Hometown: Clawson, MI
Major and class standing: Experience Architecture, Senior
Where you interned: United Wholesale Mortgage
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
My title was UX Design Intern and for my summer project, I worked on redesigning an employee-facing program experience to improve the user experience of the program’s processes. Aside from designing in Figma, I’ve had to attend multiple stakeholder meetings, conduct thorough user research, and update my whole team on my progress every week in stand-ups.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I heard about UWM’s IT internship program from a friend, but I didn’t know that they had UX included as well. When it came to securing my internship, I utilized online resources such as Glassdoor to get a better idea of what the interview process could look like.
What did your daily routine include?
It wasn’t always the same just as how UX isn’t just pixel pushing. My daily routine could range from refining design work at my desk to being completely booked with research sessions with users.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
The UX team at UWM is incredibly mature. There are designated writers, researchers, designers, and even an accessibility team who all work together to create amazing products.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
The pay could’ve been a bit higher! The work culture at UWM might not be for everyone as they operate pretty differently from a regular corporate setting.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
My design skills increased so much during the internship. I learned so much about following consistent patterns and best UI practices, as well as how to use Figma on a professional level when it comes to both designing and handing it off to developers.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
A lot of the time, you have to fight for your decisions as a UX designer! Not everyone is going to immediately get why you would design something a certain way, especially if it’s not immediately do-able. But, backing your choices with research and data helps to secure the stakeholder buy-in. In terms of my future plans, I am back on the job-hunt.
