UX DESIGNER
LYSCHEL
Shipp
am a writer, poet, mother, and wife. I’m a first generation Jamaican American hailing from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. I am a self-proclaimed
I
“lover of languages” who has no hesitation in confessing that I’ve always wanted to be an English teacher. At Georgia State University, I developed a love for rhetoric and composition, learning the intricacies and nuances of the English language. At New York University, I garnered a fervent passion to teach.
In the spring of 2021, I became a STEM/Design Thinking Facilitator at SMASH (Morehouse) and was introduced to the art of UX Design. I was fascinated by research, ideating, wire framing, testing, and designing mockups and solving problems.
Smash catapulted my journey into tech. In 2022, earned my Google UX Design certificate and joined tech communities that guided me through this transition. I started designing for the Law Office of J. Edward Shipp and learning and growing with Career Karma and Google Tech Equity Collective’s Black Genius Academy. Now, I'm diving into UX design, bringing Brooklyn energy, empathy, and a love for creativity.
As I transition from education to tech, from the classroom to the design studio, the lessons I've learned are not forgotten; they're transmuted into the pixels and pathways of digital landscapes. A growth mindset, a commitment to staying abreast of current trends, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge aren't relics of the past; they're the compass guiding the way forward. The impact of education isn't just in what we teach; it's in how we teach ourselves to be the best versions of who we are. This ethos, this commitment to growth, is not confined to the four walls of a classroom; it's a philosophy that transcends into the realm of user experience.
In education, we advocate for justice and equity. This advocacy doesn't end; it transforms. In UX design, it becomes the drive to create inclusive, accessible interfaces that cater to a diverse audience. The passion for ensuring every student has access to quality education now extends to ensuring every user has an enriching digital experience.
In the pulsating world of UX, the principles of design thinking echo the pedagogical strategies of education—both rooted in understanding the needs of the audience. In education, I ignited the spark for grand dreams in my students. Now, as a UX designer, I infuse that same spirit into shaping experiences that surpass user expectations. Now, as a UX designer, that storytelling finesse from the classroom seamlessly weaves into my design rationale.
So, here I am, emerging from the ever changing and inspiring field of education to the vast realm of tech, bringing with me the vibrant energy of a teacher. The sparks of creativity that lit up my English classes now illuminate wireframes and prototypes. The commitment to collaboration that was honed in school corridors is now an asset in design sprints and team projects.
As an English teacher, I used to say, "Be Lit!"—a call to be the sparks, the torch, the poetic words of inspiration. Today, in UX design, that call persists. Be lit with knowledge, spread light through designs, and watch how luminously our users—our new set of students—shine in the digital world. The journey continues, a seamless transition from one stage to another, from one act of illumination to the next.
“A growth mindset, a commitment to staying abreast of current trends, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge aren’t relics of the past”
