Cindy La
Cindy La
Product Designer who started from retail
 

future of work, community, and today's joy

Hi my name is Cindy, it's nice to meet you! I started from retail as a Style Advisor at Dynamite into a Product Designer making physical and digital retail more seamless, Design Systems at Facebook, to rebranding Casalova as a place where finding homes feel as seamless as shopping and retail. Recently went back to retail, at Tulip Retail, partnering with Apple to empower next generation retail workers with iOS apps. Leading retailers like Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bonobos use Tulip to power the connected store of the future. 🌷

“When one has reached maturity in this art, one will have the formless form. It is like the dissolving or thawing [of] ice into water that can shape itself to any structure. When one has no form, one can be all forms; when one has no style, one can fit in with any style. That way, it’s a process of continuing growth.”
— Bruce Lee
 
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Started from retail

Empowered customers with mobile apps to make physical and digital retail more seamless at Dynamite and Garage

As a Stylist, Sales Associate, and Cashier at Dynamite, I brought the problems inferred from customer pain-points in stores, to pitch and shape the product roadmap with a mobile-first approach. Jumped into product design by starting with a complete redesign of the mobile sites and then the team launched Dynamite & Garage's first iOS apps.

Design Systems on Facebook Ads

Interned as a Product Designer and made components, patterns, and guidance for product teams to collaborate. I learned about addressing inconsistencies, scaling documentation, and cross-platform collaboration with a shared language.

Casalova, Canada's real estate marketplace to rent, sell, manage, and buy homes, and pre-construction homes

After a few years of browsing homes on Casalova and sending problems to the founders, I joined as a founding lead Product Designer and rebranded Casalova, so we can make everyone feel at home. Thanks to Ray and Curtis, CEO and CTO of Casalova, a bench player became a starter, while being a full-time student.

Find a home
 

Philosophy

Let's go back to retail. And don't forget about the human element in design ✨

Recently, I surprised my former manager from Dynamite with a visit. He's now Flagship Store Manager at Michael Kors.

Manager: Cindy, I did a security and loss prevention presentation here and it reminded me of you. Remember, I was asking about our procedures and you were the only one that put your hand up and said “don’t forget about the human element in loss prevention!”

Me: I used to talk like that in 2014? Remember you taught me about KPIs?

Coming soon
 

Why working at Casalova felt like my first basketball practice

Fluffy snow, grey wool jacket, grey tims, let's go 😄Tears may be shed, so grab onto a teddy bear

Coming soon
 

The future of the book

• Art and design work together
• In-store and online experiences
• I bought an architecture photography book Three of a Kind, to discuss the images and incorporated some design work from Casalova, a real estate marketplace, in response to the book as a medium by defining ephemeral and lasting moments of the new era

Coming soon
 

Out with the old, in with the new

Redefining architecture, imagery, and text: Evolution of meaning from forms of the past

Read more
 

past work

Jamie, your smart shopping assistant

Product thesis: Jamie is a predictive commerce-based system that connects your daily activities and digital life

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Dough, retail team communication

For retailers to enhance authentic staff and customer shopping experiences with an Apple Watch first approach

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Messenger Commerce for Friends

Deciding what to buy with friends? Ever ask your friends which pair of shoes you should get?

Read more
 
 

Reading and listening

Meet Constance Wu, Star of Crazy Rich Asians

Fashion Canada's September issue is on why identity matters.

Read

Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers

Learning about the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Non aesthetic is so amazing omg

Read

199 • The Yin and Yang of Basketball

James Naismith created a design problem, guidelines, and peach baskets to bring people together: the game of basketball.

Listen
 

Favourite quotes

“Everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to teach.”
— Anyone
“Rap music is about storytelling. I’ve never seen the sense in crafting a story that isn’t my own. Just rapping isn’t really that impressive anymore. There has to be more. You have to be a multilayered artist.”
— Drake, Toronto artist
“Be authentic and bring your whole self to work.”
— Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook
“Making beats is my life passion pretty much. If I’m not chilling or just hanging out with friends, it’s not like I go to clubs a lot. I’m mostly just on the beats, I don’t do much other than that. Just stay consistent and if you love it that much, keep doing it and you will be successful. Just put your everything into it.”
— boi1da, Toronto producer