About Me

I've always believed that beauty and meaning can rise from even the deepest pain.

My name is Michal Lara Weinstein, though many know me as MLWDESIGN. I’m a graphic designer, creative director, event planner, public speaker, content creator, and above all, a proud Orthodox Jewish wife and mother of four. My story is one of creativity, conviction, and a journey through both personal tragedy and purposeful reinvention.

After graduating from Stern College and the School of Visual Arts, I began my career in 1998 in fashion PR with designer Elie Tahari, eventually finding my way into web design and finally landing where I truly belonged—graphic design. In 2003, I launched MLWDESIGN LLC, a boutique design and promotional product company specializing in logos, branding, and print design. My passion for storytelling through visuals evolved into full-scale creative production when I launched Events 360 in 2017, merging design with immersive event experiences.

I also co-founded Couture for a Cause, a nonprofit that brings fashion, community, and activism together to raise funds for critical Jewish organizations and local families in need. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of producing powerful, stylish, and meaningful campaigns for groups like Chai Lifeline, Sharsheret, Renewal, and Ohel.

But beyond the work, my story carries something deeper.

In 1986, when I was just a child, my father Israel Greenwald was kidnapped and murdered by two NYPD detectives secretly working for the Mafia. For 19 years, we didn’t know where he was—until his body was discovered in 2005. His tragic and unjust death shaped the course of my life, embedding in me a fierce commitment to truth, justice, and legacy. I’ve since begun writing a memoir to share that part of my story—one of survival, silence, and the power of a voice reclaimed.

My platform— @mlwdesignny —began as a window into my creative work but soon became  an outlet for my advocacy and awakening. In 2019, I created The Lion of Zion to honor Ari Fuld ZT”L after his murder, raising nearly $100,000 for his family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I designed KARANA, calling people to turn to God, while also beginning to question the medical and political systems we once blindly trusted.

That awakening was life-changing. My content shifted from graphics and party themes to deeper issues—freedom, faith, and health. Though my accounts faced censorship, I gained a following of like-minded souls drawn to the honesty in my message.

In 2021, I left New York for Florida, craving freedom during a time of lockdowns and mandates. I embraced holistic health, eliminated processed foods and toxic products, and became, in my words, a “newbie holistic health nut.” But my heart was always in Israel—and in 2023, my family made Aliyah, beginning a new chapter of growth, healing, and reconnection to our roots.

Even as I’ve paused event planning to adjust to life in Israel, I continue to run MLWDESIGN and Events 360 remotely. And I continue to create with purpose. After the atrocities of October 7, I designed Victory to Redemption, raising money for orphans—a cause deeply close to my heart.

My life has never followed a straight path, but every detour has added to the depth of my work and the truth of my voice. Today, I design not just for clients, but for causes. I create not just for beauty, but for meaning. And I speak not just for myself, but for my father, for my faith, and for a future built on freedom and light.