Hola,
I'm Yolanda

Lead Product Designer specializing in complex consumer ecosystems, highly regulated industries, and design consulting.

Yolanda Santa Cruz's image
"Our experiences shape our reality. My focus is bringing clarity and trust, using my expertise to improve how we engage with the world."
Background

Origins

I was one of 32 students selected for the tuition-free National Fine Arts Academy in Havana, Cuba. During my time there, I learned to critically analyze how visual ideas are perceived. This required developing a functional understanding of audience reception to ensure the final work communicated its exact intended purpose.

Today, I apply this analytical perspective to digital environments. I evaluate complex interfaces to identify systemic friction. My objective is to design structural solutions that resolve these issues, delivering immediate clarity and functional ease to the user experience.
Design Execution
Design Execution
At Work

Building Trust

I believe technical expertise and trust are the perfect foundation for success. When people know they belong in the room, providing feedback, iterating, tackling constraints, and problem-solving together becomes much easier and more enjoyable.

I have seen that internal clarity directly reflects in the output as well, with teams that communicate with transparency building products that feel intentional and trustworthy.
Giving Back

Mentorship

Much of where I am today was made possible by the guidance and generosity of others. I am passing that support forward by using my experience to help emerging designers navigate their careers. We focus on pushing their potential and setting larger goals, while defining the precise, practical steps required to reach them.
  • 88
    Sessions Hosted
  • 20
    5★
    Reviews
  • ADPList Top 10 Mentor
    Top 10 Mentor
    Jan-Mar 2026
Jon Belsky
Jon BelskyProduct Design Leader - Turning Ambiguity into Revenue-Driving Outcomes
1 / 7

"Yolanda made an immediate impact from the moment she joined our team. She elevated not only the quality of our design work but also the culture and energy of the group around her. Her ability to bring clarity, creativity, and positivity to every project made her a standout collaborator. I'd jump at the chance to work with Yolanda again."

10+ years of solving challenges through design

Discover Financial Services logo
Jan 2025 — Present

Lead Product Designer

Discover Financial Services
Upside logo
Nov 2022 — Jul 2024

Senior Product Designer

Upside
Fetch Rewards logo
Feb 2021 — Oct 2022

Senior Product Designer

Fetch Rewards
Zelenia logo
Dec 2019 — Feb 2021

Product Designer

Zelenia
Home61 logo
Sep 2018 — Dec 2019

UX/UI Designer

Home61
Pacific Service Center logo
Oct 2016 — Aug 2018

Graphic Designer

Pacific Service Center

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