Hi, Iโm Nina
A tenacious, loving, and energetic design leader who enjoys most days outside.
I’m a seasoned design leader with over 17 years of experience across a wide range of industries, platforms, and products. I’ve developed a diverse skillset designing experiences for both consumer and B2B products across entertainment, e-commerce, fashion, fintech, and news. As a leader, my mission is to foster designer and partner relationships and establish design practices that people want to work with and be a part of ๐ค.
Experience
Yahoo
I’ve spent the last eight-ish years tinkering with a ton of products at Yahoo, building great teams and working with lovely designers and great partners. I was also on the steering committee for the Design Associate Program, focused on growing our youngest design members, and a mentor on Design Blazers, working with our future design leaders.
Polyvore
Super unique and beloved socially powered e-commerce experience. Worked with some really amazingly smart people who I still love and adore, who have greatly influenced shaping who I am today.
NBC Universal
Led the UX, IxD, and Visual Design of the 2015 Emmy Nominee, Clio Bronze-winning, Shorty Finalist SNL 40 app. Led multi-platform experiences for America’s Got Talent and The Voice, allowing users to vote on their favorite artists from their devices. Also worked on experiences across the web and app presence for various other NBCU properties.
The Walt Disney Animation Studios
UX Designer on the Studio brand, talent development & recruitment team. Got to work with some amazing animators and studio crew during the making of Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia. Fun fact: You may be able to find me in the credits of a Disney movie.
Disney ABC Family & ABC Television
Worked on the web experience, creating various ad campaigns and building video co-watching and second-screen experiences for the ABCF and ABC networks.
Freelance
I freelanced for many of my earlier years, picking up clients and working for small design firms that helped build up my design and coding chops. These days, I pick up a project here or there depending on my bandwidth.
Other Fun Stuff
Worked at Disneyland during my Disney College Program internship. If you rode the Indiana Jones ride in 2009, there’s a very high chance I assisted you ๐.
Most of college+, I taught surfing privately and at a surf camp. Had a 100% success rate of getting my students (preschool to 80+) up on a wave ๐๐ค.
I also love working with kids and worked at Camp Fire USA Long Beach Area Council, a non-profit organization for kids and families. I directed an after-school program at local elementary schools, creating and leading lesson plans and activities. During the summers, I worked with elementary through high school kids at summer camp. I’m still a pretty good walking songbook, and I’ve got a game or two in my back pocket. I also ran the challenge course, archery range, and lifeguarded on occasion.
Education
I majored in traditional studio art background with an emphasis in graphic design and learned about art techniques, colors, and art history and spent most of it drawing & painting. I discovered my love and knack for designing digital user experiences after I started working in the field.
BUT BEYOND ALL THAT…
Life is best with
great experiences,
great food,
& great company
Born and raised in Southern California, I live in Lakewood with my husband๐บ, 2 kiddos ๐ง๐ถ, our German Shepherd Leia ๐ and a black cat named Chocolate ๐โโฌ.
I speak in gifs 
and my favorite emoji is – ๐ช. I love adventures ๐งญ – I’ve travelled to 11 countries ๐บ๏ธ. I ๐ ๐ โท๏ธ ๐๏ธ ๐งโโ๏ธ ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ . I also ride ๐ด & things that go zoom ๐จ. I spent most childhood summers in Japan ๐ฏ๐ต or in the ocean ๐ (or both) and a college summer abroad in London ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ. Most summer days you’ll find me in a body of water and most evenings year round you’ll find me on a family walk. Most nights you’ll find me watching way too much stuff or BL3 sniping with my husband and partner-in-crime since 14. If there’s a ๐ง apocalypse, come bunk with me – I’ve got a pretty mean shot (at least when shooting clay) and probably hoarding food.
โฆ and speaking of, food is the quickest way to my heart. I love cooking, eating, discovering new dishes. I love strawberry lemonade, savory > sweets, and the โweird stuffโ. Food is the center of my life and the way I connect with people.
My husband describes me as scrappy, determined, and dangerous (โ๏ธ๐คฃ).
I think he means I kick ass ๐.
Hello
Let’s Connect!
Thanks for taking the time to check out my work.
Please reach out and I would love to share more details or collaborate with you!