Guest post written by Yumi Sato, Junior Designer with the Zooniverse team at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago from May-July 2024. Prior to joining the Zooniverse, Yumi was an i.c.stars intern, an intensive 4-month program supporting pathways to economic mobility through IT and software engineering workforce skills training, job experience, and leadership development. After her role within the Zooniverse, Yumi will join the United Airlines Apprenticeship Program.

I’m coming close to the end of an incredible journey as a Junior Designer intern at the Adler museum, working alongside the amazing Zooniverse team, and I’m super excited to share my experience with you!

After completing a rigorous 16-week – 12 hour/day IT program called i.c.stars, where I discovered my passion for front-end development and design, landing this internship felt like a dream. I was especially thrilled to tackle the challenge of redesigning the Collections and Favorites of the Zooniverse website. Plus, the opportunity to work at the Adler museum, a place I hadn’t visited since I was a child, added an extra layer of nostalgia and excitement.

I remember my first day feeling the nerves creeping in. Thoughts raced through my mind about whether I was prepared enough and if I could truly make meaningful contributions. Fortunately, Sean, Laura, and the entire team immediately put my worries to the rest. Their warm welcome and genuine enthusiasm for work made all the difference. Sean, in particular, played a huge part as our mentor throughout my internship, always encouraging us to explore our creativity and providing invaluable feedback.

We quickly dove into the project to revamp the Collections and Favorites pages where I learned so many new concepts and theories along the way. Starting from scratch, we looked into user stories and feedback analysis to grasp what makes a great user experience. 

One of the most eye-opening aspects of this internship was realizing the depth of thought and effort that goes into every detail of a website. It’s not just about making things look pretty; it’s about understanding user behavior, anticipating needs, and crafting experiences that are seamless and engaging. 

Looking back, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in such a supportive environment. Beyond technical skills, I gained invaluable insights into teamwork and effective communication in a professional setting. 

This experience has deepened my passion for design and UX. It has also heightened my appreciation for well-designed websites and apps that effortlessly blend aesthetics with functionality.

As I move forward in my career, I am eager to apply everything I’ve learned at the Adler. To anyone embarking on a similar journey, I encourage you to embrace challenges and never stop learning – the rewards are immeasurable. 

Here’s to new beginnings and the exciting road ahead!