This summer’s UX intern was Elyse Terzian. We couldn’t have been happier to have her on board. Check out our wrap up discussion on her experience at Foxgroove.

DAVE DEBONIS: Tell us a little about yourself.

ELYSE TERZIAN: My name is Elyse Terzian. I just began my third year studying Human-Centered Design and Development at Penn State University. I will graduate in May of 2026.

DAVE DEBONIS: What prompted you to apply for the Foxgroove Summer Internship?

ELYSE TERZIAN: During my second year, I was eager to gain hands-on experience in this field, so when my dad shared information about a digital design agency his company worked with, I decided to reach out. I called the Foxgroove number immediately and spoke with you. We quickly bonded on our interest in UX and connection to Penn State. Despite your initial hesitation about taking on an intern, my persistence paid off, and I became the first Foxgroove Summer Intern.

DAVE DEBONIS: Which project you worked on at Foxgroove was your favorite and what was your contribution?

ELYSE TERZIAN: One of my most rewarding experiences at Foxgroove was working on user research study on educational technology (EdTech) applications used at Penn State, a project that was particularly meaningful to me as a current student. I had the opportunity to engage in the research process from start to finish, with major responsibilities that included developing a screener, formulating a wide discussion guide for interviews and surveys, recruiting participants, conducting thorough interviews with an AI tool, analyzing data, and contributing to the summary report.

With insights from 78 respondents, we gained valuable perspectives from higher-ed students. Upon observing David and his team closely, I was fortunate to take on a leading role as we delved deeper into the research. This project ignited a newfound passion for research, which I hadn’t fully realized before.

DAVE DEBONIS: Which other projects did you contribute to during your internship at Foxgroove?

ELYSE TERZIAN:

  • Finding a proper AI interview tool – I did extensive competitive analysis on various AI interview tools, presented them to my colleagues, and scheduled meetings with vendors for my team and I to gain a deeper understanding of each tool.
  • Heuristic evaluations – I collaborated with David to conduct a thorough analysis of an EdTech application. We identified usability issues based on heuristics, assigned impact scores, and described remediations. We then created a visual representation of these issues, reported using Figma and presented findings to the client.
  • Dragon Claw website – I collaborated with Tori (Lead Experience Designer) on the core design direction and translated desktop designs into responsive mobile versions.

DAVE DEBONIS: How did your experience at Foxgroove shape your interest in user experience design?

ELYSE TERZIAN: At Foxgroove, I had the opportunity to engage in every facet of user experience design, including research, strategy, and hi-fidelity experience design. While my coursework provided a solid theoretical foundation, this internship allowed me to make genuine connections with users—an aspect my academic studies had been missing, and which I had been craving. Initially, the independence I was given was daunting, but as I grew more comfortable, I gained a deep appreciation for the critical role that UX designers and researchers play. My creative drive was invigorated by participating in the real-world design process, which confirmed that I am on the right path for my career!

Elyse is a rising star in experience design. She is conscientious, detail oriented, and contributed to our highly collaborative approach. We are hoping to work with her on an ongoing basis this year!