Live from the stage
Margaret McNinch
I earned an Associate Degree in Fine Arts (Fashion Design) at Miami International University, where I learned how color, texture, and story can stir emotion. Hungry to translate that craft to pixels, I later completed a Certificate in User Experience Design at Southern Methodist University, adding research‑driven strategy and leadership practice to my toolkit.
My career opened on the atelier floor as a Junior Designer for a luxury brand in Miami. Within a year I leapt into my first mobile‑app contract, and the intersection of aesthetics and interaction had me hooked. Since then I’ve moved fluidly between retail and tech: designing native gaming experiences with ATI Technologies; shaping digital merchandising and the NM Connect app inside the Neiman Marcus Group; and, at Signet Jewelers, scaling a new product‑detail framework across eight brands.
Today I’m a Senior (Lead) UX Designer at Cetera—joining via Avantax’s 2024 acquisition—where I guide advisor and client‑servicing platforms and orchestrate vendor integrations like Salesforce. At every stop, my north star has been the same: turn ambiguity into clarity through evidence‑based empathy, rapid iteration, and measurable impact.
Away from my workspace, you’ll find me co‑leading a neighborhood cycling club, or taking on the odd contract to help friends launch something bold. I share life with three rescue dogs—Luna, Pebbles, and Remi—and keep my edge sharp on snowboarding excursions to the mountains.
My creative approach—no matter the medium—is to uncover the tension that makes a product unforgettable, iterate fearlessly, and plant a spark of desire in every user’s heart. Let’s build something worth remembering.