Author: Laura Ruby

Hand pinning something on a wall

A Week in the Life of a UX Design Student

Choosing to pursue a Master’s in UX Design was one of the most exciting decisions I’ve ever made! 

Mahsa Tarang

Read on to find out why…

What UX Design Means to Me

I have always been interested in art and enjoy following galleries and art events, but in addition to this I have also had a deep passion for technology and enjoy listening to podcasts on human behaviour, understanding the reasons behind the choices we make. For me, these passions came together as I explored UX Design and ultimately drove me to apply for a course within this field. The blend of psychology, technology, and design fascinated me, and I knew this was the perfect path to channel my creative and analytical skills. 

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Graduates 2024: Jamie Singleton: Architecture BA(Hons)

I loved the aspect of circular economy that the University of Brighton really drove and the problem-solving attached with it. It presented a real challenge that I loved working to solve.

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences

Throughout my time here at Brighton the emphasis on designing with sustainability has been so incredibly strong, so in this semester I really wanted to take it to a new level. Tutors such as Duncan Baker-Brown, Glenn Longden-Thurgood, Tony Roberts and Ian Bailey have really pushed me to explore the relationships between locations and longevity as a means to create a hyperlocal, vernacular project. This semester I have explored the concept of ‘rearranging landscape’ – the idea of using onsite (or local materials) that harvested in more traditional formats and adapting them in a contemporary, yet approachable format.  

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A laptop with a computer game on the screen and a hand reaching for it

Graduates 2024: Hanna Harings-Mahendra: Product Design BSc(Hons)

Organising the course so that each student can be their individual selves makes the course well worth it.

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences

My project is called Recover Quest, it’s a rehabilitation video game for injury recovery, focusing on the hand and wrist and uses real time hand tracking. The project is partially influenced by myself as I have a condition called erbs palsy which means limited rotation and range of motion in one arm. I rarely do my exercises and wanted to find out if others felt the same and that’s how this project started!

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Marius wearing his final project, a knitted jumper

Graduates 2024: Marius Moen Holtan: Sustainable Design MA

I’ve benefitted hugely from the support from both Tom Ainsworth and Sally Sutherland during my time on the course. Tom’s constructive disruption and Sally’s deep empathy has inspired me to push and advocate for the value and impact of my work. 

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences.

My work employs knitting as methodology to explore ways of knowing and the connection between wearers, clothing and cultures. I’m influenced by the relationship between the physical and meta-physical, design narratives and the intersection between practice and research. 

Knitting swatch
Tags made out of knitted wool
Close up of knitting
Knitted jumper on wooden floor
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Stuart Green profile image

From the University of Brighton to Director at Google

Stuart Green tells us about his journey from a Software Engineering degree to Director of User Experience at one of the world’s most recognisable brands in Google.

The Brighton Effect can take your career down many different paths. It just so happens, that this particular path has led to a senior position at tech mega-giant and one of the world’s well-known names – Google.

We caught up with Stuart Green who tells us about being a mature student at Brighton along with the support he received, to where he is now and his work with Google.

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bag collection on an orange background

Graduates 2024: Angus Clifford, Product Design BSc(Hons)

The best aspect of my studies would be the strong studio culture we have on the course, I’m basically in five days a week and have a permanently allocated space which has given me the opportunity to set up what feels like a mini studio.

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences

Throughout my time as a designer, I have been exploring effective ways of rebreathing life into waste materials. I have more recently been focusing on how design can be used as a tool to raise awareness of social and environmental issues by not just developing a beautiful object, but also communicating a compelling story behind it which I believe is equally as important.

My final year project: ‘ReUSed’ is a critical design project that raises awareness of the social issues takeaway couriers face, as well as the environmental impact of their discarded uniforms.

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Student Bouchra holding a phone showing the app she designed

Computing project exhibition 2024: Bouchra Mohamed Lemine, Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence BSc(Hons)

Studying Computer Science with AI at the University of Brighton has been an invaluable experience that fostered my creativity and helped me develop a wide range of technical skills. The rigorous curriculum and hands-on projects equip students with a strong foundation in both theoretical concepts and practical applications of computer science and AI.

Tell us a bit about your project

My project was about diagnosing skin cancer using computer vision. It involved developing a convolutional neural network (CNN) model that classifies skin lesion images as benign or malignant and creating a mobile app called Skan, which enables users to scan and diagnose their skin abnormalities.

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Book event 7th June

On Friday the 7th June we are holding an event in Mithras House to celebrate three brilliant new books that have recently published by colleagues from the Architecture and Interior Architecture programmes at University of Brighton.

Event details: 12 midday, Mithras House, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4AT.

Please email Professor Andrew Viljoen: a.viljoen@brighton.ac.uk to book your place on this fascinating event.

Urban Food Mapping book cover

The event kicks off with two concurrent workshops/ seminars about Urban Food Mapping, and Domesticity Under Siege. At 4pm we will host a joint book event and reception including a conversation chaired by curator and consultant, Vanessa Norwood about the three books drawing together strands that connect them. 

We will then join the private view opening of Architecture and Design End of Year Show.

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Research team and John McFall outside zero gravity plane

Parabolic flight research with European Space Agency

This project is investigating the Gravitational Effects on Lower Limb Perfusion. It developed following a meeting as part of the Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices, where I was introduced to Nicolas Miche, who has previous experience with parabolic flight research. We were interested in exploring microgravity research and the group wanted to explore the field of wound healing and microgravity exposure. After some discussion and research into the area I identified that the factor that would be suitable for investigating in the time frames available would be blood circulation.

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Picture of Joel Wallace, architecture alumnus

Importance of community spirit at Brighton and beyond

Architecture graduate Joel Wallace Erabu shares how his experience at the University of Brighton has led him to help disadvantaged communities and inspire the next generation of architects. 

Joel Wallace Erabu tells us about how being at Brighton university, and his experience of the city itself, gave him a powerful sense of community – and how he has applied this to his own international career and principles.

In addition to the multiple impressive industry recognitions he has received, he also donates a lot of time to mentoring future architects and has spent time working on charitable projects to help disadvantaged communities back home in sub-Saharan Africa.

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