Her Story
About Cristina
Cristina Crespo, AIA, is a registered architect and Senior Design Director based in Miami, Florida, with more than 20 years of experience across architecture, interior design, hospitality, and branded environments. She currently leads design initiatives for Sandals Resorts International, overseeing a multidisciplinary team spanning architecture, interior design, and 3D modeling. Her work focuses on translating brand vision into thoughtful, memorable environments while balancing design excellence, operational requirements, local codes, life-safety standards, and the distinctive character of each destination.
Throughout her career, Cristina has held influential design leadership roles across hospitality, workplace, and retail environments. Her experience includes serving as Design Director for AvroKO’s Miami studio, Regional Senior Design Director for Latin America at WeWork, and Senior Production Designer at Starbucks. She also co-founded Layer Design Collective, where she focused on hospitality design, branded environments, and owner’s representation. Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico and an MSc in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association in London. She is also an NCARB-registered architect and holds LEED BD+C credentials.
Beyond project delivery, Cristina is passionate about human-centered design, sustainability, placemaking, and the integration of local culture, craft, and community into the built environment. Her leadership is characterized by strategic vision, empathy, transparent communication, and a commitment to developing people and multidisciplinary teams. She serves as a board member and Programming Co-Chair for the NEWH South Florida Chapter and is involved with AIA Miami. Her work has earned recognition through design competitions, including the NYC Big APP “Activate the Workplace” challenge and the Miami Public Space Challenge, reflecting her commitment to creating spaces that strengthen connections between people, place, and experience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cristina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my role as Design Director at Sandals and Beaches Resorts, where I lead and manage a 30-person team. This experience has strengthened my leadership skills and ability to deliver results through collaboration.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to never shy away from voicing my opinion. One of my mentors taught me, “You have a voice, use it. You have something to say, say it,” and that advice has served me very well throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to strive for progress rather than perfection. Stay determined and disciplined, keep doing your best, and don’t be afraid of mistakes—learn from them. Lead with transparent communication, confident humility, and empathy, while keeping your focus on the end goal.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are resilience, confidence, continuous learning, and using my voice. My mother’s example in a male-dominated field inspired my career, while my transition from architecture to interior design in the United States taught me the importance of continued education and growth. I believe in speaking up as a leader and embracing every opportunity to learn and improve.
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