# Chris Spicuzza, MS > UX Leadership | Director of UX | UX Manager | Senior UX/UI Designer | Senior Product Designer | Senior UX Researcher | Open to New Opportunities Location: San Jose, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/chrisspicuzzams I’m a designer who moves comfortably between creativity and strategy, blending research, design, and storytelling to create products people actually enjoy using. My background spans Sociology/Social Research, Graphic Design, and User Experience, which together taught me how people think, interact, and connect with technology. After earning my BA in Sociology and Fine Art, I completed a Master’s in User Experience with a focus on human-centered design and systems thinking. That mix of disciplines shaped how I approach every project, combining analytical insight with creative intuition to design solutions that are both practical and meaningful. Over the years, I’ve partnered with startups, nonprofits, and established brands to bring clarity to complex challenges. My work includes building design systems, refining user flows, mentoring designers, and translating research into actionable product strategy. I stay closely engaged with advances in AI and its influence on design and user behavior. I believe the future of UX lies in using AI thoughtfully to create smarter, more adaptive, and more human digital experiences. ## Work Experience ### Director of UX @ Sports Excitement Jan 2025 – Present Lead the UX/UI and UX Research teams for a multi-portal sports technology platform connecting athletes, parents, and coaches. Define user-centered strategy, mentor designers and researchers, and shape the brand’s design language across product verticals. Drive UX vision and product strategy in alignment with business goals and user insights. Deliver high-fidelity prototypes, interaction specs, and user flows for community, events, and e-commerce features. Built and scaled the UX Research function, establishing methods, documentation standards, and actionable reporting. Oversee design system governance, sprint planning, and cross-functional collaboration to maintain consistency and velocity. Guide brand identity development, including naming, color system, and accessibility standards. Present design recommendations to executives, influencing product direction and roadmap priorities. Skills & Tools: UX/UI Strategy • UX Research & Testing • Product Design Leadership • Design Systems • Brand Identity • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Figma • FigJam • Adobe Creative Suite • Agile/Scrum • Accessibility ### UX Manager / UX Lead @ Sports Excitement Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 Managed a cross-functional UX/UI design team through accelerated feature development cycles. Supported product strategy execution and ensured alignment between user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives. Oversee UX deliverables including user flows, wireframes, and prototypes for mobile and web. Direct recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding of new designers, strengthening team capacity and skill diversity. Guide team in establishing a scalable design system and accessibility framework. Collaborate with product managers and engineers to translate research findings into design execution. ### UX & Product Strategy Consultant @ Sports Excitement Jan 2020 – Jan 2025 Served as a senior-level consultant to the Sports Excitement executive and product teams, advising on product vision, UX direction, and design system evolution for platform-wide initiatives. Advised leadership on UX and product strategy, aligning design direction with market positioning and growth goals. Evaluated product usability and design system scalability, providing executive-level recommendations for improvement. Mentored UX team members on process optimization, workflow documentation, and research integration. Conducted UX audits and competitive analyses to inform long-term product roadmap and innovation priorities. ### Product/UX Designer, Graphic Designer and Photographer @ Freelance Jan 2009 – Present | San Jose, CA Freelance Graphic Design transitioned to Freelance UX design -Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of principles and esthetics of design concepts -Develop graphics and layouts for company logos, illustrations, websites, and social media -Confer with clients to discus and determine layout design -Use computer software to alter or generate new images -Maintain archive of images, photos, or previous work products. Photo Representation by Rex Features, London, UK ### FDIP Faculty Intern @ West Valley - Mission Community College District Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Santa Clara, California, United States Instructional Design & Pedagogy: Collaborate with a faculty mentor to design, develop, and deliver student-centered lessons, focusing on engaging pedagogy and accessible content. User-Centered Approach: Apply principles of accessibility and belonging to create inclusive educational spaces, similar to how a UX designer creates user-centered experiences. Stakeholder Engagement: Meet with college executive management, deans, and other stakeholders to understand institutional goals and the various responsibilities of faculty and staff, gaining insight into how to gather requirements and manage expectations—a core UX skill. Research & Analysis: Observe classroom sessions and committee meetings to understand community college culture, student populations, and administrative processes, gathering data and insights similar to user research. Professional Development: Receive 55 hours of training on curriculum, instruction, and assessment theory, interview skills, and other professional best practices for higher education, building a strong foundation for a career as a UX Design Instructor. ### Track and Field Coach, Cross Country Coach @ Cambrian School District Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 | San Jose, California, United States ### Sr UX/UI Designer @ Global Resource & Technology Development Inc Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 Lead foundational UX research and design strategy for 0-1 SaaS startup, conducting user interviews, competitive analysis, and developing personas to define product vision, user flows and establish information architecture. Creating pixel-perfect prototypes and defining MVP features to establish a clear product vision and roadmap. Design and maintain scalable UI systems and component libraries while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive brand identity and business alignment. ### Product and UX Designer @ Tech Fleet Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 Led end-to-end product design, collaborating with researchers, developers, and stakeholders to shape user-centric solutions. Designed and iterated on user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to optimize usability and engagement. Conducted user interviews, usability testing, and data analysis to validate design decisions and inform future iterations. Contributed to the development and expansion of design systems to ensure consistency across products. ### Social Media Chair, Content Designer, Graphic Designer @ Gemini Crickets Parents of Multiples of Silicon Valley Jan 2012 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco Bay Area ▪ Develop and maintain social media strategies ▪ Establish awareness, cultivate online reputation, and social media following across various platforms ▪ Creation of original art, graphics, photography and written content for social media use ▪ Direct social media marketing campaigns, both paid and unpaid ▪ Creation of original art and photography for use in advertising, online and print, as well as assist in web design, using design software including Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator ### Office Manager / Print Graphic Designer @ Renprint Jan 2006 – Jan 2008 | Greater Phoenix Area • Managed day-to-day office operations, staff scheduling, and administrative workflows for a print shop • Supported the graphic design department by adjusting customer files for print production and advertising use • Prepared print-ready assets, reviewed files for formatting accuracy, and helped ensure smooth handoff from design to production • Operated the digital press daily to produce short-run print orders accurately and efficiently alongside core office and production responsibilities • Created invoices, presentations, spreadsheets, letters, and other business documents using Microsoft Office and administrative software • Handled accounts payable and accounts receivable using QuickBooks • Provided front-office support by greeting visitors, answering phones, and managing routine correspondence ## Education ### Master of Science - MS Arizona State University ### Bachelor of Arts - BA in Sociology, Art, Graphic Design, Photography The University of Akron ### Graphic Design in Business & Marketing West Valley College ### Master of Science - MS in User Experience Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University ### Master of Science - MS in User Experience Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University ### Master of Science - MS in User Experience Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chris-spicuzza-ms-7372a727 - Portfolio: https://www.chrisspicuzza.com --- Source: https://flows.cv/chrisspicuzzams JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/chrisspicuzzams/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13