Internship Experience: Encryptiest (NDA)

What I Learned, and What I Did.

INTERNSHIP

From the summer of 2024 to April 2025, I joined a Caltech startup as part of a 12 member team to build a website supporting Encryptiest’s mission of helping users live with a greater sense of security through encryption. I designed and developed web experiences that clearly communicated our project goals and enabled the team to gather valuable feedback from potential investors.

Summary

This case study focuses on redesigning UC Davis’s parking app to restore trust. Many users avoided it due to an outdated design and unclear payment feedback. By identifying trust as the main issue, I applied Thompson’s Trust Framework to create a more reliable and transparent experience.

What I learned

At Encryptiest, I began my journey using ReactJS to build interactive websites that connected seamlessly with the backend through Axios. During this process, I learned how to design interfaces that were intuitive, accessible, and tailored to a specific audience.

In the first three months, I focused on developing the website’s core functionality. Soon after, I took ownership of designing and building the main webpage that served as the main form of communication for investors. This project deepened my understanding of key design principles such as color theory, typography, and visual hierarchy. I gained these skills through online resources and continuous iteration on different design approaches. Throughout the process, I gathered feedback from team members to refine the layout and overall user experience.

Takeaway

At Encryptiest, I gained valuable experience in building and designing products within a professional environment while learning how to communicate effectively and collaborate in teams of two to five people. This internship opened my eyes to the world of design and taught me the importance of creating for people, not just for myself.