María Adalgisa Cannavó Violante
María Adalgisa Cannavó Violante is an architecture designer based in Miami, Florida, with a strong academic and professional foundation in architectural design and visualization. She earned her Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Miami, where she developed a keen interest in innovative design approaches, sustainability, and the evolving possibilities of the built environment. She also completed her undergraduate studies in Architecture and Community Design at the University of San Francisco, building a strong background in structural thinking, graphic communication, and design development.
Professionally, she has gained diverse experience across planning, design, and academic instruction. Her early work includes serving in the Planning & Development Department of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, where she contributed to large-scale residential and agricultural planning and design documentation. She later joined Carmen Guerrero design studio, inc., where she continues to work on residential renovations and architectural projects involving construction documentation, client coordination, 3D modeling, and material sourcing. Alongside her design practice, she holds teaching roles as an adjunct professor, guiding first-year architecture students in visualization, digital tools, and creative design development at the University of Miami and Instituto Marangoni Miami.
Her work is driven by a strong commitment to thoughtful, context-sensitive architecture and design education. She is particularly interested in architectural visualization, adaptive reuse, and sustainable material innovation, often exploring how overlooked resources can be reimagined in the built environment. Alongside her professional practice and teaching, she is pursuing licensure as an architect in the United States and expanding her academic involvement toward long-term teaching and mentorship roles.
• Learning Excel Desktop (Microsoft 365)
• Enscape: Residential Visualization
• OneNote Essential Training
• Teamwork Foundations
• Technoglass Lecture Series
• Workshop in Classical Architecture
• University of San Francisco - B.Arch.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family and my multicultural upbringing. I am from a very multicultural family - I was born and raised in Venezuela, but my surroundings and living was very Italian, as all my grandparents are from Italy. The travels and getting to know both cultures, and also coming to the United States since I was little and being able to see a little bit of everything - I think that's what led me to who I am today. On the personal side, my mom has been incredibly influential. She's a super curious person, and even though she studied pharmacy, she's always been into design. She reads a lot and has shared with me throughout my years about architecture, pieces of furniture, designers - I think that's part of why I went into architecture.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Professionally, I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors who have shaped my development. I have Carmen Guerrero, who is currently my boss, and she's been a great mentor. She's into both the academic side and the professional practice, and I look forward to learning more from her. There's also Carrie Penabad, another amazing architect who has been mentoring me on the academic side as well. Having these accomplished women architects as role models has been invaluable - they've shown me how to balance professional practice with academic involvement and how to navigate this profession successfully.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering architecture is to not give up, because it's a very time-consuming career. If it's their passion, they should continue getting familiar with the new trends and new technology, and I'm sure they'll have a wonderful path because it never stops - it's always about learning. The challenge today for young architects is the technology. Right now, we're all moving towards artificial intelligence, and even when digital software started, I've seen that many students kind of struggle with the digital part of it. But I would say don't let it stop you there, because we're still in a moment where even hand drawings and hand representations work for future clients - there's nothing more human than that. So while it's important to embrace new technologies and stay current, remember that the human element of design remains irreplaceable.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge today for young architects is the technology. Right now, we're all moving towards artificial intelligence, and even when digital software started, I've seen that many students struggle with the digital part of it. But I believe we shouldn't let technology stop us, because we're still in a moment where even hand drawings and hand representations work for future clients - there's nothing more human than that. The key is finding the balance between embracing new technological trends and tools while maintaining the human, handcrafted elements of design that make architecture meaningful and personal.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is always the most important value to me in both my work and personal life. Beyond that, I value curiosity and continuous learning - my mother instilled this in me, as she's always been a curious person who reads a lot and explores design even though her background is in pharmacy. I also value the balance between embracing new technology and maintaining the human elements of design. The multicultural perspective I gained from my Venezuelan and Italian background has taught me to appreciate different cultures and ways of seeing the world, which I bring into my work as an architect and educator.
Locations
Carmen Guerrero Design Studio, Inc.
Miami, FL 33122