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As an adjunct instructor for UX, Andy Vitale is giving back to the design industry by lending a hand to the next generation of designers.

Teaching courses such as Introduction to UX Design Principles & Concepts, UX Design in Practice, UX Design Leadership and Portfolio Design & Assessment, Vitale is giving students the reinforcement needed to keep them on track.

“I hope they get that spark to realize this journey they’re on is the right one for them,” Vitale said.

Vitale is no stranger to the education field. Shortly after graduating with his design degree, Vitale went back to his alma mater, Keiser University to teach design classes.

“At the time I was teaching, distinct disciplines under the UX umbrella started to emerge,” Vitale said. “I would learn about them and eventually teach those principles to my students.”

After learning more about the UX field, Vitale ended up leaving teaching to start a boutique design agency, catapulting him into this field. At the agency, Vitale worked to develop mobile apps and design solutions for a variety of clients.

“It was fun running a business and navigating that world,” Vitale said. “It wasn’t all about design work, there was a lot to learn about how to run a company.”

Vitale was a self-taught UX professional, with a traditional design background, which is common in this field. However, he enrolled in the iSchool’s UX master’s program to learn more about its foundational principles.

“You have to find ways to stay ahead of trends and stand out. Always take that initiative to knock on the door, make that connection, and build that relationship.” 

“I wanted to go back and get my master’s degree,” Vitale said, “so I can learn the principles that can allow me to have more thorough and informed conversations with colleagues.”

In the program, Vitale learned the key foundational principles he sought after and built a network of UX professionals around him.

“I have built my network and spoken at events organized by people I went to school with,” Vitale said. “I have sharpened my critical thinking skills to allow me to have more in-depth conversations in an academic setting.”

Aside from teaching, Vitale is the Chief Design officer at Constant Contact, ensuring that millions of small businesses and nonprofits worldwide have an intuitive and delightful experience. He helps these businesses leverage innovative AI-powered tools to redefine their digital marketing campaigns.

“Being able to work in AI right now to support small businesses is valuable and rewarding to use,” Vitale said. “Every day, we are trying to put more of our expertise into what our customers do so that they can achieve their marketing goals.”

For those looking to go into UX, Vitale emphasized the importance of continuing to learn due to UX field always evolving. Building your networking can also help with this, Vitale noted.

“You have to find ways to stay ahead of trends and stand out,” Vitale said. “Always take that initiative to knock on the door, make that connection, and build that relationship.”