Students in Purdue Polytechnic's User Experience (UX) Design program recently completed a semester of industry-sponsored projects, earning praise from partners in software design, AI deepfake detection, sound design for biomedical tech and beyond, for delivering work that compares to professional standards.
The projects were part of the Experience Studio, a vertically integrated course that brings together students from all levels-freshmen through graduate students-to work on real-world design challenges. This semester, teams tackled 16 unique projects for a diverse roster of clients, including Microsoft, Dolby, Uline, and Johns Hopkins.
An industry sponsor from Microsoft noted being "truly blown away" by the students' performance, highlighting not just the technical ability but the "professionalism" of the team. The sponsor added that they were "excited about the foundation [the students] created," and that the work will have a lasting impact on the organization.
Nancy Rasche, an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Applied and Creative Computing (ACC) who guides the course, said that this level of engagement is what she consistently seeks in the Experience Studio.
"Due to the rapidly evolving technology sector, we need to ensure the continued competitiveness of our User Experience Design students," Rasche said. "Participation in the Experience Studio offers our students a distinct advantage by facilitating the development of their professional network with credible referrers within the companies or related organizations where they aspire to work post-graduation."
By engaging directly with clients over multiple semesters, students demonstrate their competency in current industry skills while executing real project milestones. Such real-world competency remains one of the prime goals in the Experience Studio.
"Many student project outcomes are subsequently implemented by the sponsoring company and can be directly cited or linked within their resumes and portfolios," Rasche explained. "Given the high volume of applications received for all entry-level positions, the key differentiator our students possess is a network of professional referrals."
This semester's projects showcased the breadth of the UX field. One team worked with Microsoft to design a centralized portal for academic partnerships accessible in over 50 languages. Another team collaborated with Johns Hopkins to research solutions for mitigating the risks of AI deepfakes and misinformation. A team working with BraunAbility, a leader in wheelchair-accessible vehicles, focused on simplifying the complex vehicle purchasing process through a mobile-first experience.
To ensure a steady stream of these high-quality opportunities, the program has established a partnership program with more than 10 companies, guaranteeing projects for the fall and spring semesters as well as summer internships for Purdue UX students.
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