‘Tech is still a male-dominated industry, but I find that a good male-female balance is better in the workplace.’
Ditte, UI/UX designer, explains why she chose IMD
Ditte Van Lishout studied Interactive Multimedia Design (IMD) in Mechelen and is now a UI/UX designer at Unikoo for De Lijn. Along with another UX designer, she is developing a screen design and concept. Her job is to create the visuals, with a strong focus on branding. Her work ranges from drawing screens to designing icons and typography. Below she shares her experience with the programme and explains why students should choose IMD.
What makes IMD different from other programmes?
Ditte: You get all the tools you need, but you decide how to use them. As a student, I got to experience both design and development. The lecturers see potential in everyone and try to get the most out of their students. You have the freedom to choose your own direction, but you're also challenged to be the best you can be. Everything about the programme is geared towards current trends and developments in the online world.
The lecturers see potential in everyone and try to get the most out of their students. They're more like coaches than teachers.
Is the programme more theoretical or more practical in nature?
Ditte: The programme is really hands-on. The lecturers are more like coaches than teachers. Of course, you get the relevant theory, but because of the frequent feedback they give you on projects, I feel like they're really involved in your process. You’re mainly assessed on your growth. They give you the tools you need; you decide how to use them.
You were selected for Designosource, our practice enterprise. What was that like?
Ditte: Designosource is an agency you can work at in your final year. It gives you a great impression of what it’s like to work at a real firm, from design and development to project management and scrum. Taking joint responsibility for a project and holding yourself accountable is important. It can be pretty confronting at times, but it's a fascinating experience!
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You also did an internship. Did you work as a UI/UX designer or in a different position?
Ditte: I interned at the web agency Roedel, where I did a lot of UI/UX design, but also development. The design work ranged from buttons and animations to images, input fields, and other user interfaces. During the development phase, my job was to convert front-end code, which is essentially what you see on the screen. It was definitely a collaborative effort, but it was also fun to take the technical lead and think in wireframes. An internship is a great way to prepare for the real world and can help you avoid unnecessary surprises along the way.
Programming is a way of thinking. The moment you experience it you should embrace it and know you’ll succeed.
Design is for women and development is for men: is that a fair assumption? How did you decide between the two?
Ditte: I chose design pretty quickly, although I also found development to be surprisingly fun. Analytic and math skills were never my strong suit and kind of put me off. I prefer programming and developing the technical side of apps and websites. Looking back, I definitely enjoyed it, but I thought it would be better to choose a specific profession. There’s absolutely no reason for women to be afraid of coding, because it doesn't require any prior knowledge. Tech is definitely a male-dominated industry, but I find that a good male-female balance is better in the workplace. Programming is a way of thinking. The moment you experience it you should embrace it and know you’ll succeed
Did this story inspire you to find out more about the Interactive Multimedia Design bachelor? Visit our website or check out our online and offline information sessions.
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