Noelle Ingrisano

Home

Selected work

Supporting the next generation
of UX talent

Why I started teaching

In 2021, I stepped into a new role as a UX design educator at BrainStation — just as the pandemic was reshaping how we work, learn, and connect. It was an unexpected opportunity; I was still early in my design career and hadn’t imagined myself teaching yet.

 

But from the very first class, I felt completely energized. What started as a pivot quickly became one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life — both personally and professionally.

 

Over the course of nine bootcamps, I taught more than 230 students grow into confident designers. And in the process, I discovered how much I love mentorship, collaboration, and creating spaces where people feel supported and excited to do their best work.

A design-led approach

Empathy

I adapted to the needs of students from a wide range of backgrounds and learning styles.

Iteration

Like any good product, my approach evolved through feedback loops, survey results, and in-the-moment reflection.

Collaboration

I cultivated a culture of support where students learned just as much from each other as from me.

Moments in the classroom

Class workshops

I regularly ran whiteboarding sessions, workshops, and sprints to help students get comfortable thinking out loud, collaborating quickly, and building confidence in visual communication.

(Pictured: experience mapping workshop during week 5 of the program.)

Capstone presentation night

At the end of each bootcamp, students presented their final capstone projects — a proud, science-fair-style moment shared with peers, mentors, and staff. Always one of the most energizing nights of the program!

(Pictured: A student presenting her capstone project — one of the proudest moments in the program.)

Celebrating growth

We showcased standout work — like this wall of visuals from one of my incredible TAs — to inspire students and remind them what’s possible. Watching students go from uncertain to confident, creative designers was the heart of this role.

 

(Pictured: Framed work from one of my Teaching Assistants, displayed to show students what’s possible with focus and heart.)

Key challenges & growth areas

Teaching at BrainStation came with its own set of challenges but each one pushed me to grow as a communicator, mentor, and designer in new ways.

Meeting learners where they are

Adapting to diverse backgrounds required constant recalibration of how I communicated, paced lessons, and supported growth.

Bridging teaching and practice

To keep lessons relevant, I stayed active in the field — balancing instruction with hands-on work and evolving design/Figma trends.

Turning feedback into forward motion
(failing forward)

Each cohort brought new insights. I used student feedback to continuously improve how I taught, communicated, and supported learning.

Connection in a remote setting

Virtual teaching challenged me to foster engagement
and build community using structure, creativity, and the right tools.

Testimonials

As educators, we got regular feedback from students every three weeks, which helped us
keep improving and create a learning environment that felt personal, supportive, and engaging.

Reflection

Great learning environments share a lot with strong teams as they’re built on trust, clear feedback, and a sense of shared purpose. Supporting students through their growth taught me how to create space for others to take risks, build confidence, and find their voice - lessons I carry into how I lead design teams today.

Learn more about me

Back to all projects

Reach out for collaboration,
consulting, or coffee.

n.ingrisano8@gmail.com

631 901 5556

Noelle Ingrisano

Home

Selected work

Supporting the next generation
of UX talent

Why I started teaching

In 2021, I stepped into a new role as a UX design educator at BrainStation — just as the pandemic was reshaping how we work, learn, and connect. It was an unexpected opportunity; I was still early in my design career and hadn’t imagined myself teaching yet.

 

But from the very first class, I felt completely energized. What started as a pivot quickly became one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life — both personally and professionally.

 

Over the course of nine bootcamps, I taught more than 230 students grow into confident designers. And in the process, I discovered how much I love mentorship, collaboration, and creating spaces where people feel supported and excited to do their best work.

A design-led approach

At BrainStation, I progressed from Associate Educator to Senior Educator over the course of 3 years and regularly stepped in as Lead Educator, where I oversaw curriculum delivery, supported fellow instructors, and ensured cohesion across classes.

 

I also mentored Teaching Assistants and other members of the educator team, helping them navigate classroom dynamics and support students effectively. These relationships deepened my ability to lead teams, give feedback, and foster collaboration.

 

I often thought of the classroom like a product: students were my users, the curriculum was the system, and every bootcamp was a new cycle of learning, testing, and refinement.

Empathy

I adapted to the needs of students from a wide range of backgrounds and learning styles.

Iteration

Like any good product, my approach evolved through feedback loops, survey results, and in-the-moment reflection.

Collaboration

I cultivated a culture of support where students learned just as much from each other as from me.

Moments in the classroom

Class workshops

I regularly ran whiteboarding sessions, workshops, and sprints to help students get comfortable thinking out loud, collaborating quickly, and building confidence in visual communication.

(Pictured: experience mapping workshop during week 5 of the program.)

Capstone presentation night

At the end of each bootcamp, students presented their final capstone projects — a proud, science-fair-style moment shared with peers, mentors, and staff. Always one of the most energizing nights of the program!

(Pictured: A student presenting her capstone project — one of the proudest moments in the program.)

Celebrating growth

We showcased standout work — like this wall of visuals from one of my incredible TAs — to inspire students and remind them what’s possible. Watching students go from uncertain to confident, creative designers was the heart of this role.

 

(Pictured: Framed work from one of my Teaching Assistants, displayed to show students what’s possible with focus and heart.)

Key challenges & growth areas

Teaching at BrainStation came with its own set of challenges but each one pushed me to grow as a communicator, mentor, and designer in new ways.

Meeting learners where they are

Adapting to diverse backgrounds required constant recalibration of how I communicated, paced lessons, and supported growth.

Bridging teaching and practice

To keep lessons relevant, I stayed active in the field — balancing instruction with hands-on work and evolving design/Figma trends.

Turning feedback into forward motion
(failing forward)

Each cohort brought new insights. I used student feedback to continuously improve how I taught, communicated, and supported learning.

Connection in a remote setting

Virtual teaching challenged me to foster engagement
and build community using structure, creativity, and the right tools.

Testimonials

As educators, we got regular feedback from students every three weeks, which helped us
keep improving and create a learning environment that felt personal, supportive, and engaging.

Reflection

Great learning environments share a lot with strong teams as they’re built on trust, clear feedback, and a sense of shared purpose. Supporting students through their growth taught me how to create space for others to take risks, build confidence, and find their voice - lessons I carry into how I lead design teams today.

Learn more about me

Back to all projects

Reach out for collaboration,
consulting, or coffee.

n.ingrisano8@gmail.com

631 901 5556