My name is Maxine Tam, and I am a junior majoring in graphic design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Recently, I completed a semester abroad at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where I focused on industrial design, particularly with an emphasis on human-centered design in the context of product design.

My passion for design sparked late junior year of high school, during my capstone engineering course, where I was introduced to human-centered product design. It was at that when I realized design was an avenue for both self-expression and creative problem-solving. All of my experiences, thus far, have constructed my love for human-centered design and contributed to my decision to study design by shaping both my passionate and pragmatic selves.

What captivated me the most about design was its inherent potential for fostering cross-functional collaboration across a variety of fields, and here I am embarking on a journey to transcend conventional boundaries of design while constantly pushing my creative limits to discover the next best thing!

With an unwavering sense of curiosity and commitment to a growth mindset, I’m eager to explore and tackle new avenues and challenges in the realm of design. I aspire to broaden my horizons by exposing myself to a variety of novel experiences to become a more inclusive designer and innovator who can draw upon a range of analogical experiences to bolster my creative potential.