Hi, I’m Michele with one ‘L’!… a senior designer with 9+ years of experience in nonprofit, travel, real estate, and beauty
My design background encompasses experience working in-house, both B2B and B2C, at mid-to-small-sized companies and startups, producing user-centric designs that are accessible, adaptable, intuitive, and scalable through an iterative, data-driven approach.
I have built a strong foundation by working solo or with small teams to research, ideate, execute, and collaborate cross-functionally, delivering quality products that have given me the confidence to own design for an entire organization.
In my free time, I hike to find balance, say "ya'll" often in conversation, and never turn down some good Tex-Mex. Above all, I love spending time with my family and our pets!
Design approach
I believe great design solutions result from asking the right questions, researching the best creative solution, and paying attention to the unspoken details. While technical skills, aptitude, and process are crucial, my approach prioritizes collaboration, adaptability, and a continuous learning mindset.
I empathize with the situation at hand, remain open to feedback and tradeoffs, and maintain a positive outlook by showing the capacity to admit and learn from mistakes. By staying open-minded and flexible and working closely with diverse teams and disciplines, I navigate the non-linear ebb and flow of the design process, mitigating risk and discovering opportunities for creative solutions.
Experience
Co-Founder & Product Lead, Planet Nacho
February 2019 - Present
Co-founded a design studio providing end-to-end product solutions—from UX to full-stack development—for clients across web and native platforms, delivering optimized, user-centered experiences.
Senior Product Designer, American Bible Society
August 2023 - Present
Leading initiatives in cross-functional design to promote quality, systems thinking, and enhanced collaboration to deliver optimized user experiences across web and mobile application development for nonprofit.
UX/UI Designer, AutoRentals
July 2021 - February 2023
Managed product design development for a travel-comparing shopping web app, prioritizing search optimization, conversions, revenue growth, and minimizing friction.
UX/UI Designer, ZYYAH
January 2021 - June 2021
Organized marketing UX design for home and real estate products at ZYYAH and cobrands (Hello Covered and Certus Title) to increase customer acquisition, retention, brand awareness, and startup growth.
Creative Designer, FusionPKG
July 2016 - March 2020
Coordinated visual designs and photography to elevate FusionPKG and cobrand (FusionPKG BeautyLab), drive marketing performance, and achieve organizational goals within the beauty space.
Education
Master of Arts (MA), Interaction Design, University of North Texas
August 2023 - December 2025
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Communication Design & Photography, Texas State University
August 2011 - May 2016, Magna Cum Laude
Associate of Arts (AA), Liberal Arts, Lone Star College
August 2008 - May 2011, Cum Laude
Certifications
Graduate Academic Certificate, Technical Writing, University of North Texas
August 2024 - May 2026
Design Systems, Memorisely
June 2023
UX Academy, Designlab
January 2021