Each month, we spotlight one of our amazing team members who work hard to bring you great results. Today, we interviewed Becky Cierpich from our design team. Let's get started!
1. What’s your role at Mediacurrent, both internally and client-related?
I help our team strategize user experiences, design interfaces, and assure accessibility. We take a user-centric, data-driven approach, leveraging analytics, and user research to help our clients achieve business goals while not only serving but deeply connecting to their audience. I am fascinated by human behavior and an advocate for equal access, so I weave digital psychology and accessibility into everything I work on.
2. Give us an idea of what professional path brought you here.
I began as a graphic designer in the New Orleans club scene. I had the opportunity to create gig posters in the 00’s for artists such as The Decemberists, Interpol, George Clinton, and more. In 2002 I helped found a cooperative that builds websites and custom apps for local businesses and non-profits. I came to Mediacurrent in 2017 to join a larger team and work on bigger projects.
Gig posters I designed in the 00’s
3. How did you first get involved with Drupal?
Our co-op leveraged Drupal from the start because it was a great open-source solution for our clients. It did not lock them into a vendor and had the support of an active, engaged community. With Mediacurrent, I have had the opportunity to get even more involved with the Drupal community. I am grateful to have had the chance to get to know more of its folks and to give back by speaking and training at events.
Co-presenting a session with Cheryl Little at Design4Drupal 2019
4. Is there a go-to Drupal module that you like to incorporate whenever possible?
I don’t develop Drupal sites, but I encourage our developers to use accessibility-related enhancements whenever feasible. Modules like Accessibility Checker, Automatic Alternative Text, and the Siteimprove plugin, for example, have benefitted our clients.
5. Do you have any recommended reading or books that you would suggest to others?
- Accessibility
- WCAG Guidelines Quick Reference (especially the “Understanding” content for each success criteria)
- Digital Psychology
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman,
- Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug, and
- Atomic Design by Brad Frost
6. Any mobile apps that you use regularly?
My recent faves are Hoopla, OverDrive, and Kindle for checking out and reading library books.
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Reading, writing, hiking, and yoga.
8. What do you like about Mediacurrent?
The people! I am always joining teams with different combinations of folks but they are consistently bright, motivated, and passionate about their work. And it feels very homey here. When folks refer to it as “The Mediacurrent family” that’s just right on.
Mario, Melissa, Kelly, and I in Berkeley, CA for Badcamp 2019