- 2 min read

Erika Silvestri: from arts to Service & Interaction Designer

Social media handle(s): LinkedIn

A few words about me:

A middle-aged, tanned woman with brown, wavy, medium-length hair and a big smile stands outdoors in a sunlit area with autumn foliage in the background. She is wearing a black top and a light green beaded necklace.

I'm a service and interaction designer at Mineral Empathy, enthusiastic about life-centred, empathic solutions that help people live better. I'm also really into "pixel perfect" and grids, as the previous 20 years of my career were spent deep into graphic and web design.

I love my daughter, enjoy all kind of artistic expressions, yoga, and the beach. I'm also a forever student and curious person who takes notes (literally) of everything.

Are there any professional experiences you've had that are quite unexpected compared to what you do nowadays?

I've always worked close to tech, but not as close as now. Back in the day, while working in graphic and web design studios, tech teams were aside, and I've always managed to bring them closer and work together. Luckily, today, tech and design professionals work together in multidisciplinary teams.

Is your background more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or non-STEM related?

I have a non-STEM-related background regarding the basis of my education; I got a bachelor of arts and then went straight to a visual communication institute. Then, after many years, I earned a master's degree in user experience and interaction design, which definitely made me more familiar with STEM-related careers.

Where did your professional journey start?

My professional journey began as a junior art director at an advertising agency, the first job I got after finishing my visual communication studies.

How did you get into tech and what motivated you?

I got into tech motivated by the passion I felt when designing any kind of digital solutions and the fast-changing pace we’re currently experiencing with technology.

Find a place that believes in and works from the perspective of human-centred technology.

Have you experienced any 'career in tech' challenges / stereotypes?

Luckily, no.

Two middle-aged women place sticky notes on a white wall covered with yellow and pink notes in a shiny room with a big window in the background. The one at the front, tanned with brown, wavy, medium-length hair and glasses, is wearing a striped yellow and brown sweater and a beaded multicolour bracelet. The one at the back is white with curly black hair and a white shirt.

What you wish you knew before getting started in tech...

More general knowledge regarding specific terms, jargon and differences between technologies.

What has been your biggest 'wow!' moment related to working in tech so far?

Without a doubt, discovering there are many ways of using basic, daily technology to help people live better.

What do you like / not like about working in tech?

As said before, I like that almost everything is possible, and I don’t like how difficult it is to follow a conversation without knowing tech jargon (LOL).

What's been your favourite / most memorable / funniest 'career in tech' moment so far?

My favourite moment is when you confirm that the mockups and prototypes work as expected, even though the visual is not OK.

And to wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to give to others interested in a career in tech?