Hello! My name is Beth Keegan, and I am a senior graduating with a BFA in Industrial Design, a minor in Architectural Studies, and a certificate in Innovation. I currently work as a UI/UX Intern at Graybar Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Research Park. My experience in the industrial design program at Illinois prepared me to collaborate with non-designers, work as a project leader, and incorporate design thinking into my process at Graybar. Throughout my work, I have become proficient in wireframing tools such as Abobe XD and Figma. I have also collaborated with developers and project managers at the national level.I spent the past summer as a Furniture/Fabrication Design Intern at Streamline Architects & Artisans. This contrasting design experience increased my passion for user-centered design and research. As a design intern, I was responsible for my own client projects from the initial meeting to manufacturing. I learned about manufacturing and designing furniture for residential projects, corporate environments, and restaurants in this position. I also helped shape the rebranding of the furniture and fabrication section of the company by creating a new logo, brand language, and marketing materials.
My time in the University of Illinois Industrial Design program and my professional experience have helped me learn technical design skills and the importance of designing with empathy. While I have had a large amount of personal growth in our program, an essential part of my education has been the knowledge I have gained from working alongside my peers in the curriculum and learning from their different backgrounds and perspectives.
