Christine Montalbano
Adjunct Faculty
In-Vehicle User Experience Designer, Stellantis
Masters of Fine Arts, User Experience Design, College For Creative Studies (2020-2022)
Bachelors Of Fine Arts, University of Michigan (2017-2020)
Christine Montalbano’s research interests lie at the intersection of human-centered design, technology integration, and seamless user interaction within automotive environments. She is particularly focused on how in-vehicle infotainment systems can enhance driver and passenger experiences through intuitive design and innovative user interfaces. This includes exploring the balance between safety, functionality, and user satisfaction, and how emerging technologies such as voice recognition, AI, and connected ecosystems can be effectively integrated into vehicle systems. Additionally, Christine is passionate about advancing the methodologies and best practices of design thinking, particularly in fostering creativity, encouraging a beginner’s mindset, and cultivating cross-disciplinary collaboration to tackle real-world design challenges. Her research also extends to the physical and emotional impact of product packaging on consumer behavior, exploring how packaging design can influence brand perception, sustainability practices, and the overall user experience, including innovative materials and visual storytelling. Christine aims to bridge the gap between physical and digital user experiences, ensuring that design solutions are holistic, user-friendly, and forward-thinking.
Professional Experience
While at the University of Michigan, Christine was a dedicated designer for the Michigan Daily. She also spent her summers as a Product Designer at StockX and a Graphic Designer at Leo Burnett. After graduating, she pursued a Master’s in User Experience Design at The College for Creative Studies, where she served as a Graduate Assistant focused on marketing content for prospective students. During her studies, Christine interned as a User Experience Designer at Stellantis, later transitioning to a Full-time Interaction Designer on their User Experience Design team, focusing on the in-vehicle infotainment system. She also founded an LLC that specializes in brand and packaging design for companies across the United States. Currently, Christine continues to work at Stellantis as a User Experience Designer and teaches in the MFA User Experience Design Department. She remains actively involved in mentoring students and maintaining relationships with universities.
