My name is Wendy, which comes from my Chinese name “Wendian” (文典). I was born in China and lived there for 17 years before moving to California for high school. I’m currently studying at Wellesley College.
It started with yearbook.
In high school, I was editor-in-chief of the yearbook. Making a yearbook from 0-1 introduced me to design and taught me that iteration and refinement are crucial.
Next was anthropology.
I didn't explore design much after yearbook, but discovered my passion for anthropology. I found my voice through reading anthropology literature and conducting fieldwork.
Two passions became one.
In college, I learned about product/UX design through a design-athon at Wellesley. I was instantly hooked because it combined my love for design and studying human behavior.
My first real industry experience.
In summer 2024, I interned at Peas, where I learned everything about launching an app with a small team. I pitched my design for their next MVP and got positive feedback from the CEO. This experience sharpened my product sense and helped me grow as a designer.
Research taught me more.
Then I worked as a designer and HCI researcher at MIT Media Lab. I collaborated with engineers to design an AI-powered emotion capture app and published my first paper on ethical AI. Through research, I gained a deeper understanding of UX design and learned to think critically about AI development.
Design to be continued...