Kristina Ortega

Creative Director, UX

Designer and Writer for agile times. Leading the design of complex product ecosystems. Scaled with intent. Powered by AI magic. Built for speed.

 

Say Hello ortegakristina@gmail.com

(626) 673-0991

Linkedin

Experience

Creative Director, UX

Deutsch inc

August 2024 – Present

Los Angeles, CA

  • Direct the strategic vision and craft execution for the UX platform, serving as the primary design lead embedded within the technology organization to ensure design integrity throughout the development lifecycle.
  • AI & Innovation: Integrated emerging AI workflows and tools into the design process to accelerate prototyping and exploration, maintaining a forward-leaning approach to platform evolution.

Clients include: Dr Pepper, Walmart, BEHR, Pathway Sports and Entertainment, The Almond Board of CA

Experience Design Director

R/GA

June 2023 - August 2024

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Led design and storytelling for the Google account, translating complex product requirements into intuitive digital experiences and narratives.
  • Architected scalable Figma component libraries to ensure design consistency across multi-surface product ecosystems.
  • Developed end-to-end product experiences, delivering everything from initial wireframes to production-ready, high-fidelity designs.
  • Transformed complex client challenges into bespoke digital environments and actionable creative strategies.
  • Partnered with cross-functional leads to ensure high-level strategy was successfully executed at the granular level.
  • Mentored junior design talent, fostering a culture of excellence at the intersection of product design and storytelling.

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Google Marketing Web System, Enterprise

Senior Experience Designer

R/GA ↗

June 2021 - June 2023

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Directed the global redesign of Google Ads, utilizing user-centered design principles to transform complex utility into a premium, narrative-led digital experience.
  • Architected a sophisticated design system that integrated brand identity with performance-driven commerce, ensuring scalability across the global platform.
  • Leveraged deep technical knowledge of emerging technologies to deliver innovative, high-fidelity UX and motion behaviors.
  • Maintained impeccable organization and analytical rigor while navigating high-pressure timelines and complex product requirements.
  • Collaborated across technical and creative workstreams, acting as an expert communicator to bridge the gap between brand storytelling and functional product design.

 

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Nike

User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Ebay ↗

Febuary 2021 - June 2021

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Redesign of eBay Stores’ filtering, sorting, and favoriting features, optimizing core e-commerce functionality to improve item discoverability and user retention.
  • Partnered with UX Research to map and execute usability testing, translating data-driven insights into iterative design refinements for the global storefront ecosystem.
  • Streamlined complex inventory navigation by designing intuitive filtering systems that balanced seller branding with a seamless buyer experience.

User Experience Designer

APEX Systems, Kaiser Permanete ↗

Febuary 2021 - June 2021

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Redesigned Kaiser Permanente’s "My Doctor Online" medical education sites for cold, flu, and COVID-19, prioritizing clarity and accessibility during high-traffic periods.
  • Architected the vaccine appointment and site finder tools, streamlining complex clinical workflows into a frictionless patient experience.
  • Achieved a record 18% bounce rate through strategic UX improvements, significantly increasing user engagement with critical health information and scheduling services.

eCommerce User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Willams Sonoma, INC ↗

October 2017 - Feburary 2020

San Francisco, CA

  • Served as a horizontal UX designer across the Williams-Sonoma Inc. portfolio, designing scalable product page optimizations for a diverse range of retail brands.
  • Led UX for the internal performance team, architecting an A/B testing platform used to validate and deploy site-wide enhancements across the enterprise.
  • Embedded within the technology organization to bridge technical constraints with high-end commerce design, ensuring consistent performance and brand integrity.

Designer in Residence

Adecco, Google X ( X,inc ) ↗

July 2017 - September 2017

Mountian View, CA

  • Served as Designer in Residence at Google X, embedded within the design team to explore speculative design practices and their application to long-horizon tech innovation.
  • Explored design principles for emerging technologies, utilizing speculative frameworks to stress-test the ethical and social implications of "moonshot" projects.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional research and engineering teams to translate abstract future concepts into tangible prototypes and strategic design provocations.
  • Got to try explore those Google lunches

Wearable User Experience Designer

Intel, Smart Device Innovation ↗

September 2015 - January 2017

Mountian View, CA

  • UX Designer for Intel’s Smart Device Innovation group, exploring the intersection of IoT and human-centric design for wrist-worn wearables.
  • Defined user experience frameworks for emerging hardware, translating sensor data and technical constraints into intuitive, glanceable interactions.
  • Prototyped next-generation wearable interfaces, focusing on ergonomics and real-time feedback loops for the consumer electronics market.

Skills

Strategic & Creative Oversight

 

  • Creative Vision & Governance
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Design Operations (DesignOps)
  • Human-Centered Strategy

User Experience Design

 

  • Systems Design
  • Narrative-Led UX
  • E-commerce Optimization
  • Strategic and Data Driven

Education

Art Center College of Design

Masters of Fine Arts, Stem

Media Design Practices

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Bachelor of Arts

Emphasis: Fashion and Textiles

Kristina Ortega

Creative Director, UX

Designer and Writer for agile times. Leading the design of complex product ecosystems. Scaled with intent. Powered by AI magic. Built for speed.

 

Say Hello ortegakristina@gmail.com

(626) 673-0991

Linkedin

Experience

Creative Director, UX

Deutsch inc

August 2024 – Present

Los Angeles, CA

  • Direct the strategic vision and craft execution for the UX platform, serving as the primary design lead embedded within the technology organization to ensure design integrity throughout the development lifecycle.
  • AI & Innovation: Integrated emerging AI workflows and tools into the design process to accelerate prototyping and exploration, maintaining a forward-leaning approach to platform evolution.

Clients include: Dr Pepper, Walmart, BEHR, Pathway Sports and Entertainment, The Almond Board of CA

Experience Design Director

R/GA

June 2023 - August 2024

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Led design and storytelling for the Google account, translating complex product requirements into intuitive digital experiences and narratives.
  • Architected scalable Figma component libraries to ensure design consistency across multi-surface product ecosystems.
  • Developed end-to-end product experiences, delivering everything from initial wireframes to production-ready, high-fidelity designs.
  • Transformed complex client challenges into bespoke digital environments and actionable creative strategies.
  • Partnered with cross-functional leads to ensure high-level strategy was successfully executed at the granular level.
  • Mentored junior design talent, fostering a culture of excellence at the intersection of product design and storytelling.

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Google Marketing Web System, Enterprise

Senior Experience Designer

R/GA ↗

June 2021 - June 2023

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Directed the global redesign of Google Ads, utilizing user-centered design principles to transform complex utility into a premium, narrative-led digital experience.
  • Architected a sophisticated design system that integrated brand identity with performance-driven commerce, ensuring scalability across the global platform.
  • Leveraged deep technical knowledge of emerging technologies to deliver innovative, high-fidelity UX and motion behaviors.
  • Maintained impeccable organization and analytical rigor while navigating high-pressure timelines and complex product requirements.
  • Collaborated across technical and creative workstreams, acting as an expert communicator to bridge the gap between brand storytelling and functional product design.

 

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Nike

User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Ebay ↗

Febuary 2021 - June 2021

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Redesign of eBay Stores’ filtering, sorting, and favoriting features, optimizing core e-commerce functionality to improve item discoverability and user retention.
  • Partnered with UX Research to map and execute usability testing, translating data-driven insights into iterative design refinements for the global storefront ecosystem.
  • Streamlined complex inventory navigation by designing intuitive filtering systems that balanced seller branding with a seamless buyer experience.

User Experience Designer

APEX Systems, Kaiser Permanete ↗

Febuary 2021 - June 2021

Remote & San Francisoco, NY

  • Redesigned Kaiser Permanente’s "My Doctor Online" medical education sites for cold, flu, and COVID-19, prioritizing clarity and accessibility during high-traffic periods.
  • Architected the vaccine appointment and site finder tools, streamlining complex clinical workflows into a frictionless patient experience.
  • Achieved a record 18% bounce rate through strategic UX improvements, significantly increasing user engagement with critical health information and scheduling services.

eCommerce User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Willams Sonoma, INC ↗

October 2017 - Feburary 2020

San Francisco, CA

  • Served as a horizontal UX designer across the Williams-Sonoma Inc. portfolio, designing scalable product page optimizations for a diverse range of retail brands.
  • Led UX for the internal performance team, architecting an A/B testing platform used to validate and deploy site-wide enhancements across the enterprise.
  • Embedded within the technology organization to bridge technical constraints with high-end commerce design, ensuring consistent performance and brand integrity.

Designer in Residence

Adecco, Google X ( X,inc ) ↗

July 2017 - September 2017

Mountian View, CA

  • Served as Designer in Residence at Google X, embedded within the design team to explore speculative design practices and their application to long-horizon tech innovation.
  • Explored design principles for emerging technologies, utilizing speculative frameworks to stress-test the ethical and social implications of "moonshot" projects.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional research and engineering teams to translate abstract future concepts into tangible prototypes and strategic design provocations.
  • Got to try explore those Google lunches

Wearable User Experience Designer

Intel, Smart Device Innovation ↗

September 2015 - January 2017

Mountian View, CA

  • UX Designer for Intel’s Smart Device Innovation group, exploring the intersection of IoT and human-centric design for wrist-worn wearables.
  • Defined user experience frameworks for emerging hardware, translating sensor data and technical constraints into intuitive, glanceable interactions.
  • Prototyped next-generation wearable interfaces, focusing on ergonomics and real-time feedback loops for the consumer electronics market.

Skills

Strategic & Creative Oversight

 

  • Creative Vision & Governance
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Design Operations (DesignOps)
  • Human-Centered Strategy

User Experience Design

 

  • Systems Design
  • Narrative-Led UX
  • E-commerce Optimization
  • Strategic and Data Driven

Education

Art Center College of Design

Masters of Fine Arts, Stem

Media Design Practices

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Bachelor of Arts

Emphasis: Fashion and Textiles

Kristina Ortega

Creative Director, UX

Designer and Writer for agile times. Leading the design of complex product ecosystems. Scaled with intent. Powered by AI magic. Built for speed.

 

Say Hello ortegakristina@gmail.com

(626) 673-0991

Linkedin

Experience

Creative Director, UX

Deutsch inc ↗

August 2024 – Present

Los Angeles, CA

  • Direct the strategic vision and craft execution for the UX platform, serving as the primary design lead embedded within the technology organization to ensure design integrity throughout the development lifecycle.
  • AI & Innovation: Integrated emerging AI workflows and tools into the design process to accelerate prototyping and exploration, maintaining a forward-leaning approach to platform evolution.

Clients include: Dr Pepper, Walmart, BEHR, Pathway Sports and Entertainment, The Almond Board of CA

Experience Design Director

R/GA

June 2023 - August 2024

Remote & San Francisco, CA

  • Led design and storytelling for the Google account, translating complex product requirements into intuitive digital experiences and narratives.
  • Architected scalable Figma component libraries to ensure design consistency across multi-surface product ecosystems.
  • Developed end-to-end product experiences, delivering everything from initial wireframes to production-ready, high-fidelity designs.
  • Transformed complex client challenges into bespoke digital environments and actionable creative strategies.
  • Partnered with cross-functional leads to ensure high-level strategy was successfully executed at the granular level.
  • Mentored junior design talent, fostering a culture of excellence at the intersection of product design and storytelling.

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Google Marketing Web System, Enterprise

Senior Experience Designer

R/GA ↗

June 2021 - June 2023

Remote & San Francisco, CA

  • Directed the global redesign of Google Ads, utilizing user-centered design principles to transform complex utility into a premium, narrative-led digital experience.
  • Architected a sophisticated design system that integrated brand identity with performance-driven commerce, ensuring scalability across the global platform.
  • Leveraged deep technical knowledge of emerging technologies to deliver innovative, high-fidelity UX and motion behaviors.
  • Maintained impeccable organization and analytical rigor while navigating high-pressure timelines and complex product requirements.
  • Collaborated across technical and creative workstreams, acting as an expert communicator to bridge the gap between brand storytelling and functional product design.

 

Clients include: Google Ads, Google for Business, Nike

User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Ebay ↗

March 2020 - June 2021

Remote & Seattle, WA

  • Redesign of eBay Stores’ filtering, sorting, and favoriting features, optimizing core e-commerce functionality to improve item discoverability and user retention.
  • Partnered with UX Research to map and execute usability testing, translating data-driven insights into iterative design refinements for the global storefront ecosystem.
  • Streamlined complex inventory navigation by designing intuitive filtering systems that balanced seller branding with a seamless buyer experience.

User Experience Designer

APEX Systems, Kaiser Permanete ↗

February 2020 - March 2020

Oakland, CA

  • Redesigned Kaiser Permanente’s "My Doctor Online" medical education sites for cold, flu, and COVID-19, prioritizing clarity and accessibility during high-traffic periods.
  • Architected the vaccine appointment and site finder tools, streamlining complex clinical workflows into a frictionless patient experience.
  • Achieved a record 18% bounce rate through strategic UX improvements, significantly increasing user engagement with critical health information and scheduling services.

eCommerce User Experience Designer

TEK Systems, Willams Sonoma, INC ↗

October 2017 - February 2020

San Francisco, CA

  • Served as a horizontal UX designer across the Williams-Sonoma Inc. portfolio, designing scalable product page optimizations for a diverse range of retail brands.
  • Led UX for the internal performance team, architecting an A/B testing platform used to validate and deploy site-wide enhancements across the enterprise.
  • Embedded within the technology organization to bridge technical constraints with high-end commerce design, ensuring consistent performance and brand integrity.

Designer in Residence

Adecco, Google X ( X,inc ) ↗

July 2017 - September 2017

Mountain View, CA

  • Served as Designer in Residence at Google X, embedded within the design team to explore speculative design practices and their application to long-horizon tech innovation.
  • Explored design principles for emerging technologies, utilizing speculative frameworks to stress-test the ethical and social implications of "moonshot" projects.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional research and engineering teams to translate abstract future concepts into tangible prototypes and strategic design provocations.
  • Got to try explore those Google lunches

Wearable User Experience Designer

Intel, Smart Device Innovation ↗

September 2015 - January 2017

Mountain View, CA

  • UX Designer for Intel’s Smart Device Innovation group, exploring the intersection of IoT and human-centric design for wrist-worn wearables.
  • Defined user experience frameworks for emerging hardware, translating sensor data and technical constraints into intuitive, glanceable interactions.
  • Prototyped next-generation wearable interfaces, focusing on ergonomics and real-time feedback loops for the consumer electronics market.

Skills

Strategic & Creative Oversight

 

  • Creative Vision & Governance
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Design Operations (DesignOps)
  • Human-Centered Strategy

User Experience Design

 

  • Systems Design
  • Narrative-Led UX
  • E-commerce Optimization
  • Strategic and Data Driven

Education

Art Center College of Design

Masters of Fine Arts, Stem

Media Design Practices

California State University, Los Angeles

Bachelor of Arts

Emphasis: Fashion and Textiles