Dayna Petry
Dayna Petry is a talented graphic apparel and product designer based in Costa Mesa, California, with nearly a decade of experience creating visually compelling designs across apparel, accessories, and consumer goods. Currently working in the golf industry, she specializes in developing graphics for golf bags, headwear, and a wide range of products, blending creativity with a strong understanding of market trends. With a dual Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Illustration from California State University, Fullerton, Dayna brings a well-rounded artistic foundation to her work, complemented by additional studies in fashion design.
Dayna’s career path reflects both creativity and strategic insight, shaped by her early experience as a sales manager in high-volume retail environments. This background gave her a strong sense of consumer behavior, merchandising, and business operations, which she now integrates into her design process. Since transitioning into the design field, she has worked with both large and small brands, producing high-volume collections, creating tech packs, and collaborating closely with product teams and manufacturers to bring concepts to life. Known for her adaptability and efficiency, she consistently delivers innovative designs while navigating tight deadlines and evolving industry demands.
Driven by curiosity and a passion for continuous growth, Dayna draws inspiration from travel, culture, and personal connections, infusing her work with fresh perspectives and authenticity. She is particularly passionate about graphic placement on products, where art and functionality intersect. Looking ahead, she aspires to step into a senior design leadership role, combining her creative expertise with her background in team management to guide and inspire others. With a strong work ethic, collaborative mindset, and keen eye for design, Dayna continues to evolve as a forward-thinking creative in the ever-changing fashion and product design industry.
• California State University, Fullerton - Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA, Graphic Design
• California State University, Fullerton - Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA, Illustration
• Orange Coast College - Associate of Arts (AA), Graphic Design/ Studio Arts
• Orange Coast College - Associate in Fashion - AFS
• Alumni volunteer speaker at California State University
• Fullerton
• Portfolio reviewer at Chapman University and other Orange County colleges
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute a lot of my success to my support system at home. My husband, my dog, my family, my in-laws, my mother-in-law, and my mom are just very supportive. I also have two best friends that are also family. Without concrete support and people believing in you, even when you don't always see it as clearly as someone else does, it's hard. Sometimes you don't always see it yourself, so you need people to lean on. I would credit my family, my friends, and my husband as really the root of my support and my success. I think the most successful things come from multiple people thinking about it or talking about it, and if everyone's in a space where they can support each other and do it gracefully, then the sky's the limit. Perseverance is definitely an important part of success too, being able to persevere past difficult moments and learn.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be okay with making mistakes. Failure has to be comfortable in the industry. And just don't ever lose your grit. It's very important as a designer. Just be tough.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say just being honest and true to yourself. As uncomfortable as it may seem sometimes, I think honesty is very important. Loyalty and respect are important values to me, to respect anyone at any level. In the past, when I was younger, there were times where maybe I wasn't being honest to spare someone else's feelings, and I just didn't feel connected with myself by doing that. There's a way to do it respectfully, of course, to be honest, whether it be a good or a bad thing to translate, or however the other person receives it. It's just something that I've learned to really value as I've gotten older.