On May 21, 2025, IGNITE Students from Eastlake High School took part in a dynamic UX Design Workshop Event led by a team of women in tech from Microsoft. With guidance from Natalie Seaton, Sowmya Keshavaiah, and Maggie Soderstrom, students explored the fundamentals of user experience design through hands-on collaboration and creative problem-solving.
Working in small groups, students brainstormed real issues they see in their school and sketched out thoughtful, user-centered solutions. The focus wasn’t on coding or technical tools—instead, it was about understanding the people behind the problems and designing with empathy, a core principle of UX design. The activity encouraged students to step into others’ shoes, take multiple perspectives into account, and think critically about what makes solutions effective.
Students came prepared with big questions, including how AI is used in everyday tasks and how professionals navigate impostor syndrome. The Panelists responded with honesty and encouragement, sharing advice on staying confident in male-dominated spaces and building support networks. “Don’t feed others’ preconceptions with self-doubt,” one panelist advised. Another recommended finding and joining communities of women for strength, perspective, and inspiration.
Educator Eilene Klaka noted how much the students enjoyed collaborating, reflecting that the event not only made UX design accessible, but also showed students how their voices and ideas can drive real impact.
“I think being able to meet actual people within the field is super nice and makes me more aware of the struggles and triumphs of women in STEM. It was very eye-opening! I loved learning about other kids’ ideas and how they could be applied to our own real world and environment. It helps us become more aware of others’ perspectives.”
9th Grade IGNITE Student
“I was inspired because it gave me hope that there’s a chance for me to pursue this job. It helped me plan what I want to do and cleared up that fog. My favorite thing I learned today was the ways to design new things and the order in which brainstorming happens.”
9th Grade IGNITE Student
“It encouraged me to try paths that I usually wouldn’t have considered before, such as UX designer and interaction designer. I loved learning about the different careers and career paths, as well as getting insight into what the jobs in those fields are like.”
10th Grade IGNITE Student
“Now I feel like gender does not have to be my defining factor for a job.”
9th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
100%
INTERESTED IN STEM
89%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
89%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
92%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“It was inspiring and helped me understand that I can achieve my goals. Thank you, volunteers! My favorite was the talk about how to make our school better.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“I really enjoyed today’s workshop – it was a great balance between having fun with each other and the IGNITE professionals and learning! Thank you so much to the volunteers! They were so sweet and funny, and I would love to be like them. I learned a lot about building for consumers and working in teams.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“Before the event, I knew the surface level of UX and UI. However, I was told the true definition in-depth—the techniques, solutions, etc. I found out that there is UX in essentially everything! As mentioned before, the true meaning of UX is beyond just UI—it’s empathy and thinking from another person’s shoes.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me to research more about other careers I may be interested in, even if I have no plan toward them yet. I got many more ideas for different career branches within a broad field. Learning more technical and specific details about different career paths was the most notable. The space created was very welcoming and comfortable!” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“It really inspired me to think more about the careers I can pursue at Microsoft! I also feel happy that Microsoft, because of its design thinking focus, has a strong growth mindset, and that comforts me! I think it’s unique. My favorite thing I learned today was the discussion of AI and different job experiences. I also enjoyed the presentations from the groups.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Sowmya Keshavaiah
- Natalie Seaton
- Maggie Soderstrom
- Eilene Klaka
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.