Interactions - November/December 2017

“I’m reaping the rewards of Bentley’s solid UX program daily. My employer really trusts me and my judgment, all thanks to Bentley.”

—Latoya Hall

Master of Science, Human Factors in Information Design Product designer, Rocket Lawyer, San Francisco

As an undergrad, Latoya Hall discovered the magic of combining human factors and design. After graduation, however, she found herself stuck in a dead-end sales job, longing for a career that matched her passions. She knew if she could find a graduate program that brought together her loves for research and design, the possibilities were endless. That’s when she came across Bentley.

Why did you choose Bentley?

I chose Bentley because it definitely is one of the best UX programs in the nation, and the director of the program really cares about the well-being and success of the student. And Bentley’s program is so flexible. I’ve taken classes in Boston, San Francisco, and online — all while working a full-time job. This hybrid approach is perfect for those who want or need to work while they’re in the program.

What was the best part of the HFID program for you? Bentley has a very hands-on, client-based curriculum, making it easy to build your first portfolio even if you’re coming from a non-design background. The HFID program provided me with the opportunity to work on real-world projects with big companies like Twitter and the Harvard Business Review.

How did Bentley prepare you for the challenges of
working in UX?

Once you get into the tech industry you realize that everybody has an opinion on something and how they get their opinion across can be positive or detrimental to how the product is built, or what features go into it. One of the best skills I gained from the Bentley program is recognizing these communication styles and learning how to work with them.

What’s it like being a Bentley alumna?

The alumni network at Bentley is incredible. Everybody I’ve spoken to has been very approachable, informative, open to giving advice, or happy to just talk design and technology. Bentley’s HFID graduates work at some of the top companies in the tech industry, so it’s nice to have those connections in your back pocket.