Catching up with Audrey Chico (M.S. IARC '09)
The Department of Humanities recently checked in with alumna Audrey Chico, who earned a Master of Science in Information Architecture in 2009. In this Q&A, Chico discusses what she's up to now and how she's utilizing this degree in her work. She also provides some advice for current students!
What degree did you earn from Illinois Tech, and when did you graduate?
AC: I hold a Master of Science in Information Architecture from Illinois Tech and I graduated in 2009.
Where has your career taken you since your studies at Illinois Tech?
AC: My first job right after graduating was at Motorola Mobility in Chicago as an Information Architect/User Experience (UX) Designer. I was in Chicago for a few years until opportunities to grow my career led me to relocate to Silicon Valley. I'm now a senior interaction designer at Walmart Labs.
What are the most exciting and challenging aspects of the work you do now?
AC: Complex systems and issues attract me, and building a product from scratch is truly an amazing experience. As a User Experience Designer, I get to closely observe people to understand their needs, then transform their pain points and expectations into a product or experience which can improve their life and simplify their workflows.
What do you hope to do next?
AC: After practicing several years of UX Design, I’m looking into how to help junior/mid-level designers grow their design skills as well as other competencies required for being a successful UX Designer.
How does what you learned in your degree program at Illinois Tech assist or inform the work you do now?
AC: There are three important things I learned from Illinois Tech:
Design skills: The professors introduced me to the field of User Experience, and their recommended reading materials and assignments helped me gain skills from how to use design software to deeply understanding the whole design cycle. I specifically want to mention the course of Usability Studies and Testing which at the time was taught by Susan Feinberg; this class opened my eyes on how important usability testing and studies are in user experience design, because the user is everything - understanding your users is the foundation of every successful product.
Communication: There were many classes that required me to present designs or solutions, and these presentations provided me opportunities to share my thoughts with others, improve my public speech skills, and also to learn from other students. I was well prepared for the types of meetings and presentations that are common in my work, such as design reviews and stakeholder reviews, where I share and communicate my design ideas and convince stakeholders on to the correct direction.
Collaboration: Teamwork is so important in my work and I couldn’t thank my school more than enough for teaching me this through all the various projects and assignments. I’ve worked with all my classmates, sometimes even students from other departments and all of those experiences benefit what I am doing now.
Any advice for current students in your degree program?
AC: Utilize all the resources you have in the program! Of course, you will still need to learn after your graduation, but when you are still in school, talk to your professors and ask questions, learn new tools and read new books, try your best on your assignments. Those might be harder to do than it sounds, but they will truly benefit you in your future career.
Anything else you want to share?
AC: I really enjoyed every moment at Illinois Tech and I would recommend this program to everyone who is looking to enhance or build their UX skills.
