Bentley HFID Students Thriving as Leaders in UX

UX Magazine ranks Bentley University’s MS Human Factors Information Design program #1. This blog highlights the recent successes of HFID alum Ryan Day and current student Rachael Kelly, two wonderful examples of how our program prepares leaders in the field of user experience, design, and innovation.

Ryan Day is a Senior User Experience (UX) Designer at Tesla, creating tools that support the company's mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. Day has very positive things to say reflecting on his education and how he applies skills learned to his current role: "One aspect of Tesla design culture is that all designers perform their research, as dedicated researchers are not available. Bentley has prepared me for this by teaching me various research and field methods, and tools necessary for establishing empathy in product design."

Day began his career in UX at LinkedIn. While attending a hackathon, he met a designer who advised him that the best way to be successful in the field was to pursue a master's degree.

He attended a Bentley program information session and saw the offering as a great fit for his educational and professional goals. "The HFID program is for those interested in digging deep into Human Factors science, not merely visual design. This is not an art program; it's a science-centric education,” said Day. “Bentley truly showed me I was capable of more than I ever thought possible. I was exposed to subjects and concepts I would never have found on my own."

Rachael Kelly anticipates graduating from Bentley's HFID program this fall. She is also the recipient of a FutureWei-sponsored lifetime membership to Boston CHI, awarded to graduate students in Human-Computer Interaction.

Rachael has experience working as a UX Researcher and Design Associate at Bentley's User Experience Center, who serve clients on a global scale that include Amazon, ESPN, Fidelity, and State Street Global Markets. Her team recently presented a long-term study testing the capabilities of biometric technologies, specifically related to the decision-making processes of young adults during a financial gaming exercise.

Rachael’s exposure while in the HFID program in addition to her curiosity, creative problem-solving, and prior work in art and education have led her to be an emerging talent in the UX field. She carries all of these qualities into her current work to find solutions to complex problems through empathy, inclusion, and smart design.

We encourage you to join an upcoming MS HFID program spotlight to learn more!