DePaul University Interviews Alumnus Jim Ross

Infragistics Senior UX Architect, Jim Ross, was recently interviewed by a student from his alma mater, DePaul University, as part of DePaul’s Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) program. In Jim's words, "it was nice to be asked to share my experiences and advice with students at my alma mater, DePaul University." Below you will find the full interview as well as a summary of Jim's responses.

How did you get started in user experience? What advice would you give to someone trying to break into the field? Can you tell us a little about your current role at Infragistics?

I received my Master’s Degree in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul in 2001. Human-Computer Interaction is the study of how people interact with technology. It combines elements of psychology, design, and computers, and it’s one of the areas of study that lead into the field of user experience. Understanding how people think and how they interact with technology is integral when designing intuitive and satisfying user experiences.

The interview with DePaul University gave me a chance to reflect back on the changes I’ve witnessed in the field of user experience over the last 14 years. I think the biggest change I’ve seen has been the increasing understanding of the value of user experience. When I first started in the field in 2000, I often had to explain usability and its importance to clients and project team members. Since then, the need for usability has become more widely accepted and seen as simply the minimum standard in order to produce a viable product. More people than ever are aware of the importance of carefully designing the entire user experience to provide products and services that meet customer’s needs.

There is still a lot of work to do, but there have never been more opportunities for students and recent graduates to help improve the next generation of user experiences.