The Studio &
Team Behind It

Fauna is a collective of three disciplines, with one shared vision.

Founded by Paulina Benavides, Carla Schuessler, and Claudia Erminy; three creatives from Caracas, Venezuela, who met in Los Angeles and connected through a shared sensibility.

With backgrounds in architecture, interior design, and graphic design, each brings years of experience in their field, spanning high-end residential projects, boutique hospitality, branded environments, and visual identity systems. Together, they offer a layered, holistic perspective that informs every project.

Our multidisciplinary approach enables us to create work that is integrated across scales and disciplines, with each element considered in relation to its function and context. Whether we’re designing a space, a visual identity, or a complete experience, our work is grounded in clarity, intent, and collaboration.

At Fauna, we believe that good design is thoughtful and lasting.

Meet The Team

  • Paulina Benavides is an architecture designer with 9+ years of experience.

    Specialized in high-end residential, she has worked from concept to construction on several residences. Her projects cover a wide range in scale and location. From Los Angeles, Montecito, Pacific Palisades, Seattle and Madrid.

    Her experience spans to commercial projects for corporate clients, specialized luxury retail stores as well as exterior areas.

  • Carla Schuessler is an interior designer and decorator with 10 years of experience.

    She began her career in Los Angeles working under established designers, learning through hands-on experience.

    Specialized in hospitality (with a focus on short-term rental) and experiential design, she has led projects spanning from Los Angeles to Puerto Rico. She takes on select residential projects when the right one comes along.

  • Claudia Erminy is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience.

    She specializes in branding and builds visual identities and design systems for clients in hospitality, wellness, and consumer goods. She brings a narrative approach to every project, with work ranging from sports bars in Madrid to parenting startups in Los Angeles.

    She has collaborated with studios, startups, and corporations including Paramount, Hulu, Netflix, and Nickelodeon on creative campaigns across print and digital platforms.

Our creative approach responds to functional needs while drawing from historical insight. Our aim is to produce design that is efficient in use, minimal in form, and built to last.