Miriam Pyttel: With a passion for interactive storytelling
With a background in communication design, Miriam Pyttel is now studying Interaction Design at Malmö University, and has a special interest in interactive storytelling.
1. What do you find exciting about technology right now?
Collaborative digital tools and platforms. Since the current situation does not allow us to work physically side by side in many cases, every tool that enables and facilitates remote collaboration is more than welcome. In this regard, it is interesting to see which aspects of the physical workspace can be transferred to the digital world and which are bound to interactions on site. I think that many in-between moments and conversations get lost in the migration to the virtual workplace. At the same time it offers new, interesting opportunities for collaborating.
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2. Why or how did you choose this path?**
With my background in communication design, I was keen to create media that people would want to engage with to gain information, be entertained or that can broadcast an impactful message. As such, I enjoy experimenting with layout design, illustration, or animation. Interaction design offers an additional layer of dialogue that has seemingly endless possibilities to explore. I am interested in how designed interactions can affect and influence people, be it physically or emotionally.
3. In retrospect to the past few years, what would you do differently?
In retrospect to my undergraduate studies, I would have liked to focus on interaction design earlier on. The program offered courses in quite a broad spectrum of design disciplines that we could freely choose from. On the one hand, it was a good opportunity to dabble in various design fields to figure out my strengths and preferences. On the other hand, it was easy to get lost in trying out different directions. As such, it took me a while to figure out which field I want to specialize in and I missed out on a few interesting projects that focused on interactive design.
4. What do you feel the proudest of in your career?
Working in different non-design-related fields. While I have set my eyes on becoming a designer early on, I always thought that peering into completely different fields provide me with some valuable experiences. For example, I did a volunteer service at a youth center abroad or worked part-time at a funeral service for six months. Aside from gaining interesting insights into other fields of work, it helped me to grow as a person and to generally keep an open mind.
5. What is the biggest daily challenge in the field of tech?
I try not to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of apps and devices available. Being able to choose from a wide array of tools for nearly any possible need that might arise certainly has its benefits. But it is so easy to get sidetracked by it all. Sometimes I think about uninstalling and deleting everything that I do not absolutely need… Though, for me, it has become hard to differentiate between what is necessary and what has simply become a (probably bad) habit.
6. What has been your favorite project so far and why?
My bachelor thesis, I would say. I developed a prototype for an app that focuses on interactive storytelling, a subject I have been interested in for quite a while now. The project allowed me to combine various personal fields of interest, namely illustration, storytelling, and interaction design. Through storytelling, it is possible to convey the same information or message in very different ways which is something that I find quite fascinating. Especially regarding education, I see many possible applications.
Read more about Miriam Pyttel here:
https://se.linkedin.com/in/miriam-pyttel-1193b4205
About Greater Spaces
Greater Spaces is written by Majken Overgaard and Vanessa Julia Carpenter where we work to expand the narrative of what technology is and who creates it. We speak with Danish and international female role models within technology and between these interviews we share what is most interesting to us, with a focus on diversity.
