69. From Acting to UX Design with Stephanie Terrero

Have you ever wondered how the art of acting might enhance your UX skills?

Stephanie Terrero is an award-winning actress turned UX designer. From her early days teaching herself UX design to participating in hackathons to build her portfolio to landing an internship at IBM and onward to getting her first professional UX role at EVERSANA INTOUCH, Stephanie has a lot to share.

Stephanie’s story is a testament to the power of transferable skills and the importance of embracing change.

Stephanie digs into how her acting background has been instrumental in her UX design process, highlighting the unexpected parallels between the two fields. From presenting ideas with confidence to understanding the user’s story, she shares insights on how empathy and storytelling, core components of acting, are equally vital in UX design.

One of the most fascinating parts of our discussion was exploring the idea of hackathons as a catalyst for growth in UX design. Stephanie’s experience with hackathons not only honed her skills but also provided tangible projects that enhanced her portfolio, which was a crucial step in her transition.

To all the aspiring UX designers out there, Stephanie’s advice is gold: leverage your unique background, seek out mentorship, and never underestimate the importance of storytelling. Her journey from acting to UX is a powerful reminder that the skills we accumulate in one area of our lives can open doors to entirely new worlds.

Topics:
• 05:46 – Stephanie’s story
• 08:40 – Choosing education options
• 10:44 – What would Stephanie Change?
• 13:45 – The value of hackathons
• 19:20 – Stephanie’s Internship at IBM
• 24:52 – Lessons learned a year on
• 28:00 – Transferrable skills from acting
• 30:32 – Acting vs UX design
• 33:41 – Acting classes for designers
• 35:08 – Actors getting into roles vs empathy for users
• 36:41 – Methods to learn about the character to build empathy
• 43:40 – Closing advice for junior designers

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn

Stephanie Terrero
Award Winning Multi-Hyphenate Storyteller

About Stephanie

Stephanie Terrero is a Dominican, award-winning multi-hyphenate artist from Washington Heights, New York City, and carries her New York heart wherever she goes. With a rich decade-long career in entertainment, Stephanie has garnered international acclaim, securing best actress, producer, and director titles at numerous independent film festivals. Her work, recognized at events like the HBO-sponsored Official Latino Film and Arts Festival, has earned her mentions on prominent entertainment industry platforms like Deadline.

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn

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