Meet Your Design Barista

A seasoned creative leader with 23+ years of experience who believes in the power of design to transform lives, approaching each project with the precision and dedication that goes into crafting your perfect cup.

Why "Design Barista"?

Just like a skilled barista balances pressure and timing for the perfect espresso, I blend strategy, creativity, and technical skill to craft exceptional digital experiences. I approach each project with the same precision—meticulously extracting essential elements, filtering out complexity, and delivering solutions that provide immediate satisfaction while leaving a lasting impression.

My personal connection to coffee began at Molecular Grounds, a local café where I worked many summers and learned about flavor compounds while completing my first real rebranding project for the owners. Coffee has since become the thread connecting important moments in my life, especially in my marriage. My husband's dedication to perfecting my morning latte when we were dating has evolved into a daily ritual of love recognized even by our children. This blend of precision and care mirrors how I approach design—with equal parts science and heart, creating experiences that not only function beautifully but also foster genuine human connection.

A fun, new coffee brand

Through the years I have had a few opportunities to work on coffee related brands, here is one I had some fun with.

View Brand Presentation

A Career of Strategic Evolution

How embracing change and continuous learning has shaped my journey from traditional design to modern product leadership

Working an event at Stonehedge

With over 15 years in product design and 23+ years in creative direction, my career began in high school where I created a program helping local businesses with print and branding projects. This initiative funded three computer labs and a print shop at my school. It also led to my first professional role at an event facility, Stonehedge, guiding marketing efforts. Upon graduation, I joined the US Army Reserves, where my experience as a Sergeant taught me discipline, leadership, and adaptation—skills that have proven invaluable throughout my professional journey.

Presenting my senior portfolio

After joining the military, I fully committed to advancing my design career. Working with local print shops and agencies, I developed a keen eye for visual communication and brand identity. Recognizing growing opportunities in digital branding, I pursued a BFA in Graphic Design with a digital design concentration at Georgia State University. As businesses began prioritizing UX for competitive advantage, I completed a UX Design Bootcamp at General Assembly in 2015, rounding out my knowledge in the design industry and enhancing my effectiveness as a design leader.

My Company photo for Coca-Cola

My career evolved from hands-on design to leading creative teams, with increasing focus on product design for SaaS platforms. At Brunner Works, I established comprehensive UI/UX processes that improved deliverables and resulted in increased user engagement for clients. At Annexus Health, I led initiatives that significantly improved usability metrics, demonstrating design's tangible impact on business outcomes. Today, as a Creative Product Design Lead, I help organizations gain strategic advantages by harmonizing product design with brand strategy.

My Mission:

Design That Empowers

I am dedicated to improving people's lives through design. This mission guides every project I undertake, whether redesigning healthcare interfaces to better serve patients or creating enterprise solutions that make work more efficient and enjoyable. I firmly believe that user experiences should foster a sense of calm, inclusivity, and understanding, regardless of context.

By designing products that demonstrate a deep understanding of user needs and preferences, we create interfaces that empower people, strengthen brand relationships, and drive organizational growth. This holistic view—connecting user satisfaction with business success—motivates my continued exploration and refinement of design practices.

BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia State University (2013), with minors in Business and Marketing

Certification in UX Design from General Assembly (2015)

Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (2021)

Introduction to Web Accessibility certification from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (2019)

Continuous professional development through industry conferences, workshops, and self-directed learning. My formal education established a strong foundation in design principles and business acumen, while my ongoing professional development ensures I remain current with emerging technologies, methodologies, and best practices in accessibility and inclusive design.
Great design, like exceptional coffee, creates an experience that resonates long after the initial encounter. My design philosophy centers on creating digital experiences that evoke the same satisfaction as that perfect cup—meticulously crafted, thoughtfully delivered, and consistently excellent.

I believe that effective design:

Solves real problems by understanding user needs and pain points

Creates emotional connections through intuitive interactions and thoughtful details

Balances form and function without sacrificing either

Evolves through iteration based on feedback and changing requirements

Respects inclusivity by ensuring accessibility for all users

My approach is user-centric yet business-aware, ensuring that beautiful solutions also deliver measurable results. I view design not as a superficial layer but as a foundational element that shapes how people experience products, services, and brands.
My approach to design leadership combines strategic vision with hands-on involvement. I cultivate multidisciplinary teams where diverse perspectives are valued and where complexity is embraced in service of delivering simplicity to users. Just as a master barista knows when to apply pressure and when to release, I balance guiding direction with allowing creative freedom.

I believe in:

Building psychological safety where team members can share ideas freely

Facilitating productive critique that elevates work without diminishing confidence

Creating clear processes that support creativity rather than constraining it

Establishing shared understanding of problems before rushing to solutions

Championing cross-functional collaboration to ensure all perspectives are considered

This collaborative approach has enabled me to build enduring partnerships with teams, clients, senior leaders, and stakeholders across various industries and organizational structures.
The design landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with advancements in AI, increased focus on accessibility, and growing user expectations for seamless experiences. I see my role in this future as a bridge—connecting technology with human needs, business goals with user desires, and diverse teams with unified purpose.

I envision design becoming increasingly:

Ethical and inclusive by default rather than as an afterthought

Integrated across disciplines rather than siloed in specialized departments

Evidence-driven through improved research methodologies and analytics

Focused on overall experience ecosystems rather than isolated touchpoints

As I continue my professional journey, I remain committed to pushing boundaries, asking challenging questions, and creating designs that make meaningful differences in people's lives—all while continuing to perfect my own skills, just as I appreciate that perfectly pulled shot of espresso.

"Out of everyone I have met, Laura was the best creative director I have ever had. She helped me to cultivate my design skills and truly wished the best for her fellow designers. She gave insightful guidance and the best kind of constructive criticism as well as logical reasoning for all of her design choices. I aspire to be a leader like her. She inspires me to learn more and do more, not just in the field of design. One of the best qualities about her is that she knows how to trust her team as well, which is rare when it comes to leaders. It's because of this trust that her team knows how to work together so well. I have learned and grown so much because of her guidance and will always be inspired by her leadership style wherever I go."

Connie Yoon

Previous Employee

Laura is a thoughtful team player with incredible patience, especially when mentoring colleagues. Her attention to detail and supportive presence consistently elevated our work. Whether it was jumping in to support a teammate under pressure, offering constructive feedback, or simply keeping the team organized and focused, she always made a positive impact.

Sinping Ku

Previous Co-worker

"Laura Sharp was my first boss after graduating from college. She is very inspiring and open minded to her team. She is the type of leader that thinks of her team before making serious decisions. She is patient especially when it comes to new designers like myself. Laura has taught me a lot within the graphic design field. She is a hands-on leader. With showing examples of her past work is help use as a guide for those who are knowledgeable about certain projects or skills. She has given me opportunities where I could take the lead at a junior level in some projects that I have worked on for her. Her leadership style is something that I will use in the future as a guide whenever I’m a leader for a team of my own."

Jasmine Miller