For Joyce Kim, the Master of User Experience Design was the perfect way to get into the design industry, after a career in teaching with no formal design experience. “I’ve always loved designing. As a young girl, I’d often be found creating or altering things to make them ‘better’,” says Joyce. “The MUXD programme was exactly what I’d been looking for, as I wanted to learn about user-centred design and understand what makes experiences good versus bad.”

Joyce’s research explored Mātauranga design and best practices for designing in Aotearoa, along with visual design elements and UX design practice and techniques. “A key consideration was that design is an iterative process, not an outcome—understanding that, at its heart, UX thinking is noticing, empathising, and exploring the complex systems and notions that feed into one’s interactions and experiences with the world,” says Joyce.

The links between the School and industry were one of the benefits of the programme for Joyce. She was able to work with industry professionals and real clients with real needs using a user-centred approach. “I was fortunate to work with organisations such as Google and IDIA (Indigenous Design and Innovation Aotearoa). We also got one-to-one mentorship from people working in the industry,” explains Joyce.

“My Master’s has provided me with the necessary skills to continue to grow my UX knowledge and experience for the future. I plan to work as a UI (user interface) or UX designer in Wellington, to put these new skills into action to serve and contribute to my community in a meaningful way.”

Growing up in Taranaki, Renee embraced her Māoritanga while pursuing her design interests in woodwork, printmaking, and graphic design. Moving to Wellington for further study was a big decision.

She chose the Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI) at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington because she wanted to be in an industry that helped change the way people interact with products. The Master of User Experience Design (MUXD) programme was a natural next step.

When she enrolled in the MUXD, Renee was excited and thankful to receive a Māori and Pasifika Scholarship. It helped her to embrace her culture and identity in her design. Being able to incorporate Tikanga and Mātauranga into her projects has been important to Renee.

“The Mātauranga Design course is really good. The people in our class are expressing my culture and understanding our perspective in the way we view our past, present, and future.” Renee has learned that she has a vital role in passing that knowledge on to the next generation.

The University’s Mentorship Programme was a highlight for Renee. “What’s great about this programme are the endless opportunities you get to gain industry experience and mentorship with people currently in the industry. We got to collaborate with some great companies and also with student developers, to get a real taste for life as a UX designer.”

UX design is Renee’s passion, but people are her purpose. She wants to build her knowledge in Te Ao Māori and encourage more Māori to lead a life bigger than themselves. “We need to help each other understand the past, so we can start to design the future.”

Renee is now working at Indigenous Design and Innovation Āotearoa (IDIA) as a UX designer.

Jwen Yap says she chose the Master of User Experience Design programme because it was designed in collaboration with industry partners.

“I was thrilled at the opportunity to work on meaningful real-world projects and excited to engage with thought-leaders through guest lectures and mentorship opportunities.

“I got to work with clients such as Trade Me and The Clinician, which was such a valuable experience.”

Jwen already had some experience in user interface design when she went into her Master’s. She was interested in the critical thinking and research aspect of UX, which the course delivered beyond her expectations.

“This course has instilled a strong importance to design for all in mind. That includes taking into consideration and advocating for accessible, inclusive, and ethical design practices. I was excited about this because by caring and championing for people, by bringing them along with us in the process, only then can we truly make a positive difference.”

“The course coordinators equipped us with the necessary skills and know-how to get a job—that included prepping us on how to write case studies, scheduling portfolio reviews, and assigning us to work with industry partners on group projects. They even prompted us to reflect on the kind of designer we wanted to be, which involved discovering our values and what we wanted to specialise in.”

Jwen is currently a junior product designer at Sharesies, a wealth development platform. She works in a multi-disciplinary team that includes designers and developers. In her role, Jwen leverages the skills she learned in her Master’s to solve problems and communicate with stakeholders.

“There’s still a lot that I need to learn, but I can say that the Master of User Experience Design has given me a strong foundation that allows me to contribute to my team and the company’s vision.”