Designing the Digital Experience with Stevenson University

When Stevenson University invited me to present on digital design, I welcomed the opportunity to share insights with the next generation of creative professionals. The experience of connecting with these students reminded me of my own journey—transitioning from marketing analytics into the design world and navigating the evolving digital landscape.

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The Expanding Digital Universe

"What is digital today?" I asked the room. The answers began predictably—websites, apps, software—but soon we were exploring territory many hadn't considered: AR/VR headsets transforming education, car dashboards becoming sophisticated interfaces, and smart home devices quietly revolutionizing daily life.

This expansion matters profoundly. Today's designers aren't just creating screens; they're architecting experiences that seamlessly integrate into our physical world. The boundaries between digital and physical continue to blur, creating unprecedented opportunities for those who understand both realms—a perspective I've cultivated through building Opportune Interactive with its dual focus on digital and physical design.

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Beyond Tools to Collaborative Ecosystems

While we discussed essential tools and technologies, the most animated conversations emerged around the collaborative nature of modern design. Drawing from my experiences at IBM and Booz Allen Hamilton, I shared how the USPS.com modernization wasn't simply a technical challenge but a deeply human one—requiring researchers, content strategists, developers, and business stakeholders to move in concert.

"It takes a village," I emphasized, illustrating how even the most brilliant designer can't succeed in isolation. This message visibly resonated with students who had been approaching their education primarily as individual contributors.

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Figma: More Than Just Another Tool

While I intentionally kept most technical discussions high-level, I chose to elaborate on Figma's impact. Why? Because it represents more than just software—it embodies a fundamental shift in how design happens.

I demonstrated how Figma has transformed collaboration from a scheduled activity to a continuous conversation, allowing developers to inspect designs in real-time while researchers simultaneously incorporate user feedback. For many students, this glimpse into professional workflows was revelatory, connecting classroom concepts to real-world application.

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The Human Element in Digital Design

Perhaps the most impactful moment came when discussing the diverse roles in our field. Beyond the expected titles—UX Designer, UI Designer, Visual Designer—we explored emerging specializations like Voice UI Designer and Conversational Designer, visualizing how a career in digital design offers countless paths for growth and specialization.

I shared my own journey from Mary Kay to IBM to entrepreneurship, emphasizing that versatility and adaptability often matter more than mastering any particular tool or technique. In a field evolving as rapidly as ours, learning how to learn becomes the ultimate skill.

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