Martin-John Hearty

An exciting shift that I’m seeing is that UX/UI is being taken more seriously at the executive level. 

Career questions with Martin-John

What do you love most about your work, and what inspired you to pursue this career in the first place? 

Design brings me joy. I get to create new products and solve complex problems.

From an early age, I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a creative career. I was especially drawn to understanding how design can influence behaviour and help people achieve their goals. 

Looking back, what skills have been the biggest gamechangers in your career? 

Creative problem-solving, active listening, asking better questions and persistence. 

Concordia gave me the right set of tools to start my career in the field I wanted to pursue. 

What is a standout memory from your time at Concordia? 

In my final year, while working on a project, I realized I was enjoying designing the website to present the project far more than the project itself. That was a defining moment for me and made me realize that I wanted to pursue a career as a UX/UI designer.

If you could give your younger self one powerful piece of advice, what would it be? 

Not everything needs to be so efficient all the time. Building your career, friendships, relationships, and passions, the things that matter most, can take longer than expected, and that’s okay.

What’s the most exciting shift happening in your industry right now? 

An exciting shift that I’m seeing is that UX/UI is being taken more seriously at the executive level. There’s a growing understanding of the importance and impact of a strong user experience beyond just making a product look pretty. 

Feeling inspired?

• Join Computation Arts Student Society (CASS) or explore other student groups and initiatives.
• Experiment with your design project in professional labs, studios and editing suites.
• Build your digital skills with FutureBound. 
• Connect with Career Counselling & Education Transitions to plan your career path.