Leslie is a New York–based designer whose work spans architecture, interiors, graphic design, and visual communications. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture with a minor in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she cultivated a multidisciplinary approach to design rooted in narrative, craft, and human experience.
Growing up in New York City surrounded by iconic architecture, public spaces, and an ever-changing urban fabric shaped Leslie’s sensitivity to how people interact with their built environments. She believes that every project begins by listening to a place, its culture, and the people who will ultimately inhabit it. That philosophy has guided her work across architecture, interior design, and communications throughout her career.
Leslie has contributed to winning proposals, acquisition pursuits, and international design competitions while creating compelling presentations, publications, social media campaigns, and visual narratives for leading firms including Gensler, Snøhetta, CetraRuddy, and Trahan Architects. Her work centers on helping firms articulate their ethos, communicating not only what they design, but why they design it. Through thoughtful storytelling across proposals, branding, print, digital media, and social platforms, she helps translate architectural ideas into narratives that resonate with clients, communities, and collaborators.
In 2018, Leslie was awarded First Place in the Lyceum Fellowship Design Competition for her project, Guelph Living City Market, an exploration of sustainable urban markets and community-centered design. The fellowship enabled her to study architecture and culture throughout Japan, Greece, the Netherlands, and Norway, experiences that continue to influence her perspective on the relationship between people, place, and design.
Leslie is committed to blending artistry, aesthetics, and strategic communication to elevate the visibility of design practices on a global scale. Whether developing an architectural concept, a competition submission, or a firm’s brand narrative, she believes that every project should communicate an ethos that inspires meaningful connections and enriches the human experience.
To contact: lfinnie@trahanarchitects.com or 646 809 4890
