HCI/d Students of Indiana University Share their Experiences!
Congratulations! If you’re here, you’ve either been accepted into graduate school or you’re thinking about it. Both momentous occasions! 👏 👏
A year ago, I was in your place — making the incredibly tough decision of choosing which grad school to attend. As you might have realized, the internet does not make it easy to do that! Many LinkedIn requests, Quora threads, and hours of digging through schools’ websites, I chose Indiana University’s HCI/d program. I have loved every second of my time here, and have absolutely no regrets.
I recruited 5 students in the program to share their thoughts and experiences of the program. We hope this gives you a little insight into what life at IU is like. Go Hoosiers! 🥳
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What is your educational background?
B.A. in Foreign Language & Literature (English & Russian)
What made you choose UX?
After graduation, I worked as a marketing specialist for a year but I found it extremely boring, repetitive, and unchallenging. I wanted to do something that excited and challenged me — UX Design gave me those opportunities. It pushed me to create really beautiful designs but also challenged me to use my brain to solve complex user problems.
Why did you choose Indiana University?
It was between University of Michigan and Indiana University for me. Both were great schools, but I felt IU was the best value for money.
I was really drawn to IU’s curriculum. After working as a designer for 2 years, I felt like I knew the basic design skills. But, I really wanted to learn more about design theory, design thinking, and the history of design.. and IU’s curriculum was great at this.
What do you love most about the HCI/d program?
It’s really helped me learn how to to think and build my own design philosophy. The readings professors assign are so thought provoking and have really changed the way I think about design.
And, the cohort culture! It’s a huge advantage. I never expected to become friends with students from so many different cultures and countries! For someone who came from another country (China), building these relationships has been amazing.
What are your favorite classes?
Foundations of HCI
Design Theory
AI and the Future of Work
These classes really helped me to see design from completely new perspectives (e.g. societal and philosophical perspectives). They really break down what design is and I find that so fascinating. They’ve helped me understand what I can offer as a designer and how to align my designs with my own beliefs.
What is your favorite project from the program?
Sustainability in Fashion from Eli’s Meaning & Form class!
Eli is such a fun guy! But I also had the best team mates; Aditi, Parumita, and Isaiah. It’s so important to have good friends the first semester. I received so much support from my teammates and it made the whole process so much easier for me! The project also gave us a chance to be creative and have fun as a group — we got to shoot and edit videos, take photos, do research at the mall. Lastly, I loved how every group presented what they did every week — I learned so much from others!
What are your plans for Summer 2020?
I’ll be a Product Design Intern at Shipt this summer working on their shopper app.
I was supposed to be in Alabama at their HQ this summer, but it looks like I’ll be staying at home all summer instead. I really hope the pandemic ends soon as I can work with them in-person! My other plans for the summer are finishing my 100 Day UI Challenge and hopefully starting another after. Oh, and not getting infected — if that counts as a plan!
How did the HCI/d program help you prepare and search for internships?
Oh, so many ways! It made my portfolio better. I learned a lot from professors and others in the cohort about the best ways to organize my portfolio and tell my story.
Career Services helped me correct my grammar and make my resume more concise — they’re great, especially if you’re a non-native speaker!
We have an awesome alumni network who are so willing to help. One, in particular, called me and spoke to me for an hour about one of my projects. Her feedback helped me communicate and present my project so much better and I saw a big difference in interviews!
What advice do you have for students who don’t have a background in UX?
My biggest advice is improve your UI skills. A well-designed and visually appealing portfolio is so important, it’s sort of a pre-requisite when applying for internships.
And, I can’t stress this enough — start working on your portfolio as early as possible! A portfolio is not a one-time exercise; it requires constant feedback and iteration. The earlier you start, the more time you have to make it better.
Finally, always ask yourself why. What are your goals? Why do you want to be in this program? Why are you making these design decisions? Never stop asking yourself why. Ok, I’ll stop. I’m getting too philosophical now!
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What is your educational background?
B.S. in Infomation Science and Engineering at BMS Institute of Technology
What made you choose UX?
I’ve always been a creative person for as long as I can remember. But like most other Indian students, I studied engineering to figure out what I actually wanted to do! During my engineering, I worked on a project for people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and that was a very design driven project. That project got me super interested in UX, and I’ve loved solving problems ever since.
Why did you choose Indiana University?
I was already pretty familiar with the basics of UX and wanted to focus more on learning the the strategic side. IU’s program stood out for this. IU’s program encourages students to explore three different paths: research, strategy, and design, and I love that. We have core classes that we’re required to take, but we can also take electives in the topics we’re interested in. It’s a really balanced program!
What do you love most about the HCI/d program at IU?
Definitely, the cohort culture.
We really learn how to work with people in this program. The first semester is tough because we’re learning how to work with each other. As designers, we tend to be very passionate and confident of our ideas, but this program teaches us to be more inclusive of others’ ideas and strives to create a collaborative culture within the cohort. As time went on, I really saw a change in myself in how open I was to collaborating with others, going from only wanting to do individual projects to preferring group projects because of how much we learn from each other!
We also have great industry exposure in this program! Many of our projects are sponsored by industry connections. Last semester, our cohorts worked with Lucid and Salesforce on real business challenges they were facing. They’re great opportunities to learn how to work within business restraints and learn things like A/B testing in an industry context.
What are your favorite classes?
Design Strategy — This class really helped me understand my value as a strategic designer. In this class, we work with clients to create strategic design proposals for their businesses. We learn a lot of business frameworks like SWOT, 4P’s, and Porter’s 5 Forces, and learn how to apply those frameworks in a design context. It really explores the intersection between design and business and has made me so much more confident speaking about business in a design setting. By far, my favorite class!
Foundations of HCI — I loved this class because it made me understand the importance of having a solid rationale behind my design decisions. It challenged me to think about why people made the decisions they did — what was the problem they were facing and how did the solution solve it?
What is your favorite project from the program?
My favorite projects have all been from my Design Strategy class, where I created strategic design proposals for My Sister’s Closet (MSC) and Delta Airlines. I loved the process of designing business strategy for these companies! For MSC, my group decided to make its primary and secondary customers interdependent on each other rather than two distinct customer segments, which in theory sounds simple, but actually made a huge difference for them!
Designing a strategic plan for Delta Airlines was equally interesting with it being the most affected industry in the current pandemic! While super challenging, it really helped me understand design from a completely different perspective.
What are your plans for Summer 2020?
My “ideal plan” for this summer would have been to explore and catch up with friends, but my “strategic plan” will be to build a habit of exercising everyday and hopefully get a head start on my Summer 2021 body. Oh, and I’ll also be a Product Design Intern at Medibookr this summer!
How did the HCI/d program help you prepare and search for internships?
Our alumni network is awesome. I reached out to a lot of our alumni and got a lot of great tips. I also got a few referrals. Even if I didn’t get offers at some of the bigger firms, I got to experience their interview process and now I know better for next year.
Design Strategy also helped me immensely. I learned how to articulate how my designs could add value to the business and used a lot of what I learned in class during my interviews. I think it definitely gave me a competitive advantage over others, which is so important when you’re up against so many great designers.
What advice do you have for students who don’t have a background in UX?
Learn tools and develop your UI skills!
Don’t worry too much about learning UX, because this program will teach you that. But UI skills are up to you to learn. Having that eye for design is so important, like knowing which fonts work better, which colors, etc. It takes time to learn, but everything falls into place once you have that foundation. Luckily, there’s so many free online courses that can teach you UI.
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What is your educational background?
B.Tech in Production Engineering (a.k.a, Industrial Engineering) at College of Engineering, Pune
What made you choose UX?
I’ve always been a curious and creative person — I love calligraphy, music, sports, and photography. I wanted to pursue a degree that was not only creative but would also integrate my foundation in technology and thirst for solving problems. So, I started looking for a multidisciplinary field that encompassed all of this… and eureka — that was UX! It connected all the dots.
Why did you choose Indiana University?
Choosing a two year program was important to me because I didn’t have a background in design and wanted the full two years to really explore and learn about the field.
Next, it was curriculum. I loved IU’s curriculum for its flexibility and well rounded nature. It had a great balance of theoretical and practical courses.
The deciding factor was the legacy of IU’s program. It’s one of the oldest design programs in the country, and I knew that if a program had been doing this for 20+ years, it had to have a great alumni and industry network…. and I wasn’t wrong.
What do you love most about the HCI/d program at IU?
Oh, the people. Everyone is so supportive!
The program organizes so many events for us from portfolio workshops, to interview prep, to industry speakers. They have a great system in place to support you throughout this journey.
Also, the way the cohort is selected is impressive. It’s so diverse — everyone’s from different backgrounds and every single one of us has something unique to bring to the cohort. It’s amazing and what makes IU unique.
What are your favorite classes?
Interaction Design Practice — This class gives you a good taste of what working in industry is like. Our industry sponsor was Lucid and they challenged us to design solutions for a business challenge they were facing. It was great exposure to how designs works in industry.
Design Theory — This class really made me look inward and think about my own design philosophy. The way Erik teaches it is just… fabulous. He defines philosophical concepts like imagination, desires, and judgements, and discusses how they relate and impact our role as designers. It brought so much clarity to what I do.
What is your favorite project from the program?
Honestly, I’ve loved all of them because each offered a unique perspective. But if I had to choose one, it would be E-Change — an e-waste management app we designed in our Interaction Design Methods class. The project encouraged us to use user research methods we learned in class to learn more about electronic waste management problems on campus. It was a great opportunity to not only satsify our stakeholders’ needs but also protect the environment we live in. It really helped me realize and develop that sense of responsibility we all carry as designers.
What are your plans for Summer 2020?
I’ll be working as a Product Design Intern at Ansys this summer. Along with that, I also plan to refine my portfolio and practice my UI skills. Since I’ll be working remotely in Bloomington this summer, I’m really looking forward to walking around our campus and capturing the summer beauty through photography.
How did the HCI/d program help you prepare and search for internships?
The projects we worked on really helped shape my design thinking and also gave me portfolio projects.
We also have so many events and workshops to help us prepare! From workshops organized by our seniors to talks from alumni to portfolio / resume reviews by career services — I utilized all these resources.
Lastly, I reached out to alumni on LinkedIn. Their guidance was invaluable. They gave me portfolio / resume feedback, guided me on how to reach out to alumni, how to prepare for interviews, and how to approach design challenges.
We have a HUGE network of people we can go to for help, who are really just a click away.
What advice do you have for students who don’t have a background in UX?
Start working on your portfolio and apply to internships early!
But also — read a lot, reach out to alumni and people within your cohort, learn from others, hone your existing skills and develop new skills, and have fun.
Always keep an eye on your goals and reflect on your progress. It’s so important to reflect on your experiences — ask yourself what mistakes you’ve made and how have you learned? Don’t repeat old mistakes, always make new mistakes.
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What is your educational background?
B.S. in Marketing at Indiana University
What made you choose UX?
I first discovered UX Design while studying abroad in Barcelona. We were doing a design thinking workshop, which at the time, was a completely new concept to me. We interviewed each other, did ideation sessions, and came up with a prototype that reinvented the gift wrapping experience. My partner made a comment that resonated with me — she said, “Wow, you really like this! You’re really good at this!” She was right, I really did like doing it and it was something I believed I could be good at too. That was really what sparked my transition to UX.
Marketing actually has a lot of similarities to design, so it was sort of a natural transition from a customer focused field to a user focused field. Instead of coming up with ways to communicate TO people, I was brainstorming ways to make things FOR people. It was a far more fulfilling avenue than Marketing was. I love working with people, learning their stories, and finding creative ways to make their lives better.
Why did you choose Indiana University?
It came down two things — the people and the reputation of the school.
I liked that it was a smaller program. It was also the perfect mix of people who wanted to be part of that camaraderie but also get a top notch education. I wanted that balance, and this program offered that. And, IU’s program was very highly rated!
Plus, I was already familiar with IU having done my undergrad here. I knew what a great student culture the school had, and I just knew it would be money well spent.
What do you love most about the HCI/d program at IU?
For sure, the people. We’re a very close knit group and hang out with each other outside of the program.
But it also gives me the opportunity to try new things. Many of our projects are open-ended and we’re given the freedom and support to really explore. We’re allowed to fail and try new things that may or may not work. That’s what makes it such a great environment to grow.
We have practical projects where we can apply skills and learn from them but we also have the lecture based classes that teach us design philosophy and the foundations of design. It’s a great balance of theoretical and practical experiences.
Lastly, this program goes beyond screens and I love that! They really challenge us to not just settle on apps as our solutions, but think about the whole technological experience.
What are your favorite classes?
Ahh, its really hard to choose! Each class is so different and has taught me so much. It really gives you a broad perspective of so many different aspects.
Meaning & Form — It was a very broad design space. We could try something different every week, explore that space more, and learn from that. I found that more interesting than making small design tweaks.
Design Theory — I love how introspective it is. It focuses on your own growth and reflect on what it means to be a designer, what you bring to the table, and what makes you unique as a designer.
Artificial Life in VR — It’s something entirely new. I’ve never used Blender or Unity before.
What is your favorite project from the program?
Probably ‘Lumos’ — the smart band we designed for the homeless in Eli’s class. Being able to interview someone from a homeless shelter and learn from their experience felt so genuine and real and I’m not sure you’d get that sort of experience in another program. The project gave me an opportunity to really step into the community and design for a cause I truly cared about. Plus, I had a great time working with my team and learning different methods!
What are your plans for Summer 2020?
The pandemic impacted things a lot this year. I was supposed to intern at a company, but it got cancelled. Now, I plan to spend my summer working on an independent project, improving my portfolio, and starting a blog. I’m really excited and looking forward to start blogging about design topics.
How did the HCI/d program help you prepare and search for internships?
The projects we do are great. Not only do they give us projects to add to our portfolio, but they also provide us with experiences that make us marketable. Each project is so different and gives us a unique learning experience. For example, Eli’s project was more creative and looked at design more holistically, while Lucidchart was more grounded and industry oriented, where we worked on design tweaks and looked at the data behind our decisions. Being able to show both those viewpoints definitely helped.
I also got a lot of great feedback from the people in our program and career services. Having that culture around you where you can literally walk into to studio and be like “Hey! Do you have any feedback on my portfolio?” is so cool.
What advice do you have for students who don’t have a background in UX?
Think about your previous experiences and learn how to leverage them. Don’t discount your previous experiences as being unimportant!
I didn’t think I had any design experience but when I was putting my portfolio together, but things like photography, writing, business strategy — all those things that you think wouldn’t be important are important in design.
Think about what makes you unique.That’s what UX is — it’s all about how you bring different people together and leverage these different strengths to come up with a solution that integrates all these different perspectives.
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What is your educational background?
B.A. in Social Psychology at UC Irvine
What made you choose UX?
While working as a data analyst, I spent a lot of time talking to UX designers and researchers about what they do. I was really inspired by the projects they worked on and loved the focus on human beings. UX also aligned with my personal interest in solving problems creatively.
Why did you choose Indiana University?
IU was always one of my Top 3. I loved IU’s focus on research and the ethics of the future of HCI. I was also very interested in the projects Jeff and Shaowen Bardzell were doing on female health — they were very inspiring for me as a woman.
What do you love most about the HCI/d program at IU?
I really love the combination of design and research. I was initially quite hesitant since I didn’t come from a very visual background. I was scared that I’d be far behind everyone else in terms of design. But this program taught me that HCI is way more than that. It’s taught me how to become a more ethical and responsible designer as I grow in my career.
What are your favorite classes?
Foundations of HCI — This class really triggers a lot of thinking. The content is very rich and will inspire you to think about design in a completely different way.
Meaning & Form — Our professor was extremely creative, and I’m the complete opposite. Being in his class and talking to him really encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, try different things, and be creative. He inspired me to become a better designer.
What is your favorite project from the program?
My favorite project is the smart mirror we designed in Eli’s class, which reimagines the way trainers teach exercise classes, prevents exercise-related injuries, and connects people through a large digital display.
I really learned and grew a lot in that class. We learned about various design techniques and got to practice them — it really strengthened my creative skills. I also learned how to pace myself better and set more realistic goals for future projects.
What are your plans for Summer 2020?
My plans for the summer are joining Cisco as a UX Research Intern while socially distancing myself at home with my doggie. Since my internship is remote, I redecorated my house and turned a corner of it into my home office. Other than that, I’m looking forward to hiking and picnicking around Bloomington!
How did the HCI/d program help you prepare and search for internships?
There’s a lot of workshops to help each other and share experiences. I got my internship quite early, so I helped others after by doing mock interviews with them. We really help and support each other a lot.
I think our alumni and cohort are our strongest support network. Alumni helped me a lot by providing me with resume feedback and referring me to companies.
What advice do you have for students who don’t have a background in UX?
Don’t hesitate to join the UX world. It’s still a relatively new field and requires people from all sorts of backgrounds. There’s really no limitation to what can be related to UX — you just have to learn how to sell it.
and, me?
I personally came from an architecture background. If you’d like to learn more about my journey, I’ve written about it here.
My profile links:
Thanks for reading, folks! ❤
We hope this gave you a little insight into what the HCI/d program is about at IU. Big thanks and s/o to Yunyu Zhou, Srividya KP, Shriyash Shete, Zack Gilbert, and Lingyi Ge for sharing their thoughts!