Leya.desantis

Post‑college, Leya entered the workforce as a junior art director at a boutique branding agency. Within three years, she rose to lead a small team, spearheading campaigns for sustainable fashion labels, indie musicians, and cultural festivals. Her hallmark was a “human‑first” design philosophy: every visual element was rooted in the lived experiences of the target audience, ensuring authenticity and resonance.

The campaign’s impact was measurable: a 45 % rise in volunteer sign‑ups for shoreline clean‑ups, a 30 % increase in donations to marine research grants, and the creation of a permanent exhibit that now draws over 5,000 visitors annually. Leya’s role was not merely visual; she facilitated community workshops where participants learned basic storytelling techniques, thereby empowering them to continue narrating their own experiences beyond the campaign’s lifespan. Recognizing a gap in accessible design resources for grassroots organizations, Leya organized the inaugural Design for Good Hackathon in 2023. Over 72 hours, multidisciplinary teams—comprising designers, developers, marketers, and activists—worked on real‑world briefs supplied by local NGOs. The event yielded 27 prototype solutions, ranging from a low‑cost app for tracking plastic waste to an interactive mural series celebrating cultural heritage. leya.desantis

In an age where screens dominate interaction, Leya’s work reminds us that authenticity, empathy, and purposeful creativity can cut through the noise, fostering connections that endure beyond the fleeting scroll. Whether through a striking poster, a collaborative hackathon, or a single QR‑coded garment, she demonstrates that every act of design holds the potential to inspire, educate, and, ultimately, change the world—one thoughtful pixel at a time. Post‑college, Leya entered the workforce as a junior

These twin passions—creative communication and community service—laid the groundwork for the integrated approach that would later define her professional and personal endeavors. After graduating as valedictorian, Leya pursued a dual degree in Visual Communication and Sociology at a liberal arts university. The interdisciplinary curriculum allowed her to study the mechanics of design while simultaneously probing the sociocultural forces that shape human behavior. Her senior thesis, “Visual Storytelling as a Catalyst for Social Change,” examined how strategic imagery can influence public perception of environmental issues. The project earned a campus award and attracted the attention of a regional non‑profit focused on ocean conservation. The campaign’s impact was measurable: a 45 %