Kristin Sardina

Kristin Sardina Araya is a seasoned design professional currently serving as the VP of Product Design at Pearson, a position she has held since August 2020.13 With over 15 years of experience in design strategy, UX & CX leadership, and sustainable design2, Kristin has established herself as a prominent figure in the field of product design.

Professional Background

In her current role at Pearson, Kristin leads the Product Design team, which includes UX, Visual, and Copy Designers. She is responsible for guiding the team through a digital edTech transformation, supporting Higher Ed Students, Working Professionals, and English Language Learners.1 Her focus is on launching user-centric higher-ed and lifelong learning applications while building an inclusive, efficient, and collaborative design organization.1

Career Highlights

Previous Positions::

• Associate Director of Design at McKinsey & Company (March 2019 - August 2020)
• Senior Director of User Experience at Shutterfly INC (February 2018 - March 2019)
• Director of User Experience at Shutterfly INC (November 2014 - February 2018)1

Educational Background:: Kristin was trained in architecture at the University of Virginia and holds a LEED-NC accreditation for green buildings.1

Additional Roles

Alongside her primary role at Pearson, Kristin has been serving as an Adjunct Faculty member at Stanford d.school since 2016. In this capacity, she works as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Design Group, coaching teams through design thinking and guiding them in bringing concepts to tangible products.1

Achievements and Skills

Kristin's career is marked by several notable achievements:

• She was the fastest promoted and youngest Director in the history of the Shutterfly Product Team.1
• At Shutterfly, she was responsible for the UX of products generating $415M in annual revenue.1
• She has experience guiding Fortune 500 companies and government agencies on product and service design strategy.1

Kristin's expertise spans various areas, including user experience design, product strategy, design thinking, and leading cross-functional teams. Her diverse background in architecture, sustainable design, and digital product development has contributed to her unique perspective in the field of product design.