Technology should never make things more complicated.

Hello! I’m Dana Reik and I am a graduate student focusing on UX Design at the University of Michigan.

My background in IT, film studies, and design provide me with a unique perspective to approaching any problem. The empathy needed in IT combined with the storytelling of film studies and the creativity of design thinking have molded me into the designer I am today.

I am currently working on my Master of Science in Information focusing on UX Design at the University of Michigan. Previously I completed my BA at the University of California, Santa Barbara in Film and Media Studies.

I have been working on the technology team at IDEO (an international design consultancy) for the last four years where I have been exposed to the foundations of design thinking while constantly working to improve internal IT systems and internal users’ experience with technology. Before IDEO, I worked at Apple as a Genius (Mac technician) on the front-lines of customer service repairing relationships as well as technological problems. I also worked at a video game market research firm where I ran focus groups and interacted with clients from companies such as Activision Blizzard, EA, and Zynga.

My design philosophy stems from my belief that technology should never be a stopping point or barrier for the task you are trying to accomplish. Instead, it should be an afterthought; something that is used to get you to your end goal, but never something that is going to make your process harder, longer, or more complicated. Your design should not be adding extra steps to someone getting to their goal, it should be shortening or eliminating those steps.