Statement of research interest Rupam Banik I am applying to work under you because it does not just give me an opportunity to pursue research in my interested domains; but also, because it is a program that I know would allow me to grow as an individual, contribute to my chosen fields and achieve my long-term career goals. My research is motivated by two of my favorite things: the ability to empathize with my users and come up with Ideas that would aid my users to their desired goals. My primary field of research interest is Human Computer Interaction and Cognitive Psychology involving Interaction Design, User Interface Design (UI) and Visual Design. I have ample expertise in sketching, ideation along with the ability to develop high-feds. I believe your guidance will help me hone my skills and become better at this art. I believe one of my greatest strengths is my ability to come across a problem statement as a target user and empathize with them. This has enabled me to come up with a lot of ideas that pertain to all the users. I believe the UX of a product is more appealing than the Interface Many companies tend to prioritize the visual appeal of their products over the user experience, leading to a neglect of UX design. I believe focusing solely on UI design can result in products that look great but are difficult to use, frustrating users and impacting user engagement. I want to make designs that are visually appealing as well as user friendly, ensuring the overall success of the product. Prior Relevant Work: I have always believed in working for a cause and hence I developed a case study to rectify the current usability issues in the Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) app. I found out that the app was negatively rated in the app stores. I used various design thinking and UXR methodologies such as user journey mapping, sketching, repetitive design iterations based on continuous user feedback and was able to come up with a lot of innovative ideas. My knowledge about visual design helped me come up with a high-fidelity mockup and prototype. The Project was acknowledged by the leading authorities of CMRL. Additional to this, I have also worked at India Behavioral Economics Network(IBEN) as a UX Design Intern where I was mentored by Mr. Shubham and my responsibility involved changing the look and feel of the resources section of the page. I conducted user interviews, collected valuable insights and came up with a website redesign soon after. Currently, I am working on Heartfelt that lets you choose a personalized gift for your spouse based on the data you give the model. I firmly believe that working under you can provide me with the facilities and resources I need to put my knowledge and potential to use in order to fulfil my long-term objectives and research commitments. I also believe that my eagerness to learn, and passion make me the perfect candidate for this.
