Hi SharkNinja — I’m Sophia Alfred.
MSc Human–Computer Interaction Design, City • St George’s, University of London • Expected Fall 2026
I’m excited to apply for the 2026 UX/UI Design Internship at SharkNinja. I’m currently completing my MSc in Human–Computer Interaction Design at City St. George’s, University of London (graduating Fall 2026), where I focus on designing experiences that anticipate user needs. SharkNinja’s mission to push the boundaries of everyday objects resonates deeply with my philosophy: creating intuitive design that solves problems before users even realize they exist.
SharkNinja’s “Outrageously Extraordinary” mindset resonates with how I design: never stopping at “good enough.” In a recent chat with Sophia Gutfreund (Associate Brand Manager), she talked about how SharkNinja pairs radical innovation with real-world usefulness and that's how they create products people didn’t know they needed. That’s the bar I aim for when designing intuitive digital experiences.
Why I'm interested in SharkNinja: Companion apps that extend the experience of physical products.
My Architectural Studies background shaped how I think about how physical spaces and objects impact people. HCI sharpened my understanding of how to evaluate people moving through digital systems. At SharkNinja, those perspectives converge creating digital experiences that enhance innovative appliances represents exactly the kind of impactful, multidimensional UX work I want to pursue.
Dream Big
After two years in Spain as a Fulbright educator, and later as an International Student Advisor at Tufts University, I was frustrated by the inefficient systems making simple tasks harder for students. In an effort to challenge the status quo, I began postgraduate classes in Human-Computer Interaction to learn how to design better digital experiences for students. One year later I left my job, moved to London, and enrolled in an MSc in HCI Design. Today, I design digital experiences shaped by firsthand insight into user pain points, creating systems that work for people, not against them.
Working with Ambiguity
Memento (AI journaling app): I started as a Product Designer for Memento, an AI journaling app, with the product concept still in flux. Rather than waiting for clarity, I took ownership of the design process, starting with semi-structured user interviews. This discovery phase revealed a critical insight: users weren't journaling simply to record; they used these digital tools as a means of self-discovery. Based on this finding, we pivoted our AI strategy from personalized journal prompts to AI generated insights from their entries and integrated app data. Through this process, I learned to validate decisions through user feedback and iterate quickly rather than get attached to initial ideas.
Understanding the Client
Pelly (SaaS, Wales): At Pelly, a Wales-based SaaS startup, I developed a compliance checklist feature tailored to Welsh Cymru Premier regulations. This project required balancing client needs, regulatory requirements, and user capabilities, reinforcing that attention to detail in compliance critical features directly impacts user success.
Collaboration is Key
My experience advising over 600 international students at Tufts reinforced the importance of clear, direct communication. I needed to translate complex visa regulations into actionable guidance while working closely with my team in order to effectively handle our large caseloads. These same skills: clarity, collaboration, and openness to feedback translate directly to design work, where I share openly, invite constructive critique, and quickly course-correct when something isn't working.
Tools
Skills
Today, as I work towards my master's in HCI Design, I'm developing advanced skills in information architecture, inclusive design, interaction design & evaluation, and web development. I'm excited about the prospect of applying these skills to real-world challenges at SharkNinja and contributing meaningfully to your team as a 2026 UX/UI Design Intern.
With gratitude,
Sophia