Adrienne (Dre) Sangastiano
About Adrienne (Dre) Sangastiano
Adrienne (Dre) Sangastiano is the Director of User Experience at Podium, with a diverse background in user experience design across various companies including Mailchimp and The Home Depot. She advocates for balancing internal value delivery with user needs and employs a design philosophy influenced by Bauhaus principles.
Current Role at Podium
Adrienne Sangastiano serves as the Director of User Experience at Podium, a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she focuses on enhancing user experiences by translating insights from the Voice of the Customer into actionable strategies. Her leadership aims to create measurable outcomes that align with user needs and market demands.
Previous Experience in User Experience Design
Prior to her current role, Sangastiano held various positions in user experience design across multiple organizations. She worked at Calendly as a UX Principal, where she contributed to core experience systems for 11 months. Her tenure at Mailchimp included roles as Staff-Principal Experience Architect and UX Lead, where she focused on customer experience strategy and audience management. Additionally, she served as UX Director at The Home Depot, UX Lead at Moxie, and Associate Director of Experiences at InReality.
Educational Background in Graphic Design
Sangastiano studied at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from 2004 to 2006. This educational foundation has informed her design philosophy and approach to user experience, emphasizing clarity and functionality.
Design Philosophy and Approach
Sangastiano advocates for balancing internal value delivery with external user needs. She employs Bauhaus principles, particularly the idea of 'form follows function,' in her design work. Her expertise in storytelling and Swiss Design enhances her ability to create user-centered experiences. She utilizes job-to-be-done theory and service design tools to prioritize strategies that improve customer experiences.
Professional Values and Collaboration
Sangastiano emphasizes the importance of courage, kindness, and integrity in her professional interactions. She is passionate about facilitating conversations that align differing viewpoints, fostering a collaborative environment. Her approach to leadership encourages teamwork and the sharing of ideas to drive successful user experience outcomes.