Mihaela Pleșca is a dynamic and multifaceted professional whose expertise spans the realms of UX design, online marketing, and neurodesign. As the founder of Neurodesign, she has redefined the intersection of creativity and technology, earning international acclaim for her innovative approaches. Recognized as one of Forbes Romania’s “30 Under 30” in 2022, Mihaela has garnered six international awards and even a nomination at the prestigious Emmy Awards, showcasing her exceptional contributions to design and marketing.
With a strong academic foundation in engineering, management, and marketing strategies, Mihaela has seamlessly blended her technical acumen with her artistic sensibilities. Her work as a motivational speaker, UX design juror, and advocate for resonance in design reflects her commitment to pushing boundaries and inspiring others. Whether it’s through her entrepreneurial ventures or her thought leadership on global platforms, Mihaela Pleșca continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of design and innovation.
The Journey So Far
Mihaela has always had the design talent in herself. Her journey has been marked by extraordinary creativity, ambition, and innovation. From an early age, her path toward a transformative career began to take shape. At just one year old, during a traditional Romanian ceremony meant to reveal a child’s future professional desires, Mihaela unconventionally grabbed a syringe by its needle, an act that foreshadowed her future as a trailblazer in healthcare innovation.
As a kindergarten student, Mihaela demonstrated a remarkable imagination and aptitude for creativity. While still learning how to write, she drew the iconic Google logo, complete with its signature colors, inspired by a rainbow she saw that day. A family member confirmed her accuracy, an early testament to her intuitive design sensibilities. Around the same time, she used a tree branch to sketch the Gucci logo in her grandmother’s garden. Mihaela also nurtured a vivid imagination, creating stories and envisioning thrillers and dramas that often revolved around doctors and detectives—dreaming, for a time, of becoming a police officer.
By the age of seven, Mihaela’s focus sharpened as she began to explore the design and marketing industries. With a clear vision for her “Neurodesign” company, she conceptualized logos for her future brands. These ideas evolved as she grew, and at 14, Mihaela began refining her concepts while attending the fine arts high school “Hans Mattis Teutsch.” During this time, she laid the foundation for what would later become the Neurodesign style.
While pursuing her BSc studies at the Faculty of Food and Tourism and later a master’s degree at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Mihaela used her free time to expand and define her innovative concepts. Her academic journey was complemented by real-world experiences, including volunteering at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival in 2013, where she earned a Volunteer Medal for her outstanding contributions to the event.
Mihaela’s career journey reflects her versatility and relentless pursuit of excellence. She worked in four luxury hotels in Greece and two in Spain as an entertainment supervisor. In Romania, she gained valuable experience as an Online Project Manager, Assistant Manager, and UX Specialist through the Google Digital Garage project, where she was promoted to Star Digital Ambassador. Simultaneously, Mihaela pursued artistic certifications in acting and music, performing as a soprano in a prestigious national choir and participating in music festivals and national record labels.
Her creative pursuits also extended to filmmaking. Mihaela’s short movie on the harmful effects of water pollution was nominated for the International Emmy Awards in the JCSI Young Creatives category. Her bachelor’s degree project, later transformed into a scientific article, earned the Best Presentation Award at the 2017 International Scientific Conference on Social Sciences in Bulgaria. Mihaela’s project, initially presented in 2015, raised awareness about the planet’s water crisis, an issue she helped to address through her advocacy.
In November 2019, Mihaela fulfilled her childhood dream by founding the Neurodesign company, protecting her intellectual property and bringing her vision to life. Her first client was a private local hospital, and through her innovative Neurodesign style, she quickly gained recognition. Mihaela participated in the International Biennial of Miniatures Arts and became a juror for the prestigious A’Design Award and Competition in Italy in 2018. By 2019, her exceptional judging process earned her a Golden Trophy. To date, Mihaela has received six Golden Trophies from the competition, in addition to several accolades, including a Golden Trophy from the MUSE Hotel Awards in Malaysia and recognition from the Design Skills competition.
As a UX leader with the Interaction Design Association, Mihaela has judged projects across multiple fields, including healthcare, and has organized events such as the Interaction 20 Gala in Milan. Her fine art journey began with her first Neurodesign artwork, “The Misunderstood Scream,” created for the French art contest “Rat d’Art Volant” in 2012. The piece gained international acclaim, influencing stages such as the Nobel Peace Prize concert and Eurovision.
Mihaela’s impact on the healthcare industry has been profound. She won the JCI Romania Ten Outstanding Young Persons award in the Medical Innovation category in 2024 and was recognized with the Forbes 30 Under 30 Romania trophy and the Business Elites Under 30 award in 2022. Her innovative contributions include designing a nanorobot for cancer treatment, a testament to her multidisciplinary approach inspired by her design pencil resembling a syringe from her childhood tradition.
As a visionary who idolizes Leonardo da Vinci, Mihaela continues to innovate across scientific and artistic domains. Her passion for advancing healthcare through technology and design is reflected in her digital campaigns for robotic surgeries like da Vinci systems, which have revolutionized surgical success rates.
Mihaela’s journey is a testament to her boundless creativity, dedication to innovation, and relentless pursuit of excellence across industries.
The Transformational Company
Neurodesign is a pioneering company founded by Mihaela, blending art, science, and technology to create innovative solutions in design and marketing. The company specializes in services such as image management, online marketing, UX audits, and personal style consulting. With a unique approach rooted in the Neurodesign style, the company integrates scientific research with artistic expression to transform branding and communication strategies. Neurodesign has earned international recognition for its groundbreaking work, making it a leader in redefining how businesses connect with their audiences.
Mihaela faced numerous challenges during her learning and research process, particularly in protecting her data. She also encountered limiting beliefs from others who doubted her ability to achieve the results of her research, deeming it too difficult or resource-intensive, requiring substantial funding for equipment. However, Mihaela overcame these obstacles by ignoring negativity and staying committed to her research. Often, she took on multiple roles required in the research process to prove and demonstrate that her style is both scientific and artistic.
To safeguard her data, Mihaela implemented robust cybersecurity strategies and, when necessary, reported concerns to local authorities. She strongly believes in ethics and is committed to defending her boundaries, using every right available to her when they are not respected.
Today, Mihaela offers multidisciplinary design and marketing services through her Neurodesign style and resonance. Her expertise spans various industries, including healthcare, as well as art products, music, and movies within the M!SELA domain. In 2024, she also applied her Onou style to deliver services and healthy recipes for the hospitality industry.
Mihaela authored a Romanian book titled ‘Neuro Design și Rezonanța în UI, UX Design,’ where she elaborates on these styles. To date, her portfolio features four distinct design styles, including the Onou design style, which was her latest creation. While the final design was ready, Mihaela only needed to name it. Each of her design styles is tailored to deliver superior products and services, particularly in the healthcare industry.
A Proud Contribution
Mihaela recently worked on a groundbreaking project for a scientific healthcare summit on cancer this January. In this project, she discovered a treatment to cure cancer and critically evaluated other emerging scientific methods currently being promoted in the market. For Mihaela, ethics are paramount. If she identifies a result or method that could potentially harm patients, she takes it upon herself to propose improved strategies aimed at safeguarding patient well-being and promoting societal health.
She is particularly proud of this project, not only for its significant impact but also for her efficiency in completing it within just 10 hours. The project provides solutions to treat all types of cancer, with the exception of leukemia, marking a significant step toward advancing cancer treatment.
Goals Ahead
Mihaela thrives on challenging herself and helping others, which makes the healthcare domain one of her favorite fields to work in. Its nature as a complex scientific field presents significant intellectual challenges, while the innovations in this area have a profound and positive impact on society—something she finds deeply rewarding.
She envisions the Neurodesign style, which she founded, as a trend poised for substantial growth in the future. Anticipating this expansion, Mihaela has already prepared herself to manage the demands of a larger client base. With careful planning, she feels confident that she is ready to handle the growth without the need for extensive additional preparations.
As Neurodesign continues to expand, Mihaela intends to remain composed and track its progress closely to understand its societal impact. Knowing that she will have to manage many clients in the future, Mihaela has already tested her processes, ensuring she is well-equipped to efficiently handle all tasks and deliver exceptional results for every client.
Quote: “The truth is inside of you. You just must find it.”
Quote: “I’ve always loved to shift between technical skills and creative skills. I’m spontaneous and I do my tasks as required for each day, regardless of what part it is all about.”
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