About

The Pedagogy of Product.

As a university professor and professional musician, I learned that effective teaching and performing on stage is ultimately experience design: understanding people, reducing cognitive friction, and guiding progression toward mastery. Today, I bring that same mindset to UX/UI design by creating digital products that feel intuitive, intentional, and genuinely human.

Artistry

Visual rhythm, hierarchy, and the emotional resonance of color and form.

Precision

Systematic grids, rigorous documentation, and atomic design thinking.

Communication

A decade of teaching translates into clear specs, critique, and stakeholder narrative.

Discipline

Performance-grade attention to detail and obsessive iteration toward final polish.

Portrait of Christopher Wilson on a warm caramel studio backdrop
Figma Mastery
UX Research
Information Architecture
Rapid Prototyping
Design Systems
Interaction Design
Figma Mastery
UX Research
Information Architecture
Rapid Prototyping
Design Systems
Interaction Design

Skills & Toolkit

Core competencies across the full UX/UI workflow.

  • 01Figma
  • 02UX Research
  • 03Wireframing
  • 04Prototyping
  • 05Interaction Design
  • 06Information Architecture
  • 07Visual Design
  • 08Usability Testing
  • 09Design Systems
Timeline

From the stage
to the screen.

A career built on performance, shaped by education, and transformed through design — where every experience now informs the creation of thoughtful digital products.

Download Résumé

  1. 2025 — Present

    Product Designer

    Independent

    • Designing user-centered digital experiences with a focus on interaction design, usability, and visual clarity.
    • Developing end-to-end UX workflows including research, wireframing, prototyping, and iterative testing.
    • Building responsive interfaces and scalable design systems for modern product experiences.
    • Translating complex user needs into intuitive, high-fidelity solutions.

  2. 2025

    UT Austin Product Design Program

    McCombs School of Business

    • Completed intensive UX/UI training through the McCombs School of Business Product Design Program.
    • Led a capstone project focused on UX research, interaction design, prototyping, and usability testing.
    • Applied human-centered design methodologies to solve real-world product challenges.
    • Developed skills in information architecture, design systems, accessibility, and user flows.

  3. 2022 — Present

    Professor of Music

    Duquesne University

    • Designed modular learning systems to improve engagement, progression, and skill acquisition.
    • Facilitated weekly critique sessions emphasizing iterative feedback and performance refinement.
    • Mentored students through individualized coaching, structured evaluation, and growth-oriented instruction.
    • Simplified complex technical concepts into accessible, user-focused learning experiences.

  4. 2017 — Present

    Principal Trumpet

    Pittsburgh Opera

    • Delivered high-performance execution in fast-paced, collaborative environments requiring precision and adaptability.
    • Interpreted complex systems in real time while maintaining consistency under pressure.
    • Collaborated across multidisciplinary teams to create cohesive audience experiences.
    • Developed acute attention to timing, rhythm, emotional communication, and experiential flow.

  5. 2009 — 2020

    Professor of Trumpet

    Arkansas State University

    • Led curriculum development and long-term instructional strategy for undergraduate and graduate students.
    • Applied iterative coaching and feedback methodologies to improve performance outcomes.
    • Balanced analytical problem-solving with creativity, communication, and human-centered mentorship.
    • Directed studio operations, recruitment initiatives, and collaborative performance projects.

  6. 2001 — 2009

    Trumpet Player

    United States Air Force Band

    • Performed in elite, high-visibility environments requiring precision, consistency, and adaptability.
    • Collaborated within multidisciplinary teams under rigorous operational standards.
    • Delivered performances for presidential events, national ceremonies, and international audiences.
    • Developed exceptional discipline, communication, situational awareness, and execution under pressure.
Beyond the Resume

The work that doesn't fit on a CV.

Side projects, speaking, mentorship, and community.

Side Project

Practice Pulse

A self-initiated mobile app helping musicians build calmer, more consistent practice habits — designed, prototyped, and iterated end-to-end.

Speaking

Masterclasses & guest lectures

Regularly invited to lead masterclasses and guest sessions at universities and conservatories on performance, pedagogy, and creative discipline.

Community

Mentoring emerging musicians

Ongoing one-on-one mentorship for early-career trumpet players navigating auditions, graduate study, and the realities of a performance career.

Service

Pittsburgh arts ecosystem

Active contributor to the local arts community through performances, collaborations, and outreach with regional ensembles and educational programs.