NC STATE COLLEGE OF DESIGN
Rebecca Planchart is a final-year graduate student in the Master of Graphic and Experience Design program at NC State University, where she also received her undergraduate degree. Recently, she served as a research assistant on an interdisciplinary project using virtual reality to help improve student comprehension of scientific size and scale. She is currently working as a research assistant on a project for the Laboratory for Analytic Sciences, developing visual conventions and interface design techniques to help intelligence analysts intuitively gauge confidence and uncertainty in large language model outputs. Before joining the program, Rebecca worked in nonprofit marketing and communications. She is passionate about leveraging design to promote equitable outcomes for communities and is particularly interested in user experience design and artificial intelligence applications in public health and government. Rebecca values collaboration, adaptability, and attention to detail and believes design is all about knowing what you don’t know.
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT YOU THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT?
Developing a strong research practice, without a doubt. Before starting this program, I didn’t have a formal design education — most of my experience was in traditional graphic design and branding. Now, I can’t imagine beginning a project without developing foundational knowledge of the problem and a deep understanding of the people I’m designing for.
WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN YOUR FIELD? EITHER TODAY OR HISTORICALLY?
I wouldn’t say there’s one specific person I look up to, but I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who’ve played important roles in my growth. They’ve set an excellent example of what it means to be an advocate and have shown me so much support over the last few years.
