European Space Agency - the path to Moon Village

WORKSHOP · SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

I co-designed and moderated a two-day workshop for the European Space Agency's Moon Village Working Group. We brought together 20 leaders from branches across ESA to explore and define the agency's role in the global effort to establish a permanent human presence on the moon.

Making a permanent colony on the moon will require technology and partnerships that don't exist yet. In an agency that operates off of tightly defined mission plans, the Moon Village working group was having difficulty navigating the ambiguity. The workshop focused on ways to apply creativity and innovation to the challenge, and re-usable tools/activities to help the group choose and evaluate courses of action.

Facebook - launching a new app for TV

RESEARCH · PARTICIPATORY DESIGN

I was the primary researcher on Facebook's new app for TV and connected devices, launched in February 2017. Before launch I performed ethnographic and market research, participatory design and usability lab sessions to inform the initial design.

After the app's launch, I ran surveys on app usability and user experience to inform improvements. Using qualitative lab insights and data from use after the initial launch, we re-designed system navigation and content organization to make the app more intuitive. Both v1 and v2 designs of the app drive significant video watch time.

Outset Medical - gamifying hemodialysis

RESEARCH · PARTICIPATORY DESIGN · EDUCATIONAL GAMES

I led multi-week research and design sprint for Outset Medical's self-operated hemodialysis machine. My challenge was to turn the operating instructions into a self-guided training app - safely training patients to perform their own hemodialysis at home.

I worked with dialysis training nurses to embed material into interactive games and activities. I performed interviews and tested lowfi prototypes in dialysis clinics and homes in several states. I compiled insights from the research into re-usable design materials for Outset, including stakeholder personas, and value proposition findings for marketing.

Facebook - simplifying web navigation

RESEARCH · PARTICIPATORY DESIGN · RANKING

I was the primary researcher on the 2016 effort to re-design the left-hand column navigation of www.facebook.com. We shipped the first significant, metrics positive changes to navigation on the platform in 10 years.

We used card sorts, sketching, paper prototyping, usability testing, and surveying to explore the navigation needs of our users. The new design groups navigation elements in a flexible way that allows the most important navigation elements for each user to rise to the top.

The World Bank - innovation in Uganda and Mongolia

WORKSHOP · SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

I worked with The World Bank on two occasions, to coordinate and moderate workshops in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Entebbe, Uganda. Both workshops brought together a mix of young men and women entrepreneurs to learn innovation skills through hands-on activities. Workshops focused on transferring useful tools and conveying creative mindsets.

We adapted Stanford's Design Thinking methodology to suit existing World Bank programs. Each workshop spanned several days and incorporated experiential learning activities like interviewing and observational fieldwork, design activities, and rapid-prototyping.

Recovers.org - community powered disaster recovery

FIELDWORK · RAPID ITERATION · PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

I co-founded an award winning disaster relief platform in the aftermath of a tornado in my hometown. The platform helps neighbors handle the resources that pour into their communities after disasters. Our software has been recognized internationally for improving the speed and efficiency of local disaster recovery.

I spent months in disaster areas, working with survivors to co-design solutions to the problems they faced. I led the initial product design and field-work, and assembled and managed our team of engineers and designers. Our platform helped hundreds of thousands of people connect to local recovery efforts and resources.

The Lean Startup - brand identity + web design

GRAPHIC DESIGN · MARKETING/BRANDING

I worked with the Lean Startup's management to develop a brand identity and website for instructional spinoff content, called "The How". Interfacing with the CEO, I developed and winnowed down a number of logo and palette concepts. Once the brand identity was approved, I created additional designs for a simple, editorial website for mobile, tablet, and large screen display sizes.

I did additional work with The Lean Startup Conference to design their 2014 Conference webpage, including running online design comprehension panels to tune design.