ITLS Spotlight: Zeb Nava

Zebadiah Nava works as a freelancer in graphic design and digital marketing, and he is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Human Experience Design and Interaction (HEDI) from the department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University.

After being in the workforce for a while, Nava realized that he needed more specialized skills in multimedia development and experiential design. While searching for a program that could satisfy his interests in creating immersive, intuitive digital experiences, Nava learned about HEDI. “I was looking at a couple of different design programs and web development boot camps that USU and other universities were offering at the time,” he said. “While some caught my interest, they didn't work well with my schedule. In the end, HEDI was flexible and it also offered me the opportunity to hone in my expertise in UI/UX and Multimedia.”

In his free time, Nava enjoys being outside, walking his dog, playing video games, spending time with his girlfriend, and assisting a friend in the marketing, design, and editing of a webcomic titled Winter Suns.

When asked to give advice to those being affected by the pandemic, Nava responded, “Humans are tribal creatures. We are not meant to be alone. Reach out to people for social and emotional support if you feel alone. Be honest and let them know how you are feeling. It’s cathartic to talk about your feelings, and your friends and family are more than likely experiencing the same things.”