BSIS student Daria Meshcheriakova came to the iSchool with intention. Originally from Russia, where she lived for 17 years, Meshcheriakova moved to Chicago and attended Harold Washington Community College before transferring to the University of Illinois. Among potential universities, Illinois proved to be the best fit—offering a program that perfectly integrated her digital multimedia design experience with her passion to work in user research and analytics.
"Illinois was actually the only school I seriously considered," Meshcheriakova recalled. "I already knew it was an excellent in-state university with strong academic programs. Most importantly, it offered a major that perfectly aligned with my interests in working and analyzing data. I absolutely love the U. of I. and the iSchool."
For Meshcheriakova, the iSchool stood out for its unique combination of analytics, research, innovation, and design thinking.
"The iSchool is one of the most recognized schools in information sciences," Meshcheriakova explained. "It offers a well-developed undergraduate program that prepares students with highly transferable skills for handling information in organized and ethical ways. That mix of research and creativity was exactly what drew me in."
Meshcheriakova's journey toward information sciences began while studying digital multimedia design at Harold Washington. Although she enjoyed the creative process, she realized that her true interests extended beyond visual aesthetics.
"I realized I wasn't as passionate about focusing solely on colors and typography," she said. "I became fascinated by understanding why people interact with design the way they do and why some digital platforms succeed while others struggle, even with basic functions like a sign-up page. That curiosity led me toward user research and data-driven design."
As she worked on freelance UX design projects, she discovered how much she enjoyed the research side: analyzing user data, identifying needs, and building solutions around them. That process made her realize her true passion. Her chosen concentration in HCI now allows her to explore these interests more deeply, blending her design background with the study of human-computer behavior, usability, and technology.
Outside of academics, Meshcheriakova remains highly engaged in both the iSchool community and creative organizations on campus. She is an active member of the Design Innovation Club, where she collaborates with peers to redesign apps and improve user experiences through thoughtful design solutions.
She also recently founded the Sketching Club, a growing community for students who enjoy observing and drawing the world around them. "While it's not officially part of the iSchool," Meshcheriakova explained, "I see sketching as another way of practicing observation and interpretation. Instead of analyzing data on a screen, you’re exploring visual patterns through drawing. It’s a creative approach to understanding the world."
"My story is about transforming data into understanding. Whether I'm analyzing user behavior on a mobile app or sketching the campus scenery, I'm always searching for patterns and new ways to share what I see so others can gain a fresh perspective," Meshcheriakova explained.
With an eye for both detail and design, she hopes to translate her curiosity into a career in UX research or product analytics—using thoughtful analysis and creative problem-solving to help people create digital experiences that inform, inspire, and connect.