About Cayla
I’m Cayla Penenberg, a strategic design leader and award-winning senior brand designer with 7+ years of experience building brand systems and high-impact visual experiences across digital, physical, and print environments. I’m an expert in translating complex brand identities into cohesive touchpoints with strong typography, visual storytelling, motion, and polished execution. I’m known for fast, cross-functional collaboration, thoughtful craft, and building systems that scale while still feeling expressive and distinct.
I’m currently exploring senior design roles (brand, web, product, UI/UX) and design-adjacent opportunities where I can own visual strategy end-to-end.
What I Design
I lead end-to-end branding and UI/UX across:
Apps • Websites • Campaigns • Print • Presentation decks • Social Media • Signage • Packaging • Billboards
I translate brand identity into digital, motion-driven, print, signage, packaging and billboard assets, adapting each output to the right audience and format.
I combine strategy, craft, and speed using:
Figma • Adobe Creative Suite • WordPress (Elementor) • Design System Libraries • Documentation • Reusable Templates
I specialize in:
Brand Identity Systems • Visual Storytelling • Typography • Motion Graphics • Print Design • Web Design • Design Systems
I’ve collaborated directly with:
Marketing teams • Project Managers • Developers • Cross-Functional Stakeholders
My select clients include:
Netflix Executives • Emmy-Nominated Talent • Foot Locker • Engel & Völkers New York City • Above All Roofing • SelectQoS • The Aviation Agency • Moonlight Printing • Santa Monica College (where I co-led the award-winning 1st Place SMC Go App redesign)
Global Perspective, Human-Centered Approach
My multidisciplinary background includes:
Performing for the President of Botswana with their national dance company • Traveling to 54 countries • Teaching English and dance abroad
These experiences inform a global perspective and a human-centered approach to design, storytelling, and brand communication.
What I Do
I currently work as a Senior Brand & Growth Designer (Freelance & Contract, San Francisco/Remote), where I:
• Lead end-to-end branding and UI/UX for high-profile clients
• Create scalable systems and design libraries that keep visual cohesion across web, social, and presentation decks
• Translate brand identity into digital, motion-driven, print, signage, packaging, and billboard assets
• Collaborate directly with marketing teams, PMs, and developers to turn ambiguous goals into polished creative work
• Build reusable templates and documentation to streamline production and maintain consistency at scale
I also work as a Senior Graphic Designer at Moonlight Printing (Beverly Hills), where I:
• Develop scalable print and digital assets for luxury brands
• Ensure consistency across packaging, menus, and signage
• Maintain high typographic and layout standards while preparing production-ready files for cross-channel use
I previously served as Senior Graphic & Web Designer at The Aviation Agency, where I:
• Partnered with cross-functional teams to launch interactive web and email campaigns
• Iterated based on performance metrics and stakeholder feedback
• Managed concurrent, high-velocity projects and made smart creative tradeoffs to deliver craft-focused work on tight timelines
I previously worked as Senior UI/UX Designer at Santa Monica College, where I:
• Co-led the award-winning 1st Place SMC Go App redesign
• Used user research and prototyping to simplify complex user flows and improve engagement
LINKEDIN CONSULTING
Alongside my design work, I help job seekers, creatives, and small businesses with LinkedIn: full LinkedIn profile design + strategy, resume editing, and portfolio reviews. If you’d like support with your career assets or LinkedIn presence, feel free to DM me on LinkedIn or email me.
Education & Recognition
• A.S., Graphic Design, Santa Monica College
• B.A., Dance, Pitzer College, Claremont Colleges
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