Who is Sharon Oh?
QUICK SNAPSHOT
I'm Sharon Oh, born and raised in New Jersey. I'm a first-gen, Honors student at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where I am currently pursuing my studies in Human-Computer Interaction and Business.
HOW DID I END UP HERE
I've always grown up loving art and having a passion for all things creative. I knew I wanted to pursue a creative profession because of this. Still, I also wanted a career that can enhance and improve people's lives. When I heard about UX design, it seemed like the perfect mesh of everything I was looking for: design x technology x psychology x problem-solving!
I never knew much about UX design before pursuing it professionally. However, I realized there was a need for good UX all around me. As a child of immigrant parents, I saw the struggles that they had with using certain applications on their phones due to their lack of tech-savy-ness and also language barriers. These applications can get quite overwhelming and confusing to deal with. Growing up seeing this, I have become inspired to be a designer who can design inclusively, keeping all users in mind, and finding solutions to make digital experiences more seamless and intuitive.
MY DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
I truly appreciate a good iced caramel macchiato data point. Don't you?
I believe research is the foundation of any good design, so that designs can be made with purpose and clarity. It not only lets you empathize with the users at a deeper level, but also guides you to make user-centric designs. This allows you to serve as the voice for users, especially those who may need some extra amplification.
Be like a rubber band and bounce back every time.
Sometimes designs may not end up the way you expect. Sometimes you may receive lots of pushback from the people around you. Sometimes you may wake up with a creative block and a side of imposter syndrome. Design is never about perfection, but progression and perseverance.
Listening is just as important as talking.
Hearing what others have to say — whether that be users or stakeholders or even your boss — is important to be a good listener, Being receptive is a huge part of being a good communicator and is needed to work well with other people.
I am a diligent, driven, and dedicated designer with hopes to make a positive impact on others, even if it's through the interactions seen on a screen.
PRIOR EXPERIENCES
This past summer I worked as a UX Design intern at Fiserv, a Fortune 500 fintech company, where I learned the importance of communication and proactivity, especially through the challenge of working as the sole designer on my project and the only intern in my team. I also have previous experience working as a UX researcher at the Social X Lab at NJIT, a multidisciplinary human-computer interaction lab. This opportunity even led to a publication! Read Sharon's awesome, amazing, spectacular publication with this link.
LEADERSHIP AND CREATING COMMUNITIES
I am the Secretary of the Special Interest Group on Computer Human-Interaction at NJIT, where I build up a community dedicated to exploring human-computer interaction and UX design through collaboration, shared learning, and professional development. My SIGCHI community has showed me the value of growing together and supporting each other.
I also founded and am the Vice President of the Korean Student Association on campus, where I’ve created a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all backgrounds to connect with Korean culture and shared interests. Seeing so many different cultures come together is such a beautiful thing!
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
In my free time, I love to draw, hang with friends, bake, and binge watch shows and movies. I would also consider myself a pretty avid journal-er and ponder-er… I love to think and reflect! Feel free to chat with me about UX design, my experience in research, or even if you just want to yap together!
© 2025
Created by Sharon Oh