaining complex design ideas to colleagues across roles pushed me to adapt my language, set realistic expectations and avoid overpromising. Having a technical background also helped me collaborate more closely with engineers and anticipate constraints early.

Over time, I built structured systems, including detailed design handoffs that document design solutions, edge cases, and assets. And these systems really helped improve team efficiency, we saw that workflow-related revisions reduced by 30%. For project stakeholders, I rely on storytelling-driven presentations that clearly outline the why, what and how. By balancing context with clarity, everyone on the team can make better design decisions and move forward with confidence.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a designer focused on product design, creating experiences that are both user-centered and meaningful. I love knowing that my designs are genuine, honest, and supporting the people using it.

What excites me the most about my job is seeing my work in the world, whether it’s people are interacting with the products I’ve created or bringing marketing to life in public spaces. It was a pretty surreal moment when I got to see my designs up on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey are: a willingness to learn, strong communication, and good organization. The willingness to learn has helped me adapt across industries and embrace new challenges as opportunities to grow. Communication is essential, no matter how good a design is, it won’t have an impact if it isn’t communicated clearly, and I’ve learned that effective communication is a skill that requires practice. Organization has been crucial for managing multiple requests, prioritizing work, and ensuring that teams stay aligned and efficient.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to be proactive and take initiative. Seek out projects outside your comfort zone, whether in project management, cross-functional work, or a new domain, you’ll learn the most when you step outside your comfort zone. And don’t be afraid to ask for help; reaching out to colleagues or mentors is one of the fastest ways to grow and build confidence.When I needed to create multiple assets for a large event with 600 attendees on a tight timeline and wasn’t yet proficient in motion design, I reached out to a mentor for guidance and their advice really allowed me to execute efficiently, deliver high-quality graphics and quickly build confidence in a new skill.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I’m currently leading the rebranding of one of New York City’s most beloved restaurants, taking full ownership of the design direction across brand identity, digital and marketing touchpoints. As the designer working with multiple stakeholders, my primary challenge has been aligning diverse goals while maintaining a clear, cohesive vision. In a city saturated with restaurants that have strong design, the goal isn’t just to look good but to create something that feels distinct, genuine and true to the restaurant’s roots.

From a leadership standpoint, this has meant being intentional about the direction I set, listening closely, asking the right questions and shaping decisions around what the brand should represent. The rebrand is focused on thoughtfully evolving the identity while preserving the warmth, history and sense of familiarity that make the restaurant special. Throughout the process, I’ve prioritized open communication and collaboration, ensuring stakeholders feel heard while moving the work forward with clarity and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://triciailena.com