Design mentor and instructor at San Diego Portfolio Studio
I had the humbling opportunity to share knowledge and insights at Portfolio Studio, a highly respected center dedicated to elevating design growth.
My role involved teaching students about the fundamentals and nuances of user experience design, particularly in the context of website and mobile experience creation. Together, we delved into effective information organization, understanding the psychology behind user interactions, and the practical aspects of prototyping and implementing responsive design.
Our focus was on ensuring clarity and ease of use across various platforms, including websites, tablets, and mobile devices, with an emphasis on thoughtful, user-centric design principles.
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” - Bob Proctor
What inspires you about mentoring?
One of the most fulfilling aspects of mentoring is sharing my passion for design with students and colleagues who exhibit similar enthusiasm and dedication to the creative industry.
It offers a platform to stay actively engaged with fellow professionals, helping me remain current with our field's evolving trends, tools, and best practices.
Additionally, mentoring provides a valuable opportunity to refine skills in storytelling, presentation, and audience engagement.
A profound sense of accomplishment and joy comes when a former student reaches out to share their career progress, discuss a project, or seek advice. This connection and their success are a testament to the shared journey in our field.
“Stephanie has been a big influence in my design career. Her wealth of knowledge and eye for design is inspiring and motivational.
As my prior instructor and mentor, it’s rare to see a world-class instructor share an abundance of knowledge in user-centered design, UX/XD, strategy, and visual design with her students to help them grow. She always has the right design solutions to complex problems to raise the bar. A memorable thing she said is ‘Design to make the best experience ever’. I loved her love for design and the ability to change someone’s life through design.”