Meet the 2022 Designer Dozen: Cristina Arrea

Cristina Arrea
Age: 32 | Associate, Design Manager, Gensler

WHY CRISTINA?

Delivering human-centric designs showcasing a compelling story, Cristina oversees day-to-day project administration and ensures clients, consultants and team members are aligned with target objectives and project schedules. Described as a true team player by her coworkers, Cristina works closely with the ACE Mentor Program of America, guiding local high school students to pursue careers in construction and design. She’s also a co-leader of Gensler’s Genome Steering Committee, planning employee activities like game nights, fireside chats and art walks.

📷:  Rendering courtesy of Gensler

How and why did you get into retail design?

Growing up in Costa Rica, my hobbies were always centered around arts and crafts and using my imagination to create something. This interest led to pursuing degrees in civil engineering and architecture to expand my artistic capabilities … It has been a rewarding experience applying my creativity and leveraging the problem-solving skills I gained throughout my studies. From designing around people’s emotions to ensuring the functionality of a space, I love the holistic process that goes into approaching retail design.

If budget were no object, I’d…

…Integrate more technology and digital design into projects. These elements can further expand a brand’s narrative and truly engage the consumer through immersive experiences that bring them back.