Personal Statement

For me design is more than just making things look good, it’s about making products or systems which work for everyone. My primary interest is in creating products and interfaces that are accessible to everyone including those with mental or physical disabilities.

That is why I chose human centered design, because I could do user research into the needs of all kinds of people and use those insights to create effective designs. For example, I could do research into how UI can be better designed to accommodate visually impaired people and use the knowledge from that research to develop more inclusive UI design principles.

In high school, I worked on a project designing prosthetics for a girl who was missing fingers due to mercury poisoning. The experience opened my eyes to how much difficulty people with disabilities can have interacting with things I take for granted. It was also my first introduction to human-centered design. The project made me realise how much people can gain through thoughtful and inclusive design decisions. That project is what ultimately spurred my interest in design.

Currently, my design portfolio is a blank page but I’m eager to fill it with projects that can showcase my interest in inclusive design. I hope to take HCDE 308 next quarter and develop a lot of my own designs which I can include in my portfolio. I also hope to do research and have an internship which will both provide me with experience I need to excel in this field. My goal over the next two years is to gain real experience with design software and the design process, develop a strong design portfolio, and take on design projects related to accessibility.