Emily Stewart is a multimedia designer.
And I strongly believe that by making things that are usable by people with disabilities, we create a more enjoyable experience for all users.
It's not surprising I ended up in a fast-paced industry. My obsession with multimedia can be traced back to when I was four years old and proclaimed that I had “outgrown” my new VTech Kids computer after a month of use. I yearned for something that kept up, something that catered to the speed of my curiosity. I began to realize the power of self-learning and how technology could fulfill that need.
Being born and bred in Arkansas undoubtedly influenced my approach to design. There’s something nourishing about Southern summers and creaky, old porch swings. Growing up, my sisters and I had all the time in the world to entertain ourselves. Feelings of boredom were suppressed by reading everything I could: books, people, their behavior, my environment. I learned the art of empathy and crawling into a person’s skin and imagining things from their point of view.
Years later, after I was introduced to design, I realized my empathetic ability could be used to my advantage. The more I learned about design, the more I fell in love with the craft. I have found my purpose and wake up everyday excited to work.
My appetite for knowledge, however, has only grown throughout the years. I admit that I'm still working on my irrational fear of being stranded without reading material, which makes for a heavy carry-on bag.
Design Foundation
Master of Arts
- University of Missouri
- February 2014
- Research Focus
- Accessibility in news web design
“She has a voracious appetite for information, eagerly devouring both technical and conceptual writings, and seeks to learn by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
—Charlie Triplett, Employer