My first year at HCDE, UW

This past academic year of 2024-2025, I began a new chapter in the U.S., full of excitement and curiosity. As I wrap up my first year in the University of Washington, Human-Centered Design & Engineering, I’d love to share five personal reflections from this transformative time:

1. UX is not just design. It’s a mindset!

I used to think User Experience was about making sleek wireframes on Figma. After attending thought-provoking events such as ConveyUX and WiUX (Women in UX) at UW, I see it’s about obsessively uncovering users’ core problems and iterating toward the right solutions. UX isn’t just a design function — it’s a way of thinking that should be applied to everyday to create a better life.

2. AI is just a tool, and curiosity is the driver.

AI tools helped me save time and broaden my thinking. During my free time and going to mini events from bolt.new at AI2 Incubator, I experimented, failed, and re-learned — including how to write better prompts. I even built a cute birthday party webpage from scratch! Not knowing how to code or design isn’t an excuse anymore — it’s about trying and building anyway.

🎉 My cute birthday invitation built with Lovable: https://invite-joy-junction.lovable.app/

3. Ethics and responsibility aren’t optional.

Coming from a fintech PM background with lots of regulations and compliance issues, I’ve always cared about privacy and security. And after taking Computing Ethics by Katharina Reinecke, it has become crystal clear that I want to build trustworthy and ethical technology. It will take time, intention, and awareness. Despite a limited power as an individual, I believe that we can all play a role in shaping a safer and more responsible tech environment.

My mission?
To empower humans to leverage technology with confidence and trust!

4. Entrepreneurship is for everyone.

I never thought of myself as someone who would start a business. But entrepreneurship isn’t just about startups — it’s about being curious, noticing gaps, and acting on them. I’ve met incredible entrepreneurs from diverse events and seminars, including WE Lead Program(Winoma Kantamanemi, MPA), Changbal Society Hackathon, and many more. They have taught me that I can be the entrepreneur of my own life. Starting something new is scary — but growth lives in that fear.

5. The best is yet to come.

This quote is my birthday present from the yoga instructor. Yes, Life is full of ebbs and flows — you just need to stay resilient through the tides. I trust that my current actions are shaping the best version of myself. The best is on the way!!

To know more about me, connect me on Linkedin! :)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiyae-choi/