Alyssa Almeida (they/them)
Design & Creative Director
I build brands, design systems, and teams that move fast and make impact.
I’m a brand and design leader with 12+ years of experience across technology, music, and luxury real estate. I’m passionate about mentoring designers, leaning into people’s strengths, and bringing curiosity and creativity into corporate environments. I build systems that increase creative capacity and consistency, while fostering a culture of emotional safety where teams can learn, experiment, and grow together. I thrive at the intersection of strategy, execution, and scale—turning complex challenges into solutions that drive growth. Outside work, you’ll find me at a show, exploring nature, a vegan pop-up, or just at home with my three cats, a cold brew, and my Switch in hand.
Design Philosophy
Clarity
Design teams rarely fail for lack of talent. They struggle when misalignment, shifting priorities, and unclear decisions get in the way. My job is to remove those obstacles—aligning stakeholders early, defining success before we start, and protecting the team from reactive churn. Great design is the outcome. Clarity is the work.
Strategy
Design is a strategic partner, not a service desk. I push to involve design at the problem-definition stage, translating business goals into clear principles and measurable outcomes. If we can't articulate how the work moves the business forward, we're not finished.
People
Strong teams are built the same way as strong work: intentionally. That means clear roles, honest feedback, real growth paths, and a culture where safety and accountability coexist. It also means recognizing that people don't all think or communicate the same way. Some talk ideas out loud; others need quiet to process. Some thrive in live critique; others do their sharpest work in writing, on their own time. So I design how we work—agendas shared ahead, more than one way to give input, expectations made explicit—so quieter, more deliberate, and neurodivergent team members have real room to contribute. I hire for curiosity and judgment, give context over tasks, and coach rather than control. We're all human, and that care should be specific enough to actually meet people where they are.
Systems
As organizations grow, inconsistency becomes the enemy. I build the systems that hold things together—brand governance, intake and prioritization, cross-functional operating models, shared language. Clear systems also lower the ambiguity tax on everyone, especially those for whom unclear expectations are draining. When the system is strong, teams spend less energy defending decisions and more energy creating.
The Deal
I bring clear direction, honest feedback, advocacy, and protection from unnecessary noise. In return, I ask for accountability, curiosity, respect for craft, business awareness, and ego-free collaboration.
"Within the first month of you managing me and being my support is far more than anyone has done for me career-wise. I can honestly say for the first time I feel like I have a voice that is valued and heard."
Direct Report, Senior Designer
"Alyssa approaches leadership with a focus on the human element by building deep, trusting relationships with both their reports and peers, resulting in elevating the overall culture and quality of our business."
Emma Cason-Pratt, Design Director
"Alyssa is one of those rare people whose work shows up everywhere, even if behind the scenes. They consistently elevate our brand, sharpen our messaging, and add a level of polish that makes all of us all look good. They move fast and make even the most chaotic requests feel effortless."
Jason Heina, Senior Director, Channel Sales
"Lyss sets a high standard for quality and execution in our marketing team. They always find the right balance between our brand’s needs and what prospects, customers, and partners expect, delivering top-notch design and visuals for our marketing materials."
Palmer Mitchell, Digital Marketing Director
"I can honestly say that after working with Lyss in both a professional setting and hiring them for personal design projects that I don't know that I've ever worked with a designer more dedicated to honing in on what really makes good visual design special."