Cai Charniga

Cai Charniga

DesignOps @Figma 🏳️‍⚧️ in Brooklyn, NY, they/them

Speaking

2022

Facilitated three livestreams for Figma's partnership with DOA, covering topics such as:

  • The case for DesignOps–how to identify when you need it
  • The first 90 days as head of DesignOps
  • Scaling from a DesignOps team of 1 to a team of many

These talks features a variety of guest speakers and experts on each topic.

2022
Recurring Guest Design Speaker & Portfolio Reviewer at Rochester Institute of Technology

Starting in 2014, I became an active alumnus of RIT and participate in various speaking engagements yearly.

2022
Rochester, NY

Featured lecturer at RIT's TAW student design conference.

Writing

2022

My ongoing newsletter, Exclamation Points, where I write about design, community, joy, access, inclusion and other radical imaginings.

Work Experience

2022 — Now
2020 — 2022
New York, NY
  • Led product design for 2020 and 2021 Wrapped mobile data stories experiences.
  • Led product design for the 2021 Only You campaign data stories.
  • Sourced and mentored associate and mid-level, internal design embeds who gained valuable experience working on Spotify's biggest global campaigns.
  • Collaborated with internal accessibility teams and partners at Fable in order to make Wrapped a more accessible experience year after year.
  • Led "Warm Up Wednesdays" at the mission level – bringing joy to team dynamics while helping designers grow their skills, particularly in Figma.
  • Worked within Spotify's Editorial Board, helping source ideas for the spotify.design blog, and enabling designers to share their stories.
  • Participated in the Screen Share working group and pitched Screen Share Day – a successful day that brought hundreds of designers together.
2019 — 2020
Brooklyn, NY
  • Designed experiences centered on growing communities and experiences for Kickstarter backers.

  • Managed a direct report.

  • Pitched and led the Kickstarter Design Systems working group.

2016 — 2019
2014 — 2016

Awards

2021

Spotify's 2020 Wrapped experience under the category of "Apps and Software – Integrated Mobile Experience"

2021

Spotify's 2020 Wrapped was awarded the Bronze In-House Award for Direct Marketing in Product.

2016
"Style" SSCG Recipient from CDM Princeton

Chosen as the "style" recipient for the annual SSCG award, where four employees are chosen who represent each of the company's core values.

2016
Featured Illustrator from Love on Netflix

Selected to do a series of illustrations for the Netflix original series, "Love" which were used in various social media promotions.

Volunteering

2020 — 2022

WAVE is a mentorship program that is designed to support women and non-binary students as they take the first step into their careers.

Side Projects

2019
  • Let’s Swap was an afternoon of zine workshops, skill sharing, and creative play that was free and open to the public, hosted at Kickstarter HQ.
  • After a successful program, Let's Swap was brought to the Basilica Soundscape music festival as an installation of an interactive zine library and creative space in the Back Gallery.
2019
Self Taught Tattooing

In 2019, I began learning the art of tattooing. Presently, I tattoo out of my home studio and am licensed in New York City.

Education

2010 — 2014
BFA, Graphic Design at Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY

Contact

Teams

Current
Figma Design