Systems

With a master's degree in Learning, Design, and Technology, I had a strong background in instructional design before starting my Ph.D. program. In this program, however, my identity as a systems designer has broadened beyond instructional contexts to include a wide range of digital environments, such as websites, services, tools, and platforms. It has become increasingly important to me to create systems that are not just functional, but also usable, engaging, and accessible. One of my most significant areas of growth has been the ability to approach design with a sharper analytical lens. As part of my Graduate Certificate in User Experience and Usability, I have learned about usability principles, user interface evaluation, and iterative prototyping through courses such as Front-End Analysis of Systems, Interaction Design, and Usability of Systems and Services. My design approach now emphasizes clarity, navigability, and user flow, whether I am designing a complex system or an everyday form. Additionally, these courses helped me appreciate the value of user feedback and the need for testing as part of the design process. I have also become more attentive to accessibility during this time, not necessarily through formal training, but through my own sense of responsibility. Every system should be designed to meet the needs of everyone, and I dedicate myself to making my designs as inclusive as possible. In both academic and professional work, that perspective has been a guiding principle. Finally, my sense of visual design has matured. My focus once was primarily on instructional alignment and function, but now I consider the full user experience, including how a system looks, feels, and helps the user achieve his or her goals. Through this holistic approach to systems design, I continue to adapt my work to academic, institutional, and client-based contexts.