Payton holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Utah, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Multi-Disciplinary Design. She is currently pursuing licensure in California.

To Payton, architecture is about connecting people to place; it is about enhancing the human experience within physical spaces and helping to form memories through design. Architecture is always about the environment and the people who inhabit the space, no matter the scale or type of project. Payton’s background in multi-disciplinary design allows her to connect diverse forms of design to the human experience and integrate that synergy into every project. She is also invested in exploring innovative approaches to design thinking, technology and construction, with a keen interest in better understanding the environments, communities and people that her work impacts.

Payton finds joy in gardening, flowers and trying new creative practices. She firmly believes sweets are a food group, and her favorite item is her trusty 1994 Toyota T100, a staple in all her creative adventures.