Sep 27, 2022Please, please help synthesis from hurting so muchWhy is synthesis so hard? I’ve heard from many students, clients and, friends that synthesis can be a real slug. Your physical walls or Miro boards are overloaded with post-its of inspiring quotes, expert takes, team ideas, and too many persona ideas and keys to win. It’s time to share…Synthesis5 min readSynthesis5 min read
Sep 4, 2022Resources for people-centric practiceUnderstanding and integrating design research into your everyday work A little context As a researcher by trade, educator at SVA, and community builder at 3x3, I meet many folx questioning how to do design research in ways that center people. And I want to support your journeys! So I’ve synthesized a…Design Research9 min readDesign Research9 min read
Feb 23, 2022Research approaches explained with donutsAnalytics research — What’s the best time of day to send promotional emails about donuts? Design research — How have donuts served as a source of everyday comfort during the pandemic? Human-centered design — How might we enable people to find the donut flavors they will enjoy the most? User research — How can we design a more seamless experience for first-time donut purchasers? Market research — How many people will buy gluten-free donuts this year?Donuts1 min readDonuts1 min read
Feb 2, 2022To practice inclusion, we need to let go of designer-centered designA graduate design student recently reached out for advice on her project to enhance a public space in northern Brooklyn. She was curious about how she could center peoples’ voices in her design processes and expressed frustration that when she tried to interview folks, they didn’t want to engage. I…Inclusion4 min readInclusion4 min read
Apr 5, 202167 frameworks & countingFrom… to… 2. Lost in translation 3. Traveling while standing still 4. Looking in to look out 5. Looking out to look in 6. Like AirBnb, but for x 7. Like Uber, but for x 8. Time travel 9. Traveling while standing still 10. Everything but the x 11. Walking…Design Thinking2 min readDesign Thinking2 min read
Dec 10, 2020It Was All A DreamIt is December 10th, 2032. You open your eyes. Your first breath takes in the comforting fragrance of freshly-baked baguettes. That reminds you. You’re in your local hospital. You reach up to tap the right side of your face, where the curb met your eyebrow in the hectic cycling-dominated promenades…Future4 min readFuture4 min read
Nov 17, 2020Kids vs. ZoomArtist and educator, Kay Liang, talks about squashing “Zoom Gloom” with dog bands, friendly robbers, and disco breaks It was April 6th and my six-year-old son, Rui, had his first Zoom meeting. He was both anxious and annoyed that he had to do something he neither fully understood nor signed…Zoom8 min readZoom8 min read
Published in Openbox Stories·Oct 14, 2020Using Data to Design Equity-Centered CitiesAn interview with Tara Pham, Co-founder & CEO of Numina Cities are products of design. In the last century, the urban planning and design fields often prioritized the mobility of cars over people, and efficiency over community (think: Robert Moses and the post-war demolition of New York City neighborhoods in…Cities7 min readCities7 min read
Published in Openbox Stories·Aug 20, 2020Designing for Community During a Global PandemicA reflection on leading a remote design studio for the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) in Costa Rica How can we continue to study our streets, talk to people, and test prototypes during a public health crisis? How can we identify opportunities to design for more inclusion, equity, and…Cities6 min readCities6 min read
Published in Openbox Stories·May 14, 2020Member-onlyDesign from a DistanceIn the Studio with Vinay Kumar Mysore, Design Researcher at Openbox How do we design together from a distance? As a human-centered design studio, this was our big question as the coronavirus became a global reality and we quickly transitioned our operations from a collaborative workspace to our individual homes…Cities5 min readCities5 min read
