I applied with less than 10 days before the deadline, but this was my best attempt at explaining why they should accept me.
I love great products with great design. I love a blog that leads me seamlessly from blog post to blog post and before I know it, I’m staring at a strategically placed mailing list registration box. Without second thought, I sign up because I enjoyed the experience. I love it when existing technology is transformed by tweaking the user’s experience and the usability of the technology. My favourite example of this is Typeform. Online forms have been around on the internet since the beginning and almost everyone hates the tedious form filling process that has come to haunt the modern world. Typeform understood the frustration and the need of its users and by making brilliant use of front-end web technologies, they made form filling a much more enjoyable experience. I am determined to learn more about HCI/UX at X University as I have a deep passion for how humans and technology can co-exist and create more and better possibilities.
At 13, I learnt how to make websites using a combination of HTML, CSS, Photoshop and JavaScript by using online tutorials and by asking lots of questions on forums. My first website allowed me to hosted tournaments between friends who played on Yahoo Games. I then went on to build websites for webhosting companies and restaurants. I realised that the websites that I built had very different user bases which is why aside from functionality; usability has always been one of my prime concerns. I understood that the websites were there to serve people, and they were of no use if users didn’t like using the website due to features that I could control; such as the efficiciency of the website’s navigation or the website’s loading time. An example of how I used design to increase a website’s loading time was using a technique called “slicing”. In the early days of ADSL internet, websites that had a lot of graphics would take a long time to load so I used slicing to make websites load much faster whilst maintaining high quality graphics. Even though this process was time consuming, I was proud of shaving the website loading time by even a few seconds since I knew how long loading times lead to stress and a higher chance that the user will not enjoy using the website.
My first choice is X University because it’s Centre for HCI/UX is a leading research centre in the UK. This means that both the staff and the facilities are the best that there is to offer for a master’s degree. In addition to its research prowess, X University has a good reputation for teaching. This is demonstrated by the policy on this course where the size of the classes are limited to thirty – this proves that the University cares about the teaching quality. The core taught modules cover a diverse range of topics which will give me a broad understanding of human centred systems so that I will be prepared for advancements in technology in the future. I am especially interested in the inclusive design model because I believe that everyone deserves a fair chance at accessing technology regardless of age or physical ability.
My degree in Economics has equipped me with methods to model real life situations by using mathematical methods like calculus – this demonstrates that I possess the mathematical foundation required for this course. I also did a piece of course work in econometrics where I had to collect and analyse data and then come to a conclusion based on my findings. I am able to manage my time effectively and study intense courses under pressure. An example of this is when I studied for the Chartered Accountancy qualification (ACA) where I was able to combine hard work with smart studying methods to pass eight exams in the space of seven months. Within my accountancy training I have also studied professional issues such as ethical conduct, data protection and how to research about clients and their companies (due diligence).
In addition to my experience in web development, I believe that my diverse work and life experiences will aid me in my master’s degree. I have experience in people facing roles such as at Thorpe Park, where I had the chance to observe how people think and react to new experiences. I was part of a campaign responsible for introducing Sony’s 3D televisions to the public. As a Sony Brand Ambassador, I demonstrated the features of 3D technology to customers and witnessed how important it is for technology to complement the needs of its end users. On my Gap year, I took a course in Advanced Chinese Mandarin whilst teaching English at a night school. This amazing experience showed me how to see things from another perspective, especially how language affects thinking. Teaching English improved my ability to communicate effectively to groups. Also, training as an accountant further developed my ability to analyse and evaluate large amounts of data and sharpened my attention to detail.
I have witnessed how technology has brought change to the world, how it moves the human race forwards and how it empowers individuals to create what is in their imaginations and turn it into reality. However, technology would be redundant if there were no users so great technology needs to be complimented with great design, design that is suitable for human use. It is easier than ever to create new products using technology and the competition is more than ever and so the interaction experience between the user and the computer becomes ever more important. I want to be part of the technological revolution that we are in. I feel that I will be able to achieve my personal and career goals through the HCI/UX. I will learn as much as possible from the tutors, the course material and the other students so that I can use what I have learnt to embark on a career in user experience design. This is something that I have always wanted to do.
