Isabel Herczeg

I am a senior Design and Environmental Analysis major at Cornell University, where my focus is the study of how people interact with products, interfaces, and spaces. Contrary to common misconceptions of design, design is not just about creating beautiful things, but also allowing for the beauty in our everyday products and environment to lie in their ability to solve the larger issues we face as a society, such as global climate change and institutional racism. Design is by nature, an empathetic act of understanding others, and crafting a safer, more supportive, and more efficient world for people of all abilities to live in. My interest in design began in urban planning and architecture, and has evolved to be at the intersection of psychology and human-computer interaction design (user experience design - UX). My most recent design projects include an augmented reality (AR) app that teaches children about endangered species, and interactive museum installations that allow people to learn about the history of furniture design in an engaging way. After graduation, I plan on working as a digital product designer, using principles of psychology and design to increase human health, happiness, connectivity, and productivity.

Outside of academics, I compete for the D1 Cornell Gymnastics team, and am on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, advocating for better health resources to be available to student athletes. I have earned the title of First Team All American two years in a row, and hold two Cornell records, setting the highest floor score to date, and the highest debut event score. As a junior Olympic gymnast for twelve years and now a First Team All American collegiate competitor, I have learned to balance vigorous academics with a demanding sports schedule, as well as the values of perseverance, teamwork, and integrity. As a designer, I want to make products that are easy to use and captivating, mimicking the “flow state” of peak athletic performance. In my free time, I enjoy hiking in the beautiful rural surroundings in upstate New York, volunteering at a local food packaging drive called Feed My Starving Children, and developing my own film photography.