Name: Mariel Piña
Hometown: Ciudad Juárez, México. Now living in Chandler, Arizona.
Major: Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
Graduation Year: 2011
Employer: Renaissance Learning
Title: Director of User Experience

Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
My parents dedicated their careers to serving their communities. I dedicated much of my childhood and adolescence to artistic endeavors. I always knew I would pursue a career that combines my creative drive with something that helps people improve their lives. I was three years into an art degree when I encountered Architecture for Humanity's book, “Design Like You Give a Damn,” and I learned about industrial design (ID). Sitting at the bookstore, I decided I wanted to be a designer.

After touring industrial design schools in different states, I was convinced that the Hines College's ID program's focus, experienced leadership, and perfect location were the right fit for me. With the support of my family and friends, I moved to Houston the following year.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
Design critique days were especially meaningful because I learned to edit and make decisions quickly. More importantly, as classmates, we bonded in the stress of delivering good work and in the celebratory relief of a completed project. In the program, I met lifelong friends and my now-husband.

As for the faculty, I often recall Dr. Luisa Orto's words, "Design does not happen in a vacuum.” She exposed us to iconic designs, which elevated my taste as a designer. Dr. EunSook Kwon shared her passion and discipline for design, pushing the envelope of what we thought possible. I grew from her belief in us to accomplish more. Adam Wells trained us on problem definition and superb execution (people before objects) – key steps in my design process. William Lidwell taught me about the principles guiding how humans interact with the built and digital world. He is, to this day, a friend and a mentor.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
After many years as an industrial designer, I focused my career on user experience (UX) design. I now work as Director of UX for an education technology company. While the medium changed, the principles of design, process, and focus on people remained the same.

On a given day, I’ll have one-on-one meetings with my team and critiques with the larger UX teams. I chat with product stakeholders to make sure our work is helping meet business goals. I listen to user experience research sessions to learn about the people we serve and how to improve our products. I concentrate on my own design work, whether that is a problem definition workshop, low-fidelity prototypes, or collaborating with others to get work ready for development.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
I so appreciate the teams I have worked with and the products we delivered together – some have earned patents, great reviews, and awards. I am especially proud, however, to have brought my senior thesis design to market.

My project, inspired by my abuela, was a study of simple living and ID. I focused on principles from Mexican designs in the 1900s: honesty of materials, flexibility in function, and simplicity in form. I wanted to reduce clutter without sacrificing functionality. The end product was a dual-function grater and colander.

The project received an IDSA award from our local chapter and first place at the International Housewares Association student design competition. Years (and many pitches) later, Ambos became a reality, manufactured in collaboration with an American kitchen brand.

It is still unreal to watch my kids prep dinner with the product that started as a school project. I could not have achieved this feat without the support of the Hines College’s ID community.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?
I think dearly of my time at the Hines College. I learned from lectures, experimentation, and, sometimes, failure. Working in a creative environment with high standards prepared me for the professional world of design.

Aside from good design and human-centricity, I learned about the art and science of productive feedback. Giving and receiving advice from peers and people who use your products is crucial but certainly not easy. Practicing constructive feedback has helped me be more effective at work and build stronger relationships.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
This is very simple – eat and sleep well. It helps more than you think to have these basics down, especially during stressful periods. You will be more creative and effective when you take care of yourself, connect with others, and enjoy what you do.