Hi, I’m Nina
A tenacious, loving, and energetic design leader who runs on sunshine, snacks, and sketching.
With 18+ years of crafting impactful digital experiences in consumer products to B2B, and across diverse industries & platforms, I’ve led UX in entertainment, e-commerce, fashion, fintech, media, news, and more.
I’m dedicated to nurturing holistic, collaborative designers and leaders, building strong relationships, and creating design practices that inspire collaboration & foster a culture that people are excited to be a part of 🤝.
Experience
Yahoo
For the past eight years, I’ve worked across a range of consumer & enterprise products at Yahoo, including Yahoo News, Entertainment, Homepage, Life, Labs, Personal Finance, Commerce, and Platforms. I built amazing teams with talented designers & partners. I also led the Design Associate Program on the steering committee, mentoring early-career designers, and guided future leaders through Design Blazers.
Most recently, as Head of Design for Yahoo Content Platforms, I oversaw content experiences and tooling platforms across all Yahoo verticals, driving impactful global enterprise-scale product development.
Polyvore
At Polyvore, I helped shape a socially powered e-commerce experience (2016 Webby nominee) alongside a brilliant and passionate team. The experience left a lasting impact on me, both professionally and personally. It laid the foundation for my expertise in 0-to-1 products through fast, iterative experimentation in fast-paced startup environments. I worked with leaders who championed a bottom-up approach, fostering an environment where trust, curiosity, and learning from failures were key drivers of success.
NBCUniversal
I led UX, interaction, and visual design for the 2015 Emmy Nominee, Clio Bronze-winning, Shorty Finalist SNL 40 app. I also led multi-platform voting experiences for America’s Got Talent and The Voice, allowing users to engage and vote from their devices. Additionally, I worked on web and app experiences for other NBCU properties.
Walt Disney Animation Studios
As part of the Talent Development, Outreach, and Recruitment team, I had the privilege of working with some incredible animators and crew on Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia, and learned the power of cultivating a supportive, creative, and growth-focused team culture. This philosophy of nurturing innovation and continuous learning directly influenced my approach to leadership. Fun fact: You can probably spot my name in the credits of a Disney film!
Disney ABC Family & ABC Television
I built web experiences, ad campaigns, and video products, like co-watching & second-screen experiences for ABC Family and the ABC network.
Consulting & Freelance • Design & Photography
I’ve helped various clients and small businesses develop brand guidelines and cohesive identity systems. I’ve delivered web designs, business collateral, content formats, and marketing campaigns.
I’ve also worked with couples and families with bridal, baby, and children’s event planning, coordination, design & photography.
Other Fun Stuff
I kicked off my initial Disney journey in the Disney College Program internship, while also working at Disneyland. If you rode the Indiana Jones ride in 2010, there’s a good chance I assisted you 🐍.
Outside of design, I spent a decade teaching surfing, with a 99% success rate in getting my students (ages 5 to 80+) up on a wave 🌊🤙.
I’ve also worked with kids & families in various capacities, including directing after-school programs and summer camps at Camp Fire USA, a non-profit organization supporting children and families, where I led a variety of lesson plans and activities. I also helped run the challenge courses, archery range, and served as a lifeguard.
Education
I majored in traditional studio art with an emphasis on graphic design, where I honed my skills in art techniques, color theory, and art history, spending most of my time drawing & painting. It was through this foundation that I discovered my passion for digital design and user experiences, which ultimately led me into the field of UX design.
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 husband🕺, our two kiddos 👧👶, German Shepherd Leia 🐕, and our cat Chocolate 🐈⬛.
I speak in gifs 
and my favorite emoji is 💪. I’m a travel-loving adventure enthusiast, most of my time outdoors, and 🏄 🏂 ⛷️ 🏕️ 🧗♀️ 🏊🏻♀️ . I spent most of my childhood summers in Japan and a college summer abroad in London. On sunny days, you’ll find me in a body of water; most evenings, you’ll catch me on a family walk. Most nights, I spend time binging shows & movies or playing BL3 with my husband & partner-in-crime. Zombie 🧟 apocalypse? Come bunker up with me. Food hoarder, decent shot, and not afraid to use either.
Speaking of food 🥘🍜🍱 , it’s the quickest way to my heart. I love cooking, eating, and discovering new dishes. My go-tos: strawberry lemonade, savory > sweets, and anything weird. Food is how I connect with people.
My husband describes me as scrappy, determined, & dangerous (⁉️🤣).
I think he means I kick butt 😏.
HELLO 👋
Let’s Connect!
Thanks so much for checking out my work.
Feel free to reach out! I’d love to chat, share more, or explore ways we can collaborate!