Stuart Wainstock

Personal Pronouns

He/Him/His

Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been.

In my current role I head up User Experience where I lead digital product design, design systems, design operations, and accessibility initiatives. A good portion of my day involves translation work—bridging the gap between consumer needs and the brand and commerce sides of the business.
The work is super exciting because there’s always something new to tackle. I get to solve complex problems that directly impact how millions of users interact with our digital products.
I think one of the biggest learnings has been that successful design leadership isn't just about design decisions, but about collaboration and connecting the dots across teams and ensuring that user-centered thinking influences the decisions we make.

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and what was it in?

I earned my undergraduate degree at California State University, Northridge. My degree was in Elementary Education, which means in my past life I was an elementary school teacher.

How did you hear about MCAD?

I had recently relocated to the Twin Cities from the West Coast. MCAD had a really great reputation in the community, and it was also rolling out programs like MAGWD that helped make the decision a no-brainer.

What was your biggest takeaway from the program?

When I enrolled at MCAD, I was going through both a career transition and a life transition. The biggest takeaway was that the majority of the experience and skills I had from my past life were fully transferable. There was some translation work that needed to happen, but it was all transferable.

Where were you located when you completed the program?

I started the program while living in Saint Paul, but because it was entirely digital, I was able to finish it while living in Tokyo.

How has the MA impacted your career/your life?

It helped formalize a foundation and was an incredible confidence boost. I had been working in the digital product space for some time already, but completing the program provided the spark I needed.

What would you tell students considering pursuing an MA degree in Graphic and Web Design?

Don't underestimate your community and network. People want to help and see you succeed. Build the relationships, be helpful, and approach things in a constructive and collaborative way.