Have you ever seen the movie "Kate and Leopold"? In the movie there is a scene where Leopold, who has time traveled from the late 1800's, gets very upset about the usability of different products he encounters in the 21st century. His frustration is exactly what drives me in the User Experience field. I want to bring every product to it's ultimate usability leaving every user more than satisfied with their experience.
I am a certified, ambitious and enthusiastic designer with a passion to improve every user experience. I have a varied work background with experience in the education, medical, sales, and agricultural fields. I believe this array of employment cultures gives me a unique view of user experience and enables me to empathize with users from multiple backgrounds.
My Story
I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Kinesiology. My intention at the time was to coach. I taught and coached for a year before massive statewide budget cuts forced me to find another career. I sought out a few options, but didn't find anything solid.
During my decision period I worked at Medical Center Arlington where I used a DOS system to process insurance and patient information, and as a substitute teacher at Mansfield ISD where I taught classes using a myriad of computer programs and worked with a few teachers on activities in need of visual designs.
It wasn't long before my father asked for help on the family farm. My biggest assignment was to update and maintain the webpage and facebook page as well as keep up the database for supplies, chemicals, and beef. I was also consistently fixing all of the family technology, and getting frustrated at all of the "user error" excuses I got from help desks.
This led me to the idea of UX design, where the designer does everything to prevent issues for the user. I reached out to a designer friend to get some advice about where to start. She made several suggestions about online courses, and the research ensued. I found the University of California at San Diego's extension program and never looked back. I received my certification through this program on September 16, 2017.
This portfolio encompasses my design work since starting the UX Design program at UCSD. Please see my content pages: evaluation, prototype, and graphic design for evidence of my work. To contact me, please email kristibennett73110@gmail.com.
Cultural Experience
While I don't feel I've done a lot of travel, I am quite fond of the places I have visited and plan to do more traveling. Ontario was a school trip in which we explored the space training facility there, and did some site seeing. This was my first trip out of the country. Canada has a lot of similarities to the US, but being around people of even a slightly different culture taught me to remember that the world is not exactly like I know it.
Europe was my second international trip. The team I swam for was invited to a meet in Germany. During the two annual meets I attended, I visited multiple countries in Europe. I took a third trip to Europe in which I visited the UK and France. I became aware of the attitudes and views many people in other countries have about Americans. This trip was very enlightening about the cultural norms, and even some political ideas of other nations. The history in Europe is so very rich and beautiful. This is one of my favorite places to visit.
Central America was my third international trip. I absolutely love Spanish language, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This was my first view of true poverty. One of the places we visited was Jamaica. It is a beautiful country, known for having fun. It was wonderful to see so many people without the luxuries that so many in other countries know, but with a happiness that those same people do not know. This trip was a strong reminder that it's not the things in our lives that bring happiness, but our contentedness with our own position in life. The drives and passions that I saw were unrelated to gaining more luxury, but revolved around doing the best they could in everything they did.
Peru was my final international Trip. This was another glimpse into poverty and a different view on life. The culture in Peru focuses on having fun. A Spanish culture, they start and end their day very late. Many of the places of business do not open until 10 am. When the people get off work, they stay up until 1 or 2 am enjoying the company of others. These people enjoy music, and having a good time. It was a great reminder that we need to focus on all aspects of our lives. Work is important, and so is a social life. A good balance of both leads to a healthy life.
I certainly hope that this is not the end of my travels. I plan to make a trip to Africa. The wildlife and cultures there have so much to offer. I am excited about the potential for learning. I would also love to make a trip to Asia. The Chinese culture has always fascinated me. They have such a rich culture and history. The country is beautiful. The people there have always valued hard work and honor. I would love to visit other places, but these two are at the top of my list.
