Engineering Design Innovationat the SEGAL DESIGN INSTITUTE, McCORMICK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Alumni Interview

Tell us what your current title is and what your role entails.

I am currently a Product Design manager. That means mentoring and developing design talent within the team, and collaborating with cross-functional teams and leading design projects.

When you started EDI, did you know what industry you wanted to work in?

I originally aimed to work on cutting-edge tech projects, like AR for moonshot endeavors. Currently, I'm working on less glamorous products in tech. However, I've gained valuable experience, and I know there's still a chance for me to dive into emerging technologies in the future.

Tell us about an EDI course that made an impact on you.

Interaction design. Professor Haoqi always challenged us to focus on the core problem that truly matters and find creative solutions with limited resources. This mindset has been invaluable in navigating the steep learning curve as a startup founding designer.

What is one lesson you learned during your EDI journey that has stuck with you? 

"We succeed by supporting others to succeed" from Amy O'Keefe in Service Design class.

What was your EDI thesis project and what inspired you to pursue it?

AR app for movie fans to experience iconic scenes. I was driven by the passion to apply cutting-edge technologies to real-life scenarios.

What advice do you have for an EDI student interested in working in your industry?

Acquire hands-on project experience in a real business context as soon as possible.