ThoughtForm is happy to announce that Zoe Mollering is joining us as our newest design intern for the Fall of 2022. We sat down with Zoe to chat about innovative keyboard design and her love of illustration.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I am currently in my third year at the University of Cincinnati majoring in communication design. Before college, I had more of a fine arts background, and eventually started to explore design through my love of illustration. From there, I’ve learned a love for UX-UI, typography, motion, and brand design. I am forever grateful for my professors and the DAAP program for the transformative studio environment. It has challenged me to always dig deeper for a more meaningful and precise design solution.

What’s an example of design you admire today?

I’m fascinated and inspired by design that thoroughly considers people with disabilities in their creation. So many groups of people have been overlooked in the making of many of our favorite spaces, tools, experiences, and interfaces, so it is encouraging that more and more designers now are trying to remedy this. An example from the past few years is Dougie Mann’s keyboard design which, when connected to a smartphone, allows people to type with one hand or without looking. What is fascinating to me about this is that people with and without disabilities can benefit from it.

What excites you most about working with ThoughtForm?

I am most excited for the collaborative and energetic environment at ThoughtForm. The team’s open-minded and welcoming attitude makes me confident that I will learn and grow in my design and beyond. I am excited to challenge the way I think and find new design solutions for a wide range of projects — ultimately by learning from the people around me.

What advice do you have for someone just getting started down a similar career path to your own?

I think when you are a creative person, it can be easy to choose one thing you can do that’s marketable. But I think it’s important to let yourself experiment with different types of projects just for fun. Keeping a wide range of interests, especially in different types of media like art, music, and film, can translate to your design consciously or subconsciously.

Who’s currently on your work playlist?

My playlist is kind of all over the place. If one thing is consistent though, it is probably Phoebe Bridgers. I listen to her second album, Punisher, religiously. Sling, Clairo’s album released last year, is another favorite. Other than that, the list is extensive — I’m always looking for new music to get into. Some all-time favorites for me though are The Strokes, Taylor Swift, and Tyler, the Creator.