But…Pittsburgh?
Looks like I’m heading off to grad school. I’ll be attending the Interaction Design program at Carnegie Mellon starting later this summer.
I’ve already met some amazing faculty, including Jodi Forlizzi, Marc Rettig, and Dan Boyarski (head of the program), and they’ve got me psyched about going (even if it is in Pittsburgh). I’ll be taking classes in both the Interaction Design program and the HCI program, which should mix things up a bit. I’ll be there for two years, then, who knows?
However, it does mean stepping back a bit from the day-to-day, pragmatic practice of user experience design (not too far back, though). Working at a company as large as Intuit has been a surprisingly enjoyable experience, primarily because of the emphasis given to user-centered design and by working with such a great team. Being a poor grad student in another city is going to be a bit of a change.
I’ll be leaving San Francisco in late May, taking time to travel before settling down in Pittsburgh. Drop me an email if you’re interested in user-experience-type positions at Intuit - I’m helping in the search for a replacement. And if you live in the Bay Area and need some new reading material, let me know - I have two shelves full of contemporary fiction that I’m looking to unload before leaving.
And poor Brightly Colored Food, just a year old today, and already it’s been pushed into a corner like an old toy (even with this new paint job and all). My guess is that things will continue to be sporadic around here for the next couple of months. Then, we’ll see….
Brad Lauster said,
April 18, 2002 @ 1 pm
Chad - let me say it again: congratulations!
I don’t have to tell you that CMU probably has the premiere Interaction Design program in the world…and certainly the most mature.
Maybe in another year or so, I’ll be seriously looking at Grad schools myself. When the time is right, you can count on my visit!
You and your window onto our community, Brightly Colored Food, will definitely be missed!
Best of luck!
Chad said,
April 18, 2002 @ 3 pm
To clarify - as the dying old man in says in Quest for the Holy Grail: “I’m not dead yet”. BCF may go a bit dormant while I get my new act together. But no death, just sleep.
Maybe not doing web design every day will make me needy for some weblog-style community lovin’. But again, I’m not giving up; I just need some rejuvenatin’.
Joshua Kaufman said,
April 18, 2002 @ 3 pm
Congrats Chad! Pittsburgh might be a lot different from the Bay area but it’s really a great town. I’ve never lived there myself but growing up only a few hours away, I’ve been there many many times. And Brad’s right, CMU’s interaction design program rocks. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay.
I’m actually going to grad school myself next fall, but taking a slightly different angle - HCI at University College London.
Good luck and have fun!
erin said,
April 19, 2002 @ 3 pm
congratulations Chad. Carnegie Mellon is a great school and Jodi and marc are incredible. you will be missed in the Bay area though.
Also - I would be interested in your books - drop me an email and if they are still available I’ll come get them.
Elan said,
April 21, 2002 @ 12 am
Chad, you will be missed (and I’m not just talking about BCF). I think you should use BCF to talk about your experience adjusting to academia from being a practictioner. And once you’re adjusted, you can continue to give us non-students a peak into your world.
Visit often.
- Elan