Pete Denman
Intel
Portland, OR USA
"After my accident, all that anyone expected from me was to breathe...so all I could do from there was go higher."
Career Roadmap
Pete's work combines: Design, Technology, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Make your own path. Never go the way the herd is going. It will only lead to everyone trying to get the same job.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Design and Visual Communications, General
Portland State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
He failed the third grade, and after years of struggling with reading, he was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in the seventh grade.
2.
He gave up on school, and to avoid figuring out what to do with his life, he started partying.
3.
In 1988, when he was twenty years old, he broke his neck in a diving accident and was left without the use of any of his limbs.
4.
Says no one expected anything from him after that; they barely expected him to breathe.
5.
It took him 2-3 years to recover, but he saw it as an opportunity to reset and start his life over.
6.
After his recovery, he went back to high school, got his diploma, then went on to college; he graduated when he was thirty years old.
7.
He got his degree in graphic design and now works as a UX designer at Intel.
8.
One of his most notable projects was redesigning the user interface of Stephen Hawking’s revolutionary computer system.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You shouldn't tell people you are dyslexic, they will think less of you and treat you differently.
How I responded:
Growing up, being dyslexic was my biggest embarrassment and I felt a lot of shame about it. It took a long time for me to realize that it was actually an advantage. It enables me to think differently and bring a new perspective.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I failed the third grade, and after years of struggling with reading, I was diagnosed with dyslexia in the seventh grade
When I was twenty years old, I broke my neck in a diving accident and was left without the use of any of my limbs.