My 7 year tech career within the maritime shipping industry has shown me that there is work to be done in the world of UX Research and Design. I work with operations to improve the performance of their software systems, including issues longshoremen have with their tablets and the UI. Many times, the “out the box” product does not align with their process on the ground.

Instead of applying how we assume these UIs should function, we should start at the source and work with the users themselves to curate a UI that works for them.

This has led me to pursue UX/UI design. By advocating for end users and explaining the importance of their needs to our stakeholders, I hope to continue improving the work life of company employees, which inevitably leads to improved performance and company culture.