Leticia Suarez

• Working closely with clients in different industries from a real estate cloud-based software organization to environmental and climate action projects.
• Analysing and evaluating the existent information architecture to establish a baseline from which process flows, site maps and user stories can be created.
• Developing heuristic reviews that identify user flow deficiencies and lead the design process of the product while optimizing the user experience.
• Designing and implementing style guides that are modular and follow a systems thinking principles to establish efficiencies across all teams.
• Creating prototypes that follow the style guide’s parameters to present design concepts and reduce frictions in the jobs to be done by the users.
• Managing, documenting and presenting the design work on a weekly basis to different stakeholders to align priorities among the different teams.
• Attending meetings with existing and potential clients to listen to their necessities, and document impressions and feedback into action points.

Among the clients: Ervo Design, iShack Ventures (SmartBuilding, Instant Property), The Climate App, ExpatBuddy, Energime University, EC Logik.

Collaborating with the Director of UX on developing their social platform to suit the user needs and meet the design standards within the organization.
Initiating research protocols covering the discovery stage and following through the implementation of prototypes for the validation of concepts before production.
Executing user interviews and analyzed their existing customer journeys to improve the usability and value proposition of their mobile-first social platform.

* Working in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team for the creation of a virtual student union platform that bring sustainability education and connects students worldwide through the introduction of innovative project-based learning to fight climate change.

* Working closely with the CEO to stay in tune with the company vision and projections to ensure that the research and product development are aligned with the company initiatives.
* Staying up to date of emerging trends and best practices in sustainability, to find opportunities and barriers within the circular economy sector.
* Defined project scope, goals, and deliverables in the areas of material processing and circular product design.
* Implementation of LCA and Ecodesign principles for the development and design of circular products while challenging their socio-environmental "benefits" and stating that the benefit must go beyond being made of recycled materials.
* Producing presentations and writing the content for the Circular Business Series offered in collaboration with JCI Greenwich.

* Introduced and pioneered Sustainability awareness in the products and culture of the company through the development of fabrics made of recycled materials Recyclex and the first "sustainable" luggage collection Eco-Nu.
* Responsible for managing Samsonite brand in the soft side category, keeping daily communication with overseas manufacturers, traveling 1 to 3 times to China to ensure that all deadlines were met.
* Gained valuable insights into consumer behaviour and user experience by researching market trends and conducting competitor analysis.
* Developed luggage structures, packing experiences and new components through multiple prototypes in collaboration with the inhouse shop. The creation of prototypes was key for the design process and determining easy and pleasant experiences for the user with the product.

* Conceptualized design development through 2D renderings and CAD models to create presentations to show the product strategy throughout the brands and retail accounts.
• Designed and managed multiple projects, under Ricardo Beverly Hills and Skyway brands, of hard and soft side luggage, taking products through all phases of product development phases.
• Conceptualized design development through 2D renderings and CAD models to create presentations to show the product strategy throughout the brands and retail accounts such as: Macy’s, Costco, JC-Penney, and others.
• Developed innovative and ergonomic injection moulded components such as handles, wheels, zipper pullers and logos.
• Collaborate with the marketing, QC, and sourcing teams for the launch of collections.

* Designed and managed multiple lines of early development wooden product under the Imaginarium brand including walkers, activity cubes, bead mazes, train sets, flagship train table, musical instruments, dollhouses, and furniture. * Reinvented Bruin's brand vision through the development and application of a style guide for infant and pre-school collections such Jungle Joy, Little Daisies, and Barn Yard Beats.
• Designed multiple lines of wooden product under the Imaginarium brand including walkers, activity cubes, bead mazes, train sets, flagship train table, musical instruments, dollhouses, and furniture.
• Managed, and designed infant and pre-school collections like Jungle Joy (infant) Little Daisies, and Barn Yard Beats (pre-school) from concept to production.
• Designed and developed infant soft toys such as: cut and sew books, play gyms, mobiles, tummy time items, rattles, and others.
• Reinvented Bruin’s brand vision through the development and application of a style guide for infant and pre-school products.

• Designed accessories, and graphic style guides for flagship toy line.
• Designed exhibition booths and layouts for trade shows.

• Researched consumer’s trends, and designed concept sketches for wall clocks, and alarm clocks.
• Designed and illustrated planograms for Sharp brand for various retail stores. Developed licensed products and packaging for Crayola and Disney licenses.