I’m Jane Roe and I’m a New Media Student at the University of Maine. I grew up in Orono, but I’ve taken time to live in other places for short periods of time, such as Boulder and MDI. I spent 9 months living on MDI, and my time there helped me find a deeper appreciation for the state of Maine. I had so many unique experiences living there. I rapelled down coastal rocks and bought crabs off the boat. I was able to connect with people I never would have off-island, including fishermen and the summer elite.
I am very passionate about connecting with other people. There’s very little I prioritize over spending time with my friends and family. I love holding up the line at the gas station to have a conversation with the clerk. A complete stranger could ask me for help changing a tire, and I would be excited, and would take on the burden as my own. Even though I know nothing about changing a tire. I pride myself with seeming approachable. I believe I have a unique empathy for people because I think that there is something to be learned from every person I meet -– and I try to learn it.
I hope to be a part of tech design in a way that supports real human connection. My perspective is that humans are inherently similar and made to like each other. Social media has resulted in a disconnection between groups and individuals, and that has absolutely translated into how we interact in the real world. I would want to put tech into the world that supports face-to-face interactions, not work against it.
My logo is my name with flowers above and below it. I do love flowers, but also the specific flowers are important to me because I doodle the same flowers all of the time. I chose blues and whites because they are very coastal colors and I very much connect with the coast of Maine. I chose my first name as opposed to my last name or my initials because I wanted the logo to remain personal. I also hand drew my letters as opposed to using or editing a font for the same reason.
