Kristina Bosland, HFID ’01 is the kind of person friends come to when they need to talk through a problem; and she is naturally inclined to help. That carries over to her career in online user experience (UX) as she strives to understand the how and why of customer interactions — and creates ways to make them better. 

"When I stumbled across human factors, I thought it seemed cool to get paid to design things and think about how to make it easier for people to use them. It sounded like a natural progression for me, so I enrolled in the HFID master’s program at Bentley.”

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Ryan Day, class of 2015, discovered user experience when he was an analyst at LinkedIn. While attending a hackathon, he met a designer and the two clicked. This mentor thought he’d be a good match for UX and eventually encouraged him that the best way to be successful in the field was to pursue a master’s degree. 

“Bentley approaches design-learning differently. The HFID program is for those interested in digging deep into Human Factors science, not merely visual design. This is not an art program; it’s a science-centric education. I respond well to challenges, and Bentley truly showed me I was capable of more than I ever thought possible. I was exposed to subjects and concepts I would never have found on my own.”

Renee Keith, class of 2017, was working in health care and witnessing first-hand the overall patient frustration that runs through the industry. A friend studying at Bentley suggested she look into a degree in UX, kicking off a journey that eventually led to a successful career at Uber.

"The hands-on learning from beginning to end. Collaborating with my fellow classmates and working with real clients from some of the largest Fortune 500 companies was my favorite part of the program. Nearly every class offered this real-world experience, which truly prepares you for the UX field after grad school."

Tomer Sharon, class of 2008, saw himself as bringing "truth to the table" in the new product development cycle - ideally in time to make a difference in the outcome. He pursued the Bentley HFID program to learn from people who pioneered the profession and work hands-on in state-of-the-art learning labs.

"At Bentley, we consulted with actual clients on real-world problems and learned to understand their business goals. That experience has been invaluable."

As an undergraduate, Latoya Hall, class of 2016, studied Design and Visual Communication at San Francisco State. While spending part of her senior year abroad at Brunel University of West London, she learned the value of incorporating ergonomics and human factors into the design process.

"The program is so flexible, which is another reason why I chose Bentley. I’ve taken classes in Boston, San Francisco, and online — all while working a full-time job. This hybrid approach is perfect for those who want or need to work while they’re in the program."

With a background in psychology and media studies, Ben Huggins, class of 2013, considered Bentley's MSHFID program ideal preparation for the emerging field of user experience design.

"Bentley’s HFID program was so intriguing to me because it grounds design in the context of real-world business. Taking classes taught by industry leaders and working closely with companies on their design challenges was a great way to learn. Bentley also has an energy about it. From the virtual class options to the rapidly expanding west coast campus, it’s a program that’s constantly innovating on it’s own model -- not unlike the UX field itself."

For Neeta Goplani, class of 2008 experience design is a puzzle combining creativity and business. Goplani credits Bentley’s master’s program in Human Factors in Information Design with giving her the well-rounded skill set to succeed. Bentley’s integrated curriculum, state-of-the-art learning labs, and world-class faculty put her in a position to become a leader in her field.

"The Experience Design lab at Bentley was instrumental in my career. It gave me client-management, project-management and research skills that have helped me immensely."