With over 10 years in the creative industry, Dan is a dynamic Creative Director who brings a fresh perspective to visual design, branding, and art direction. He has teamed up with Accenture, ESPN, and J.P. Morgan, crafting innovative solutions that make their brands shine. Dan’s passion for problem solving, design thinking, and all things creative keeps him inspired and ready for the next challenge.
Samiksha Makhijani – Vice-President
Day Job: Senior Product Designer at Circle Internet Financial
Samiksha is a seasoned product designer with over 8 years of experience, specializing in the intersection of design and technology. She began her career as an interior designer before transitioning into graphic design and eventually finding her true passion in product design. Samiksha has crafted user experiences for leading companies like Shutterstock and TD Bank and currently serves as a Senior Product Designer at Circle Internet Financial, where she explores the evolving world of crypto. Beyond her professional role, she is an active member of RGD and UXPA, and she is passionate about giving back to the design community through mentorship on ADPList. Outside of work, she loves traveling and learning new skills.
Elina Diaz – Vice President of Membership
Day Job: Senior Designer @ Mango Publishing Group
Elina is a print designer and illustrator with a love for typography. She holds a BFA from the University of Miami, where she concentrated on graphic design and printmaking. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new taco shops and art exhibitions.
Georges Etienne – Treasurer and Director at Large, Web & Technology
Day job: Founder and Graphic Designer at 84Studios
Georges Etienne is the founder of 84Studios, an independently owned Brand Identity and Web Design studio. For over a decade, he has been creating masterful brand identities and websites for businesses in industries such as real estate, special events, non-profit, and local government. He’s designed for a variety of companies and organizations including Tik Tok, City of Miami Gardens, Play Like a Girl, Dibia DREAM, and Keller Williams. His passion is helping minority-owned businesses level-up their brands and compete with the play-makers of their industries.
When he’s not designing or working to improve his business, Georges spends the majority of his time with his wife and three kids, watching sports, or building his cigar and tequila collection. As a first-generation Haitian-American, he holds a Bachelors and a Masters degree from Florida International University, where he studied Information Technology and Management Information Systems. Despite his tech background, he knows that DESIGN is the future.
Adriana Tamayo – President Emeritus
Day Job: Founder and Creative Director at Friendly Feral
Adriana Tamayo is the founder of Design Subtropic, a festival that looks to elevate the life of designers in Miami experiences. She also owns a small branding studio called Friendly Feral. Her diverse experience has led her to work with clients from local startups to renowned global brands. She is a passionate designer with a genuine desire to make Miami a city where design is appreciated, and designers feel like they belong.
Communications
Guillermo Ramirez – Co-Communications Director
Day job: Creative Director and Co-Founder of Gluttonomy, Inc.
Guillermo Ramirez is a creative thinker, visual communicator, and Co-Founder of Gluttonomy.Inc. He is from Venezuela, with 10 years of experience focused on creating brands for the food and beverage industry and hospitality projects. His goal is to create meaningful experiences that aim to answer business, social, and environmental challenges.
Daniela Cordero – Director at Large, Design & Social Media Committee
Day job: Graphic Designer at Business411
Daniela Cordero is a talented graphic designer who specializes in marketing materials that communicate a message. The passion for design began at school, and since then she has been able to develop her skills over the years, and she now has over three years of experience in the industry.
Daniela focuses on working with businesses in the home services industry, helping them create an impact through their company marketing materials. She has a deep understanding of the unique needs of these businesses, and she uses her knowledge to develop solutions that help her clients stand out and establish a strong presence in their respective markets.
Through her design work, Daniela has been able to make a significant impact on the businesses she works with, by giving them the possibility to share their values to the community.
Programming
Sharon Orozco – Director at Large, Design for Good Committee
Day job: Senior Graphic Designer at Ilona Creative Studio
Sharon Orozco graduated with a BFA in 2008 and since then she has worked in several branches of the design industry including production, web, social media, and real estate. Her interests go beyond graphic design since she also has very good experience in exercise and healthy eating. She hopes to bring awareness about the importance of taking care of yourself while being a bad*ss designer and thinks Miami is the best place to do so.
Daniel Austin – Director at Large, Education & Mentorship Committee
Day job: Design Manager at Business411
Daniel Austin is a graphic designer, illustrator and writer whose focus has been brand identity design. His passion for design began at an early age, and he has since sharpened his skills through a combination of formal education and real-world experience.
Primarily he works with small businesses in the home services industry, creating impactful branding and educational material. Having over 6 years of experience in the industry, Daniel has a deep understanding of the home services industry and uses this knowledge to create effective branding solutions for his clients. Through visual design, he has helped many businesses improve their market position and increase their revenue.
In addition to his branding work, Daniel is also an author. He has written a book on branding specifically for contractors in the home services industry. The book is a comprehensive guide that walks business owners through the importance and process of creating a unique brand that disrupts their marketplace.
Denise San Pedro – Director at Large, Education and Mentorship Committee
Day job: Creative Director at Advenir Living
Denise San Pedro is the Creative Director at Advenir Living, a national property management company headquartered in Miami. She is a veteran of the industry having started her design career over 20 years ago and truly enjoys mentoring junior designers who are starting out. She is passionate about the role of design in society and culture as a whole and how it influences our perception of the world.
