Sydney Leek
Junior in Human-Centered Design and Engineering Program
University of Washington
Me, and some of my photography.
My name is Sydney Leek. I am a junior in the Human-Centered Design and Engineering program at The University of Washington, Seattle. I enjoy bird-watching and visual arts such as photography and drawing, and enjoy applying visual design into my work. I have also taken a number of scientific, mathematical, programming, and other technical courses, to gain a strong technical base for my work. I also believe the human side is extremely important in user experience and design. I have an interest in designing for disabilities, and designing across cultural differences for groups such as indigenous peoples.
Programming Projects
I have completed various programming projects in my courses, and worked with Java, Python, R, and creating web pages with HTML and CSS. I challenge myself to learn new skills or hone my knowledge of new programming tools I encounter.
1. Musical Data Analysis
For my final project in Technical Foundations for Informatics, I made a data analysis project with a team. Our project analyzed Spotify music data using R Studio. My part of the project specifically analyzed music data across different countries, to find trends and differences.
2. Youtube Article Finder
For my final project in Interactive Systems Design and Technology, I designed a website to provide additional information and resources on Youtube. My project used Python, and combined the Youtube, Wikipedia, and News APIs to provide users with relevant articles on video topics.
Visual Design Projects
I have also completed various visual design and communication projects in my courses. I have gained experience into effective visual communication, prototyping with Figma, and applying visual design to improve user friendliness, sustainability, and other challenges.
1. Cascade Bicycle Club Brand and Interface Redesign
For my Visual Communication in Human-Centered Design course, I created redesigns for various aspects of Cascade Bicycle Club's website including logos, icons, and their ride registration interface. The redesign helped convey community, fun, and the Pacific Northwest. The Ride Registration interface also improved visual hierarchy and distinction to make it easier for users to navigate through registration.
2. Timeless Tea Sustainable Packaging Redesign
For my Advanced Communication in Human-Centered Design course, I created a redesign to improve the sustainability of Timeless Tea's bubble tea cups. The redesign added biodegradable materials and reusable containers, while also promoting a stronger brand identity with visual design and commitments to sustainability within a familiar product.
Writing Project - Indigenous Peoples in
Arctic Governance Final Proposal
For my Indigenous Peoples in Arctic Governance course, I submitted a final proposal advocating for community-based participatory research as a tool for better indigenous autonomy and project outcomes. Studying the participatory design process throughout my Human-Centered Design courses has helped give me a strong ethical framework for designing for different user's needs, identities, and perspectives.
Thank you for viewing my work!
