Jamie Rae Bailey
Email: jamieraebailey@gmail.com
Portfolio website: jamieraebailey.com
Phone: 641-750-8520
Home Address: 120 SW 5th St., #108, Des Moines, IA 50309
Letter of Intent
Masters of Professional Studies in UX Design
Admissions
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 W Mount Royal Ave
Baltimore, MD 21217
Dear Admissions Board,
I am writing to you to express my interest in the Masters of Professional Studies in User Experience. I obtained two bachelor degrees from Drake University in 2011, which lead to about 8 years experience in graphic design and 3 years in web design. It’s exciting to see all the UX opportunities that have exploded recently. I wanted to get on the UX track several years ago, but I didn’t know what to do or where to go. As a result, I left my web design career in 2016 to pursue other opportunities that I thought would bring me fulfillment. Now, I’ve realized it was a mistake to give up so easily, but I’m here to right that wrong and get my feet wet again.
I am the product of a middle class family that works in manufacturing. My mother led initiatives for lean management back in the late 90s and early 2000s for Lennox Industries in Marshalltown, Iowa. This was her utopia, and she couldn’t help herself but to incorporate it into our home. If you’re not familiar with this, it is a long-term approach to organization that continually seeks improvement to boost efficiency and quality in manufacturing. Therefore, when you have a mother that is constantly pushing you to think smarter and organize your life around how you live--it’s only natural to gravitate to UX after pursuing a career in web design. If it wasn’t for her, I would’ve never started thinking the way I do. I am drawn to problem solving to make life easier.
I’m aware I’m going to need to play catchup in some areas with my peers, but I’m ready to put in the work. MICA was the first school to grab my attention. This program is a perfect match because it allows me to focus on my interests, to continue my formal education, and maintain my full-time work schedule. The education I receive through the MICA program will help me unlock my full potential within UX design.
Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I hope you see a future for me here like I do, I’m ready and excited to learn.
Sincerely,
Jamie R. Bailey