The Product Design Program at the Western Michigan University Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation (RIDI) is taking innovation to a whole new level with its unique, interdisciplinary program preparing graduates to lead in the field of industrial design. Learn more about the program’s upcoming graduates that are open to opportunity in this Student Profile Series leading up to the RIDI Senior Show, April 21st.
What is the best lesson you learned from your classes, an internship, an instructor, or a mentor?
Fail fast and take it in stride. You don’t learn from trying to be perfect. The mistakes I’ve made along the way so far have turned out to be the greatest learning experiences during my time at Western Michigan University.
What is the strongest skill you bring to an employer?
My strongest skill I bring to an employer is my positivity and drive. I am always ready to take on a challenge, even when it means learning something entirely new.
What type of project or industry interests you?
I am really interested in design for social change. Projects that require using the design thinking process and incorporating that into products/solutions that better the lives of people in our community is what I am passionate about.
What project in your portfolio are you most proud of?
My razor designed for people with spasticity was a really great project that taught me a lot about the importance of connecting with your user. I had the ability to work with a sensitive population where empathy and taking your own opinion out of the equation were crucial. I am proud of it because the end result helped make that population feel seen, while also teaching me about what it is like to design a product start to finish.
What/who is one person, place, or experience that had a positive impact on you during your time at Western Michigan University or in the Kalamazoo community?
Being a Resident Assistant on campus for 2 years was an experience that taught me leadership and communication skills that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. Working on a team to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for first year students as they transitioned to college life helped develop my abilities to be adaptable and ready to handle any situation thrown my way. I got to work with and grow to understand people from every background imaginable. Bringing those skills into my design work drastically improved my products connections to the people I was creating for.
Learn more about McKenna
Favorite Projects
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