Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayna Shah.
Hi Jayna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Mumbai in a family of creatives, so choosing a creative path never felt like a big decision. My mom spent most of her free time sketching and she naturally passed that curiosity on to me early. One of my favourite memories with her is learning stippling together. I remember illustrating a Mickey Mouse dot by dot and realising how much patience and intention it takes to create something from nothing.
Interestingly, I wasn’t always confident expressing myself verbally. Public speaking was something I struggled with growing up. It wasn’t until I discovered the Indian classical dance form, Kathak, that I realized communication wasn’t only verbal. Movement became my first language and that understanding of non-verbal storytelling eventually translated into how I approach design today.
In high school, the only subjects that spoke to me were visual art, physical education, and biology. Even then, I couldn’t picture myself outside a creative path. During a trip to Hong Kong, my mom surprised me by signing us up for a tour of SCAD. I walked through the hallways filled with student work and for the first time, I could actually see my future on the walls. I only applied to SCAD and was fortunate to receive a scholarship. Later transferred to SCAD Atlanta, where I’ve called home ever since.
Atlanta shaped me into the interdisciplinary designer I am today. I graduated in 2023 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Motion Design and since then, I’ve worked across many different environments. Designing for a convention center taught me how to think about physical space and human interaction. Freelancing with small, women-owned businesses taught me adaptability, resourcefulness and how to wear multiple hats. Working at a large ad agency exposed me to brand systems and fast-paced collaboration.
Today, I work as an in-house digital designer at Rooms To Go on the digital marketing team, where I’ve been for just over a year. This role pushed me deeper into the world of digital communication and taught me how design shifts when it’s built for millions of eyes. More than anything, it’s shown me the responsibility that comes with designing at scale.
Looking back, I see how every phase of my life from dance, to design school, to the variety of work environments I’ve experienced, has shaped how I think about communication. I’m still driven by the same curiosity my mom nurtured in me as a child, but today it’s paired with a deep respect for strategy, scale, and impact.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Navigating the job market as an international student was overwhelming from the very beginning. I tracked every application and every outreach in spreadsheets, partly for organization, but also to stay grounded through the uncertainty. I eventually landed an internship after graduation and when things looked promising, my employer entered me into the H1B work visa lottery. I was selected, and then the opportunity unexpectedly fell through. It was crushing in the moment, but it became a major turning point that taught me real resilience.
Working at an ad agency later felt like a genuine step toward the career I had imagined. I was branding, designing, building identities and thriving in the fast pace. When it did not convert into a full-time role, it stung, but by then I had learned how to keep moving forward without letting setbacks define my confidence or my worth.
The most challenging part of my journey has consistently been the legal side of being an international designer in the US, the rules, timelines, and constant uncertainty. But those challenges also helped me become more disciplined, proactive, and mentally strong. Through it all, as long as I was designing and growing, it felt worth it.
My parents have been my anchor throughout everything. They celebrate even the smallest wins as major milestones. My dad, especially, taught me the value of adaptability. He reinvented himself many times and I grew up knowing that when life shifts, you shift with it and keep going. That mindset has carried me through every difficult chapter so far.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At present, I work at Rooms To Go as a digital designer on the digital marketing team. On my team, I’m known as the email Barbie, which always makes me laugh. My role includes designing all our promo emails along with one-off emails for customer journeys, introducing new collections, store openings or simply refreshing older designs to match our latest design system.
My team makes the work even better. We joke around, bounce ideas and somehow keep things fun even on the busiest days. I also have the most sensitive and nerve-wracking trackpad anyone has ever touched. Anyone who uses my laptop regrets it immediately and at this point, it has become its own running joke.
Most of my work happens inside Figma and watching my growth with it has been really rewarding. This year’s product launches made the platform feel even more intuitive. Playing around with Figma Draw and Buzz has pushed me to experiment and adapt in new ways.
One of my favourite projects was designing the look and feel for how Spider-man would appear when co-branded with Rooms To Go. Seeing a character that iconic merge with our brand was exciting. Beyond special projects, the emails I design reach more than 45 million people, which still surprises me. One of our emails even drove a higher average ticket than expected, which was a satisfying win. I also jump in to design for the site when needed, which keeps things interesting.
What sets me apart is my ability to move fluidly between brand storytelling, high-volume production and experimentation without losing the human side of the work.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is continuing to learn and evolve. Staying curious keeps my work exciting and helps me stay relevant as design and technology shift. I am considering a masters in Interaction Design because I want to understand people on a deeper level and design in ways that feel intuitive, thoughtful and empathetic.
Community also matters a lot to me. I enjoy being around other creatives, sharing ideas and learning from people who think differently. It keeps me inspired and reminds me why I chose this field in the first place.
Outside of work, making time for family, friends and fun is something I try to protect. I come from a big family and every time I go home, the kids in the house seem to multiply, which keeps everything loud but warm. That balance between work and life is important to me. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that creativity is not just something I do at work, but a way I move through my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jaynashah.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynashah25/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/jaynashah25
