Solving with Eco-System Considerations
Tangled Joy, a System with Complex Processes (2020-2021)
I founded an educational business, Tangled Joy, which required complex processes related to services, products, team management, marketing and other aspects involved in starting a business. The system that connected these processes, streamlined workload and improved productivity required various design, research, prototypes, and tests. I started the work single handed during the pandemic and now we are a team of eleven experts. TangleJoy.com is the website for my business which showcases some of the work done.
Future of Work for People with Disability (2019-2020)
I worked as an advisor and designer for a project with 40 stakeholders working to improve and build the present and future of the disability eco-system. “The purpose of this initiative was to gain a better understanding of the current state of disability employment in the United States and the changes needed to create a more inclusive future.”
“Concrete deliverables included the mapping of the complex systems of disability employment in the U.S., models showing the role that educational, workforce development and policy systems currently play as well as potential changes needed; and a detailed report that includes specific recommendations for improvement.” I co-led and designed eight workshops over the course of six months. This work involved designing various tools for communicating and co-designing with the partners, data collection and data synthesis.
More details are available via this link by Source America.
Cross School Collaboration for Better Teaching (2017)
Research shows that well-developed professional learning communities have positive impact on both teaching practice and student achievement. However, creating such communities and assessing their impact is a challenge. I worked in two K-12 schools for over two years and attended seven professional development opportunities. I realized that teachers don’t get to collaborate as much as they want and should. One barrier to collaboration is teachers’ workload and the lack of an easy and fun way to collaborate. The other barrier is the school atmosphere which encourages teachers to be more conservative with teachers within the same filed of study or same school.
I designed a system, Mangrove, to facilitate meaningful exchange among interdisciplinary teachers between several schools. To start, I built the system off of three schools in Boston. Mangrove, creates a fun, relaxing, motivating environment for teachers to meet. The system also solve for four gaps in education: balance of knowledge production and implication, acknowledging and sharing teachers’ experience, lack of interdisciplinary exchange among STEAM educators and utilizing the after-school time for meaning and fun activities. To learn more about the above listed gaps in education and a six month prototype process of Mangrove, please check this link.
A system to Transform the Job Search into a Constructive Experience (2017)
For many applicants, searching online for jobs creates anxiety and is associates with feelings of inefficiency and burden. According to some surveys, 66% of Americans don’t like their jobs*. It is difficult to change the situation in short terms but it is a totally doable as a long term goal. I designed Reins to transform the job seeking process into an active and positive experience and facilitating gaining an ideal job.
Reins enables the users to track and improve the job search and identify effective keywords and relevant skills set. It also assist with drawing immediate and long term feedback on job search. Additionally, it identifies gaps between current skill set and the ideal careers to help the user plan a progressive route.
Reins toolkit includes the Tracker, Extractor and Passion & Skills:
Tracker| is an easy-to-use digital Excel sheet that maps the progress of the job search and provides a clear record of applied jobs.
Extractor| A thinking space on paper to efficiently compare the job descriptions with the applicant’s current skills and passion. It highlights the careers that worth investing time and energy and quantify the value of a job for each user. The applicant would need one print of this tool one per job.
Passion & Skills|A reference point for the applicants’ skills and passion. Also a planning space to gain needed skills for an ideal job. The applicant would need one print for every 20 jobs.
* Gallup study on the American workplace.
Collaboration System for Small Businesses to Thrive in the Unpredicted Market (2015-2016)
Big corporation have many resources to solve problems but this is not true for small businesses.
I interviewed 50 businesses in Rhode Island and realized collaboration is the key to success. Small businesses share many similarities within or across sectors. However, they are disconnected even in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US. Collaboration takes time and resources and it is difficult to make it happen without help.
I designed Twine, a system, to facilitate collaboration among small businesses. This was my graduate thesis at Rhode Island School of Design which took over one year to accomplish. Twine includes an online platform, face-to-face sessions and a conversation toolkit. The online platform is a supportive component to sustain and refine the process and the toolkit is to be used at the interaction sessions. The below video explains how Twine works.
Embracive Design 