Claire McCloskeyUX Software Designer, IBM
Alumni Interview
"Now that I am in industry, I see how well EDI prepared me for the intensity of the working world and the complexities of the design thinking process."
When you started EDI, did you know what industry you wanted to work in?
I was drawn to tech and consumer products with the goal of combining my engineering background with my interest in psychology and human behavior.
Tell us about a course you took during EDI that made an impact on you.
Designing Product Interactions was one of my favorite classes that I took in EDI. It transformed the way I think about how we interact with the world around us, and how we design products to contain delight and emotion.
Is there anyone you worked with during EDI that you consider a mentor?
Liz Gerber has been a standout mentor to me for years. She never hesitated to fit in a one-on-one meeting with me no matter how packed her schedule was. Liz is empowered, brilliant, kind, and charismatic and I look up to all that she has accomplished. She has the innate ability to access my strengths and to push me towards opportunities that would prove to be valuable in the future. I participated in Design for America, Delta Lab, taught Human-Centered Service Design, and enjoyed countless other experiences due to Liz.
How did you decide on your EDI thesis project?
Choosing the topic of my EDI thesis project was easier for me than most. When brainstorming topics I liked or enjoyed, such as food or dance, I felt that they wouldn't keep me passionate throughout three months. Since my dad's diagnosis, there is no topic in the world more important to me than Parkinson's disease. I appreciated the time to fully explore the disease and to honor him through my thesis project.
What advice do you have for an EDI student interested in working in the industry you're in?
I would encourage EDI students to reach out to alumni and to fully understand what design-related careers are available to them. It is easy to get excited about each perspective role as we go through the EDI courses, but I would encourage students to not lose or replace the skills they gained in undergrad, but to merge them. Now that I am in industry, I see how well EDI prepared me for the intensity of the working world and the complexities of the design thinking process.
