CAWEB Voices: Teaching Digital Design in the Fast-Changing World

Interview with Andrei Gomes, Master’s CAWEB Digital Design Instructor, sharing his professional journey and mission to help aspiring designers develop successful careers through practical learning, critical thinking, and a user-centered approach to client’s projects.

Tell us a little about yourself

For the past 20 years I have been working in various aspects of product design. In my latest engagement with Thoughtworks, I optimize design from conception to implementation for an airline company in Chile. I work with a very large group of professionals of many different experiences and backgrounds. I love to work there because I can apply my experience, but I also continue to learn every day as new technologies, new methods, and new tools are presented to us.

I use this background to teach postgraduate courses in User Experience Design at the ESPM Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the Master’s CAWEB Program at the University of Strasbourg.

What are the digital industry’s expectations towards UX designers?

At a highest level, companies demand deliverables that will align with business objectives, meet key performance indicators and support overall company’s strategy. For the UX designers, it translates into a very difficult job of matching business expectations with the needs of clients. The design is a bridge to understand opportunities and problems, while also delivering value to clients and to business, through appropriate tools and outputs.

Designers are conducting research, developing prototypes for testing, analyzing feedback, checking hypotheses to increase user efficiency, continuously optimizing features until they deliver the final design – one that will meet business approval. You may say that is an impossible job!

How did you transition to teaching CAWEB Master’s students?

I am passionate about sharing my design expertise with students and have years of experience teaching. Through LinkedIn, I connected with the Master’s CAWEB Academic Coordinator, Marie-Aude Sourd-Ramos. She was looking for UX instructors that had practical experience and could provide postgraduate level students with real-world education to prepare them future careers in the digital industry. I was intrigued about this remote program teaching opportunity and jumped at the opportunity.

At Master’s CAWEB I have the experience of working with students from around the world. Some of them are working UX professionals, others are transitioning from other careers. All bring the diversity and cultural richness to the learning environment that is not possible when studying in-person at the university. Our primary language in all Master’s CAWEB courses is English. But keep in mind that the instructors and students are working on different continents in different languages. As an example, my native language is Portuguese, and I work remotely for a company based in Chile where I speak Spanish in the professional environment. Many students are proficient in multiple languages, but we all work together to ensures effective communication in English no matter what our linguistic backgrounds are. It’s a very rich learning environment and I am happy to be part of it.

Tell us more about the courses you teach at Master’s CAWEB

My approach to teaching future UX designers emphasizes the importance of making content relevant and practical, rather than just theoretical. I teach Visual Communication (FIGMA), User Experience (UX) Design, and Mobile Optimization. In my curriculum planning for all courses, I avoid providing information that can be easily found online for free. I work hard to balances theory with hands-on practice, drawing from my own experience of daily design problem solving and struggles with keeping up with new technologies. To me it’s important that students learn by doing. Of course it is very important to understand foundational concepts, while also developing skills that can be applied in real-world scenarios. Successful professionals must be able to justify their decisions and bring value beyond what AI can replicate.

Any final thoughts for our Master’s CAWEB Blog readers

I want to share a message that the CEO of the company that I work for expressed: “Talent could be anywhere.” By taking the steps to enroll and study remotely at the Master’s CAWEB program from any country, any continent, you are presenting yourself as the talent that can be useful for any digital company around the world.  My advice for students is to focus on delivering outcomes with value, rather than just outputs. To balance strategy with craft to be a successful User Experience professional.

Additional Resources

• Visit Master’s CAWEB Program at the University of Strasbourg