Electra Szmukler
Undergraduate
Hi! My name is Electra Szmukler and I am a student studying Industrial Design at Georgia Institute of Technology. Through my time here, I have grown passionate about researching user needs in order to focus on creating a well rounded user centered design. I find myself studying products around me and trying to decipher what innate need they are trying to satisfy in an individual's life. I am interested in exploring the realm of UX/UI design and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team from ideation to the production of products.
My interest in design stemmed from a Disneyland waiting line, where I was captivated by the detail that went into the experience before the ride itself. To this day, my curiosity and creativity draw me to uncover new and exciting ways to explore the world around me, especially if it means approaching problems in ways opposite to what others expect. I love to follow my curiosity and see where it leads me, to discover what inspires me and then pursue my passions. Along the way, I would like to think I am leaving the world a little more enjoyable than how I found it.
Armonia
Class: Sophomore Studio | Instructor: Steve Chininis
Armonia: A bench to help elevate the experience of violinists practicing in their home environment.
Through my research, I gathered that violinists rarely utilize the backrest of their chairs, often take pauses to annotate music and remain seated for long periods of time. Orchestra and musician chairs have remained similar for many years and I wanted to try and address this static gap in the market.
Armonia provides space to rest one’s violin briefly while taking breaks, as well as the flexibility to change the height of the rest for different size violins. The top panel of the bench is angled to alleviate lower back pain by keeping the hips above the knees. In addition, the lack of back rest is shown to promote better posture which also helps alleviate back pain. By creating a product more like a bench than a chair, it is wide enough to allow for more movement while playing.
Snowcial
Solo Project
Snowcial: An app designed to connect snowboarders and skiers.
This was a personal project that I worked on to explore the field of UX/UI design, as well as learn more about softwares such as AdobeXD and Figma. This process involved ideation, user interviews, research and prototyping. I decided to interview potential users to focus on their needs. These needs included wanting to meet others who shared their same interest, but needing a sense of security with these connections.
The main features in this prototype include the ability to search for those in your local area, the ability to view others profiles and make plans to hit the slopes through messaging and calendar settings. In addition, the ability to review others was created in order to help future users understand those they are interacting with better and feel more safe about meeting others.
VIP App Design Project
Solo Project
Virtually Integrated Project: Helping non native English speakers better understand what their medication is for and when to take it. Designed with the Clarkston Clinic VIP Team.
This work is created through a long term team project that is split into different sections in order to better tackle this problem. These include making pill cards that are icon based for a variety of medications, conducting user research and app development.
My focus has been on user experience and interface of an app that organizes an individual’s pill cards. Through this app, patients are able to see their current and old medications, as well as set reminders for when to take their medications. Creating an app allows for a transition from physical pill cards to digital which eliminates issues such as wear and tear and misplacing them.