Design Research & Strategy for emerging products
As a human-centered engineer turned design researcher, I’m passionate about understanding user needs and integrating them into real products for emerging technologies like GenAI and XR.
I’ve led UX research and product development projects for several 0-to-1 products in start-ups and industry, including EMG wearables for Meta’s Orion AR ecosystem and Matr Lab’s robotic painting machines for AI artists.
I’m also passionate about teaching and have designed and taught user experience research and UX for AI curriculum for product teams and academia, including NYU’s Integrated Design & Media program.
Experience
UX Research | Meta Reality Labs (via Russell Tobin) | 2023-present
Lead UX research projects for emerging technology products including AR & AI wearables. Developed and scaled a unique extended wear research program for EMG wrist wearables from POC to mass production, providing impactful recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders including engineering, ID and UX teams.
Part-time Faculty | New York University | 2024-present
Teach UX for AI, Design Research & Masters Thesis classes in the Integrated Design & Media program.
Director of UX Research | Ipsos | 2021-2023
Led UX & DevX research projects for big-tech clients specializing in design strategy for GenAI, XR, Metaverse, design/development tools and other emerging technologies. Built internal capabilities and shared knowledge on UX for various tech topics through internal workshops and external presentations, articles and podcasts. Companies I worked with include: Meta Reality Labs, WhatsApp, Instagram, Amazon Alexa, Microsoft, LinkedIn and many more.
UX Research & Product Management | Artmatr (via Openbox) | 2020-21
Launched beta program for robotic painting technology start-up including leading design research, market analysis, UX strategy and early software development projects
Research & Experience Design Advisor for multiple startups | 2023-present
User research, UX design & product market-fit advice for CEO and product strategy teams for small startups, including re:collect (an AI-driven knowledge management and creativity support tool) and Parallux (a novice-friendly spatial design tool for Metaverse experiences)
Leading various community groups & program committees | 2015-present
Founded and contributed to many academic and industry groups to help the community build connections and knowledge around broader artistic, creative & societal considerations for design & tech (see Program Committees section below).
Companies I’ve worked with
Education
MIT Media Lab (USA) | 2012-20
PhD & Masters in Media Arts and Sciences (SM)
Royal College of Art & Imperial College (UK) | 2007-09
Masters in Industrial Design Engineering (MA) & Mechanical Engineering (MSc)
University of Bristol (UK) | 2003-07
Masters in Aeronautical Engineering (MEng, First class)
Program Committees
Royal Society for Arts (RSA) Ambassador (2019-2020)
Representative for the Boston chapter of the RSA, an active community of problem solvers that aims to tackle big social and technological issues through virtual salons, online thematic networks and coalitions for change.
Festival of Learning conference co-chair, MIT Media Lab (Jan 2019)
Co-chaired the rejuvenation of the Festival of Learning, a day-long Media Lab community-created event that
enabled students, staff, and faculty to connect and learn from each other outside of their daily academic interactions.
Tools of Design track chair, Design Research Society conference (2018)
Reviewed papers, selected reviewers and organized authors to present academic research related to design tools.
Embodied Potentials Salon founder, MIT (2016-2018)
Founded and ran a discussion group that explored how various approaches to perception, communication, affordances and interaction can help us design more human-centered technology.
Biotech and Art panel co-chair, MIT Hacking Arts festival (2016)
Co-led the search and organization of a panel around bio-tech and art for Hacking Arts, a festival that brought artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs together to ignite cross-disciplinary innovation at MIT.
Award selection committee, Center for the Arts at MIT (2015-2019)
Student representative on the CAST visiting artist selection committee that funded dozens of faculty arts projects and brought world-renowned artists such as musician Jacob Collier and artist Carston Höller to the MIT campus.