I’m a Venezuelan footwear and product designer based in Portland, Oregon, currently working in performance footwear at HOKA.

Growing up in Mérida, I was always drawn to different sports, subcultures, and the products that surrounded them. As a kid, I moved between interests like soccer, skateboarding, volleyball, horseback riding, cross-fit and later running. I became fascinated by how each world had its own identity, community, and relationship with footwear.

Growing up in Venezuela also gave me a deeper understanding of what sport can mean beyond competition or recreation. I saw how it could give young people structure, confidence, community, and a sense of possibility. And in some cases, open doors to opportunities that could meaningfully change the direction of their lives and support their families. That stayed with me and became a big part of why I’m drawn to designing for people and movement.

My interest in footwear eventually led me to study Industrial Design at SCAD and later earn a Master’s in Sports Product Design from the University of Oregon. Since then, I’ve worked across performance, fashion, and experimental footwear through experiences with Faryl Robin, Under Armour, Zellerfeld, Gravity Sketch, and now HOKA.

Today, I approach design from a human-centered place. I’m interested in understanding how people move, what motivates them, what challenges they face, and how product can support them. Whether that means improving performance, comfort, confidence, accessibility, or simply making movement more enjoyable.

My process is rooted in curiosity and iteration, moving between sketching, 3D tools, emerging technologies, prototyping, materials, and manufacturing. I’m especially drawn to the intersection of nature, science, technology, culture, and human movement, and to exploring how new tools can expand the design process without losing the emotion and purpose behind the product.

Ultimately, I want to create footwear that feels thoughtful, useful, and meaningful to the people wearing it.