Fonda La Shay Douglass
About Fonda La Shay Douglass
Fonda La Shay Douglass is a Principal Designer and Design System Lead at Cognite, with a strong background in UX design and team expansion. She has previously held key roles at companies such as Storebrand, Equinor, and Olavstoppen, contributing to various design initiatives and events.
Work at Cognite
Currently, Fonda La Shay Douglass serves as Principal Designer and Design System Lead at Cognite. She has held this position since 2021, contributing to the development of design systems and leading design initiatives. In her role, she has implemented three internal events: Design Lunch, Competence Coffee, and Fagdag. These events aim to foster open discussion and skill sharing among designers and developers, enhancing collaboration and knowledge within the team.
Previous Experience in Design
Fonda La Shay Douglass has extensive experience in design roles prior to her current position. She worked as a Senior UX Designer at Storebrand for two years, focusing on the Mine penger app from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, she served as Design Lead for the Equinor Design System in 2019 for eight months. Her role at Olavstoppen AS as UX Lead Designer spanned four years, where she played a significant role in expanding the design team from four to fourteen designers.
Education and Expertise
Fonda La Shay Douglass studied Graphic & Interactive Design at Francis Tuttle Technology Center from 2003 to 2006. She also pursued language studies at Johannes Læringssenter, achieving EU Level A1, A2, and B1 in Norwegian from 2011 to 2012. Her educational background supports her expertise in design and user experience, equipping her with the skills necessary for her roles in various organizations.
Design Leadership and Initiatives
Throughout her career, Fonda La Shay Douglass has demonstrated leadership in design. At Olavstoppen, she was instrumental in expanding the design team significantly. Additionally, her initiatives at Cognite, including the organization of internal events, reflect her commitment to fostering a collaborative environment among designers and developers. Her leadership extends to working with key customers such as Equinor/Statoil, Lyse, and SR-Bank in her current role.
Career Timeline
Fonda La Shay Douglass has built a diverse career in design over the years. She began as a Graphic & Web Designer at Hjelseth Computers AS in 2011, followed by roles at adsign reklamebyrå and Melvær&Lien. From 2015 to 2019, she worked at Olavstoppen AS, and briefly served as UX Lead at Conta in 2021. Her career reflects a steady progression through various design roles, culminating in her current position at Cognite.