Adriana So

Before I knew about UX, I thought I wanted to go into law. I have always cared about social justice, and in high school I was the president of my school’s Amnesty International club.

One of my favorite classes was public policy. My group had to identify a problem, speak with different stakeholders, and come up with our own solution. I loved talking to stakeholders and finding ways to address the issue while considering their constraints.

Later, while interning at the Bergen County Commissioner’s Office, I realized how much I enjoyed working with people and creating things that could help them. That was when I found UX. It felt like the intersection of psychology, research, technology, creativity, and problem-solving.

What I care about most is still that mix: understanding people, designing carefully, and building something new. Lately, that has meant product work, research on how people use AI, and tools I build myself when the thing I need doesn’t exist yet.

For two years, I was the Opportunities Liaison for NJIT’s SIGCHI chapter, where I loved helping other students find opportunities to learn and grow. Outside of design, I love collecting little trinkets, coloring, and playing Stardew Valley.