Nebraska Women in STEM talked to JEO architectural designer Mady Kenny about embracing the artistic side of STEM.
Mady Kenny says she has always been on a trajectory towards a STEM career. She was nudged into a math and science focus throughout school and attended the engineering magnet program at Omaha North High School.
Intertwined with her aptitude for STEM was a deep love for the arts inherited from her family.
“My grandpa designed and framed houses for work, as well as the house they live in now. I think my love of art and drawing and pottery, as well as math, has always been there. Everything has led to where I am now.”
Kenny’s delight in the balance of science and design led her to pursue a joint bachelor’s degree in architecture and civil engineering, as well as a master’s in architecture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. When asked about which discipline she identifies with more, Kenney responded with nuance.
“I still haven’t decided. I’m very proud that I have allowed myself to shape my career by what I want in the moment, rather than being confined to a strict path. I prefer to keep things open.”
True to her versatile nature, Kenny started at JEO Consulting as a split intern between their architecture and structural divisions. Three years after she completed her master’s, she was hired full-time to work in building design.
Kenny says that JEO does “a little bit of everything under the sun.” She enjoys the opportunities she has there to dabble in different design mediums, such as the virtual program Building Image Modeling (BIM), and to create personalized products for clients.
“Architecture is about building systems, but it’s also like storytelling and art. You have to think about how much sunlight enters the space throughout the day, and about airflow and entrances. Each design is going to be different because every client is unique.”
Kenny also says that there is “a lot of blurriness” between architecture and interior design. For her, it’s all about problem solving. “It’s really fun to step back and see your space and then ask yourself how you can address the challenges.”
One challenge Kenny feels she has needed to overcome is her fear of permanency. “The past few years I was so nervous about picking a degree or deciding where to put things up in my house. But I feel like I’ve gotten over that hurdle and realized that things can always change. I can just have fun filling up entire walls and then redoing it. My home is a canvas, and so is my career.”
Looking for the art in everyday life is what ultimately brings Kenny joy. She still likes to pick up her pencils and draw and finds fulfillment in making composition with everyday items. “I love creating as well as enjoying a space. When I can sit back and feel like everything is whole and balanced, that’s where my happiness comes from.”
Kenny recommends that other women in STEM also seek to personalize their careers and to surround themselves with things that make them happy. “Keep in mind that what works best for somebody else won’t always work best for you. Whatever you do, just make it your own.”