Be a UX Desiger with Forensic Chemistry Background

Edith Yim, a self-taught UX Designer, switching from a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Chemistry. Find her true passion in the world of user centric product design.

Alway Observe Things Around Us

I have always loved sitting in the park or coffee shop just watching the world go by and observing people. In addition, my pastime interest is photography, I alway observe and capture the special moment for people. Throught the observation and photography, there are some insights generated by thinking about why people behave the way they do. This natural interest in human behaviour led me down the forensic path in college.

From Forensic Field to UX Design

Since college I have spent 4 years studying forensic chemistry in undergraduate degree, with a focus on the forensic and criminological aspect of crime scene investigation. This experience has given me the opportunity to experience several different job roles including those in criminal justice system as research internship. Moreover, after graduation, I did have a chance to get into the Forensic field, I have been working as R&D for cosmetic products for almost 4 years. (I will write another blog post about how R&D helps me to be a UX Designer.)

Interestingly, before 2020, UX resonated very little with me. I had never heard of the term user experience (UX), but I would soon discover that this was to become my new direction. The work undertaken in the lab is stable and independent work, but for me it emphasized my own passion. I needed to reassess my ambitions.

My education and experience enabled me to develop my skills in experimental methods, observation, note-taking and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.

Getting Out of Comfort Zone

For me, seeing how I can combine scientific methodology into a ux design and user research role has ignited my passion to understand everyday negative digital experiences and find out what people truly are looking for and what are their frustrations and motivations. Since working as a UX Designer in Electric Potential I have already had the pleasure of working closely with the amazing team and those who are looking for change and community. Quite a world away from my original life path, but one I feel is my true calling.

“ The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it, keep looking. Don't settle. — Steve Jobs”

The scientific problem -solving approach and crtical thinking I learnt from forensic are transferable to UX designer. If I treated UX design like a crime scence investigation (observation, evidence collection, documentation, analysis and report) , I will apply the follwing practices into my design process:

• Discove what the the user's painpoint and frustrations and identfy the root of the problem
• Analyze insights based on observation, user research and background research
• Provide insights presentation in the meeting to explain the design goal and priority
• Use qualitative or qualitative data to support the design decision
• Maintaining design systems iterations/ documentation
• Performing quality checks on moderate procedure or templates