OPen

Hola! My name is Michael and I'm from Brooklyn, NY.  I specialize in Design Leadership and Management, Design Operations, Strategy, and Process, Emerging Technology, Design Systems, and building accessible digital experiences.

How I Got Started

Human-Computer Interaction & Natural Language Processing

I have a Bachelor of Science in Human-Computer Interaction From the CUNY Graduate Center where I studied Computer Science, Psychology, and Design. The focus of my studies and thesis was creating accessible technology by leveraging Natural Language Processing.

Frontend Development & Visual Design

After taking a JavaScript class in high school (where I learned zero JS), I fell in love with building products using technology (at the time, building websites by writing code). After teaching myself Frontend Development, I landed my first job as a Frontend Developer at a tech company. After focusing on my true love for design, I then transitioned to a User Interface Design role and focused on Visual Design. Both of these experiences were core to my current Design practice.

Entreprenuership & Community

In 2016, I founded a small web design and development agency focusing on supporting creative initiatives led by women and people of color. In 2019, I founded UX Come Up, a community for UX Design beginners. In 2021, I founded Inclusive Design Lab, an educational community teaching Inclusive Design and other Tech & Design leadership topics.

These initiatives have led me to Rita Group, a collection of initiatives supporting creatives via tech.Our mission is to design and realize an efficient, inclusive, and sustainable future human experience by leveraging technology, digital, creativity, design and diverse voices. More literally, Rita Group is a holding company representing three core initiatives: 1. Rita Lab: a tech/creative community for beginners, our benefit corporation, 2. Rita ABC: a product to support tech career journeys, our startup, 3. Rita XYZ: a creative collective connecting small biz owners to technologists, our soon to be 501( c )( 3 ) nonprofit.

These experiences have taught me not only about business and problem-solving, but also about leadership, marketing, and community-building.

What Inspired/s Me

Mismatches for Immigrant Parents

Growing up, I spent a lot of time helping my parents navigate digital spaces, mainly due to language barriers. Specifically, city products and services that were necessary to use for things like signing my siblings and I up for school amongst other reasons. These experiences planted seeds in me that would later blossom into a passion: creating more accessible products and services that are available to all.

Creative Problem Solving

Before I call myself a designer, technologist, or strategist, I consider myself a creative. I've always been passionate about leveraging creativity to solve real problems. This is a mindset that I carry with me to this day. And, yes, you can be both data-driven and creative!

Brooklyn

Shoutout to the Borough that raised me: Brooklyn. From its diversity to its creativity to its toughness, as grandiose as it may seem, Brooklyn molded me into the person I am today. As a result, I'm spreading love, the Brooklyn way, every day. Who’s your favorite BK MC?

What I Care About

Design Leadership & Education

To me, design leadership means focusing on Design Strategy, Design Process, Design Operations, and shaping the next generation of Design leaders. My background in business and entrepreneurship, as well as my experience managing teams and projects, has helped inform my Design Strategy, Process, and Operations expertise. Additionally, my experience teaching Design and Tech has helped me become a Design and Tech educator and mentor.

Inclusive Design & Mission-Driven Work

Designing for diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the core of what I do. I believe the best way to design innovative products is by practicing Inclusive Design and prioritizing Accessibility. I'm incredibly passionate about building innovative products by leading teams that implement Inclusive Design practices and processes at scale. I’m also passionate about using this mindset and practices to do mission-driven work.

Design Systems & High Quality Design

I'm also incredibly passionate about systems thinking. To me, a user experience and product is not a collection of isolated experiences, but rather a holistic experience made of interconnected components and features. I believe this thinking is the best way to build products that continuously provide value to users and scale to the needs of users over time. I also believe this is the best way to produce high quality design. HiFi Visual Design doesn’t happen by putting random pieces together, it happens by the intentional input that leads to thoughtful output.

Career Journey Highlights

Presented in reverse chronological order.

June 2024 - Current
Design Leadership Consulting

Working as Design Strategy Consultant at Mayer Brown and Head of Tech & Design at HuCapital while on personal sabbatical.

June 2024 - Current
Personal Sabbatical

After working for 10+ years in tech without taking a single vacation, I left my job as Director of Product Design at Heady to go on a sabbatical.

Feb 2022 - June 2024
Built & Led Heady Design Team

Over the span of 2+ years, I built the Heady Design Department and team while working as Director of Product Design, and managed 15 Designers.

2022 - Current
Higher Education Instructor

Over the last few years, I've been teaching Tech, Artificial Intelligence, and Design at CUNY, also working as a curriculum designer and lecturer.

2019 - Current
Led & Managed Multiple Teams

During the second half of my career, I've been focusing on building, leading, and managing talented multidisciplinary Design teams.

2016 - Ongoing
Design Systems Experience

Most of my experience as a Designer is with Design Systems teams which has given me a systems, strategic, and scalability mindset.

2014 - 2016
Visual / UI Design Background

I started my design journey by focusing on Visual Design and UI Design before ultimately focusing on User Experience Design.

2012 -2016
Human-Computer Interaction

After studying Comp. Sci. for 2 years, I leveraged those credits to make up 1/3 of my B.S. in HCI alongside Psych. and Design courses. I focused on Accessible Technology and NLP.