Completing MS in HCI

Posting Again

It has been a while since I have posted my thoughts on Interaction Design. A lot has happened most recently I successfully passed my oral defense for my MS in Human Computer Interaction. It was a cold and blustery day in Iowa but I went in and treated it as a pitch meeting. I do have some minor revisions that I have to complete but I know that I can do it because I believe in the subject.

This will be my second Masters degree. My first came before User Experience studies had taken off. I earned a MFA in Design from OSU. Friends and informed recruiters have told me what a unique combination I have: the creativity of a designer and the analytical capabilities of HCI. 

I have been amazed that I have been able to work in various industries that many may consider outside the expertise of a designer. Not only have I worked in these positions but I have made innovations in architecture, aerospace and robotics. In every domain that I have entered I have had to learn that there is a hierarchy with regard to the disciplines. I will expound on this further in future posts.

I would like to use this opportunity to share some books that influenced me the past couple of years.

• Work Like Da Vinci: Gaining the Creative Advantage in Your Business and Career by Gelb, Michael
• Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work by Pattakos, Alex
  
  
  
  
  
  
  More to follow