Sophomore Parker Cobb has been able to combine their interest in technology and passion for design into a future career by majoring in user experience (UX) at MSOE. This area of study focuses on the digital landscape and how to create environments and products in a way that is friendly and accessible by digital consumers. 

“User Experience is the perfect accumulation of all of the things I love,” said Cobb. “The program at MSOE allows me to create experiences people will interact with every day.”

Cobb’s curiosity in technology led them to develop a mobile application in high school called Q Guide which is a resource about LGBTQ+ topics. The app provides educational tools in an easily accessible format and strives to foster a more inclusive and accepting community. The app is especially beneficial to help parents of those who are coming out.

Their app got the attention of several non-profits, including The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a crisis and suicide prevention organization for young LGBTQ+ people that provides 24/7 support and resources. Cobb heard from a casting team that they were interested in including them as part of a documentary for the organization. 

Cobb spent two days in Los Angeles, California to film and share about the app and their own experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The documentary, Stories of Pride: Pride in Action, features several stories from members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community discussing how they are working to build a more inclusive society.  

“It was an amazing experience because I got to meet other young activists like me and become part of the amazing support system that The Trevor Project provides. I got a better understanding of big productions that are so central to the LA experience and as someone who has always been interested in acting, it was so incredible to see the inner workings and all the work that happens in front of and behind the screen.”

Cobb has also been fortunate to expand their knowledge in UX through an internship with Earthjustice. On the company’s workplace experience and sustainability team, they are working on redesigning Earthjustice’s internal website.

At MSOE, Cobb is the founder and president of the UX Club and a member of Alpha Omega Epsilon, a Greek-life student organization. In their free time they enjoy crochet, coding and nostalgic off-air TV shows. Their app Q Guide is also part of their larger business, Sunny Parks, where they are working to create inclusive products and solutions. After graduation, they hope to manage a UX team with a focus on front-end design and want to strive to make the interactions people have with technology more diverse and accessible. 

You can learn more about their story and watch their scene from the documentary here.