070: Harnessing Life Experiences in Design with Shaheena Attarwala

Shaheena Attarwala defends a woman’s right to design her own future, especially in the face of fierce adversity and opposition. She champions living ruthlessly amid oppressive whims and societal precepts. She’s a magnet that brings the issues forward and carries the water for anyone who dreams of raising their standards and never settling for status-quo expectations. She’ll persuade you to hunker down, prove your grit, and rattle some cages if you have to. This episode is not just about design. So make your way or step aside. It’s time to hear her metaphoric journey, examine your own life, and bring more awareness to poverty and oppression. In other words…sh*t’s about to get real!

Origin Story (3:56) A Kid's View (6:25) Oppression In Cultures (8:42) Ah-Ha Moments (11:38) Family Relations (13:48) How Did You Find Design? (16:52) What's Driving You? (20:53) Design Influence (22:26) Legal Skills and Design (33:04) Gaining Empathy (35:29) Don Norman (40:59) Teaching Curiosity (45:45) Harnessing Life Experiences (59:36) Story Banks (1:02:49) Design Superpower (1:06:46) Design Kryptonite (1:07:20) UX Superhero Name (1:08:32) Habit of Success (1:08:58) Recommended Book (1:10:15) Taking Risks (1:12:24) Best Advice (1:14:26)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/070

This episode is brought to you by UC Irvine’s executive master’s program for Human-Computer Interaction and Design. As a user experience professional, UCI’s hybrid program will allow you to maintain your job while pursuing the master’s degree that will propel your career forward. Visit userdefenders.com/uci to learn more.

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