Cool Kids on the Block — Joyce + Elyssa
Welcome to Cool Kids on the Block, Recess Media’s weekly feature project where we showcase different creatives on campus who are passionate and committed to their work. New stories up on Medium every Wednesday.
This week’s Cool Kids are Joyce and Elyssa, UI/UX designers and students at the UW. Read on to hear more about their stories, inspirations, and words of advice!
Tell us about it! What is it?
Joyce + Elyssa: We designed a prototype for the Adobe x Netflix Creative Jam! The challenge presented was to ‘design a third-party desktop app where the community can celebrate shared stories together through communal and authentic experiences in 48 hours.’ Inspired by the rise of engagement and dialogue around BLM, we decided to put a spin on the challenge and create an app that encourages dialogue on social issues. To approach that, we designed to diversify users’ media consumption and then created features that facilitated safe conversation with people of different worldviews. Instead of focusing on their existing network of friends, this app would encourage users to branch out and be more open-minded. Prototype link.
So what’s the story?
J+E: We almost didn’t participate! After a lot of hustle and not much result in a previous Creative Jam, we were reluctant to participate again (and we were still tired from finals). However, after much indecisiveness, we decided to just go for it and not go in with high expectations like last time. We decided to treat it as another learning experience and honestly for the free Adobe subscription reward.
What or who inspires you to continue your work?
Joyce: My fear of not landing a job to pay bills after college inspires me to continue my work. All jokes aside, I truly believe that design as a framework and practice produces solutions that genuinely address problems that people have, from an individual to a global scale. I personally want to use design to create more accessible and inclusive products, especially since designs have not traditionally been made with consideration of disadvantaged demographics. This goal is what drives me to pursue interaction design and stick through the countless late nights working on projects. There aren’t any specific work or practitioners that come to mind, but my peers in the design program constantly inspire me through their creativity, immense dedication, and passion.
Elyssa: There’s not really one thing or person that inspires me to continue my work. But rather, more so the purpose and intent of knowing that good, beautiful, and inclusive design can be impactful. Design can connect communities, bring people together, and can be a platform to tell stories. There’s something special about how design can transcend and how it can make people feel.
What advice would you give to people who are just starting a hobby similar to yours?
Joyce: When making creative work, don’t let the perceived quality of the work attach to your self-esteem. As long as you keep creating, you are succeeding.
Elyssa: Don’t be afraid to take risks and push yourself! But know that your creative journey and process is specific to you — don’t let the paths and opinions of others affect how you view yourself and work!
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