Swimming with sharks isn’t typically a precursor to entering a program at the BYU Marriott School of Business, but for Aleia Allen, a field study adventure in the Caribbean was key. The two-week study tested theories of structured experiences through student-planned activities, including snorkeling with sea turtles, learning from locals, and tasting fresh cacao. But Allen walked away with more than just memories—the field study spurred her into her first semester in the experience design and management (ExDM) program.
When Allen first learned about the field study in an introductory ExDM course, she saw it as an opportunity to strengthen her program application and gain early insight into the industry’s research practices. She felt confident diving headfirst into the world of experience design because she knew the program would unite two of her passions: understanding how people work and improving individual lives.
Led by ExDM faculty members Brian Hill and Patti Freeman, Allen and her peers studied the theory of structured experiences through the lens of storytelling and positive psychology while visiting the island of Saint Lucia and sailing in a fleet of catamarans. Although some activities were preset into the itinerary, most of the activities were researched and planned by the students to put the theories into practice.
“We went on hikes. We tried local food. We went to markets. We were on the beach. We were in the water. We were meeting local people and hearing about how they live their lives,” Allen describes.
Allen’s favorite experience surprised her: snorkeling with a shark, bookended by mindfulness meditations. “Normally I would have panicked, but it was actually a peaceful, surreal moment that I don’t think I could have ever been prepared for otherwise,” she says. “It gave me a lot of perspective into myself and into interacting with the world around me.”
After each activity, the students recorded their feedback in a survey to measure the perceived value of the experience. The surveys, which varied by activity, often included questions like how much the student would spend on the experience, how well they felt in control of the situation, and how connected they felt to the group after the experience. At the close of the field study, the data was brought back to BYU Marriott to be analyzed by students and faculty in the ExDM department.
Now a junior in the ExDM program, Allen is leveraging the skills she developed on the field study to supplement what she is learning in her classes—just like she hoped she would. “I feel like it has given me an elevated understanding and laid a nice foundation for me to have a leg up in understanding the design thinking process,” she says. “It has really propelled me forward for my future.”
She gives credit to the faculty that led the program for this boost: “Dr. Hill and Dr. Freeman are the most analytical and genius people that I’ve ever met. I don’t know if I would feel as confident with my skills and abilities had I not had their specific guidance during that time we got to spend together over those two weeks.”
Allen is hopeful that the lessons she learned in the Caribbean will be a gift that keeps on giving for years to come. “The field study has given me a greater perspective into the real-life implications of experience design in any industry,” she reflects. “It showed me that experience design specifically solves people-centric problems, not only for the people that you’re solving for but also for the world at large.”
_____
Written by Kathryn Cragun
