Claire Hyeeun Son impressed her supervisors at her field placement with RBC. When she graduates from the Interaction Design and Development program this spring she'll move straight into a full-time position as a digital media designer at the bank, creating web content, motion graphics and infographics.
While her strong performance on placement helped her land a permanent position, she shares the credit with her friends and mentors in the George Brown community.
"The school, the program, the professors and my classmates have helped me a lot," she says.
An application to help youth with mental health challenges
Claire is a member of a George Brown research team responsible for developing a mobile app for youth dealing with crisis in cooperation with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She said the group is focusing on youth in Peel Region because of the area's diverse population.
Claire and her team will be heading to Montreal in April to compete in the CHI 2018 Student Design Competition .
"We are the only Canadian students," she said. "Our team has done great work."
The international design competition gives students the chance to showcase interaction design and user experience skills.
Claire and the team began working on the project, called Holistic Crisis Planning Online in late 2016.
"We interviewed youth and asked what kind of an app would you like to have? What kind of app is going to help you," she said.
Users can use the app to connect with counsellors and resources. They can also use it as a type of personal diary during difficult times.
International experience
Claire was chosen to participate in the School of Design's 2017 Brazil Charrette and the 2016 Future Ways of Living Summer School .
She earned a degree in digital art and design from Kyung Hee University in Seoul and worked there for a few years before making the move to Canada.
"I like Toronto a lot. The people are very kind," she said. "There are opportunities to try everything."
