# Nikki Kipple

> Building things for designers | Instructor | thecrit.co

Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/nikkikipple

I teach designers how to think, then build tools that help them grow.

I've spent 13+ years in design education at Academy of Art University and Foothill College — teaching interaction design, UX, typography, design thinking, and everything in between. Thousands of students at this point, from first-semester freshmen, to masters students, to founders.

I also like to build things. Not every designer has access to an instructor or a senior designer who'll sit down and really look at their portfolio — so I built The Crit (thecrit.co). Honest, page-by-page feedback you can actually act on, no enrollment required.

Always down to talk design, teaching, or whatever you're building.

## Work Experience
### Instructor, Graphic & Interactive Design @ Foothill College
Jan 2024 – Present

### Instructor + Lead Product Designer @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2021 – Present
- Lead Interaction & UI/UX Design students in thesis, portfolio, & case study development, fostering award-winning work & successful career launches of graduating students.
- Manage and lead a distributed team of product design students in a fast-paced, real-world-like environment, overseeing the full product development cycle from 0-1.
-Transform educational standards by driving curriculum development with cutting-edge design principles, resulting in increased engagement and retention.
- Partner closely with directors, managers, and developers to align high-impact educational content and adapt to industry trends.
- Collaborate closely with Directors, Managers, and Developers to align educational content with industry demands.

### Online Director @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
- Transformed education by directing online schools in Interaction & UI/UX Design and Advertising, impacting students and teachers.
- Built and led teams of product designers, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environment.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to launch a new learning management system, resulting in an increase in client experience and user retention.
- Utilized data insights to enhance curriculum, elevating student learning experiences and driving real social impact.
- Mentored students, providing guidance and support to enhance their academic and professional development.

### Online Associate Director - School of Web Design & New Media @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2016 – Jan 2019

### Online Coordinator - School of Web Design & New Media @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco

### Instructor / Subject Matter Expert @ Academy of Art University
Jan 2013 – Jan 2014

### Founder + Lead Product Designer @ Kipple Digital
Jan 2021 – Present
- Led a team of professionals to deliver projects on time, consistently achieving a high client satisfaction rate of 92% through effective management and strategic oversight.
- Specialized in crafting data-backed designs that not only enhance user experience but also significantly boost conversion rates.
- Successfully elevated client websites' organic rankings, resulting in substantial growth in traffic and online visibility.
- Collaborated with experts to develop comprehensive marketing campaigns, utilizing industry insights for targeted and effective brand promotion.

### Mentor @ Designlab
Jan 2016 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
- Facilitate in-depth learning and professional growth with personalized mentorship sessions, enhancing the confidence and skills of aspiring designers focused on UX/UI design.
- Empowered the success of 80% of recent graduates by offering strategic career advice and individualized mentorship, achieving career placement within 3 months.

### Interactive Designer @ Small World Trading Company
Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | San Rafael, California, United States
- Specialized in print and packaging design, contributing to brand enhancement and visual identity projects.

### Interactive Designer @ Luminosity Group
Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 | San Francisco, California, United States
- Led the end-to-end design of interfaces, web pages, and videos from concept to completion. Coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure successful project execution.
- Conceptualized and animated software demo videos, effectively deploying them through a custom video player to enhance user engagement and product understanding.


## Education
### Bachelor of Arts in Web Design & New Media
Academy of Art University


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nikkikipple
- Website: http://www.nikkikipple.com

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Source: https://flows.cv/nikkikipple
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/nikkikipple/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-05