Since childhood, I’ve collected pins and stickers wherever I traveled. At first, I thought I was bringing home pieces of each city, but over time I noticed how quickly those souvenirs lost their charm once tucked away at home. Why did the “Sydney” sticker feel so meaningful at the Opera House gift shop, yet so forgettable later? This led me to believe that design is centered around emotional value. Great design, whether a product, interface, or building, creates a connection that goes beyond the object itself.

So I believe things designed by humans are imbued with emotional value, and the most successful designs echo with their users. Such is the case with both architectural design and user experience design. A creative designer of the current era should equip themselves with a variety of design tools, which is why I decided to become the first student, in the history of UMich, to dual degree in architecture and UX design.