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Encouraging Social Connections for Older Adults in Subsidized Housing 


Belonging is a human need. Feeling close to others allows us to be emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy, therefore allowing us to have cities, communities, and a culture that is also healthy. Older adults are increasingly at risk for social isolation due to physical limitations, cultural attitudes around aging, and many more factors.

This project was an opportunity to explore potential opportunities within two Baltimore subsidized housing buildings to encourage social connections amongst the residents. The team and I held multiple listening sessions at each building, with over 40 one-on-one interviews with residents and staff to identify tensions, insights, and areas of opportunity.

After facilitating co-design brainstorming sessions for each group in the two buildings, we synthesized and consolidated over 200+ data points into six clear, actionable insights.

We crafted an interview guide and generated a toolkit for future research initiatives. Most recently, the team worked together to submit research findings to various medical journals and is currently going through the review process for publication.

Frame & Plan ︎︎︎ Research ︎︎︎ Synthesize ︎︎︎ Ideate ︎︎︎ Prototype ︎︎︎ Implement & Iterate
Baltimore, MD︎


Role:
Design Researcher & Strategist

Skills:  Human-Centered Design, Qualitative Research

Collaborators: John Hopkins School of Medicine

MICA Center for Social Design


Output:  Findings Report for Continuation of Project

Activity Idea List for Community Coordinators

Co-creating a Gallery Space to Enhance a Public Elementry School Arts Program


I was selected as one of 3 fellows across the country for our commitment to community development, technical design skills, and creative problem-solving to join Impact Wrkshp’s annual social impact-driven project. My team, along with an assemblage of skilled advisors, embarked on a mission to design a gallery space that would enhance the art program at Michael Conti Public School in Jersey City, NJ.

Process:
Using a co-design framework, we generated ideas with the help of students in the 5th and 6th grades, teachers, parents, and school administrators through a series of virtual interview sessions and focus groups. The team also developed a series of design principles to help guide the final gallery space. We researched and sourced materials, paying special attention to accessibility and adaptability to meet the school’s requirements and budget parameters.  
Design Principles:
Inspire Community Connection
Provide Opportunities for Participation
Build for Play & Interaction
Use Locally Found Materials
The final design features a learning lab, a living archive for students to engage with their classmate’s artwork not on display and a modular design that allows the space to adapt to the school’s needs. Accompanying the gallery is a Playbook, an interactive guide printed using a Risograph printer, filled with art prompts, learning activities, and tools to guide students on caring for the space.
Jersey City, NJ ︎

Role:
Industrial Designer
Design Research

Team:
Irina Schneid
Coco Allred
Katrina Macaro
Collaborators:
Impact Wrkshp

PS5 Michael Conte Elementry School
Output:
Modular Gallery Blocks 
Printed Playbook Printed Guidebook

Supporting Providers and Patients through the PrEP Initiation Process


The BCHD Sexual Health and Wellness Clinics began offering HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in December 2015 based on the US Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical practice guidelines published in July 2014.

The team used a human-centered design process to identify insights and opportunities to support STI providers in improving the efficiency of the PrEP initiation process and reducing the number of new HIV infections within Baltimore City.

As a team, we met with key stakeholders, including nurses, administrative staff, clinic directors, social workers, and patients to gather insights into the existing PrEP Program. We worked through the entire human-centered design process, testing out a range of prototypes before settling on a print brochure campaign.  The print campaign was finalized and rolled out a few months later in clinics across Baltimore.

Frame & Plan ︎︎︎ Research ︎︎︎  Synthesize ︎︎︎ Ideate ︎︎︎ Prototype ︎︎︎ Implement & Iterate

Research Methods & Tools: 
Design Principles
Interviews & Group Listening Sessions
Ethnography
Personas
User Journeys
User Testing
Baltimore, MD ︎

Role:
Design Researcher & Social Design Strategist

Skills:
Human-Centered Design
Social Design
Qualitative Research

Collaborators:
Baltimore City Health Department

MICA Center for Social Design
Output: 
Print Campaign

Final Report with Tested Prototypes for Future Implementation


Rebuilding Community Culture in a Public Elementary School


Back in the Fall of 2021 as we adjusted to the seemingly new norm of continuous tightening and easing of Covid-19 restrictions, many institutions were grappling with how to re-open and restore the community connections they had before the start of the pandemic.

My team was tasked with exploring how to rebuild the community culture of City Neighbors Hamilton School, a charter elementary school in Baltimore, MD. We focused on the parents' roles and experiences within the greater community.

We spent multiple sessions visiting the school, touring classrooms, sitting in on classes, and interviewing staff, administrators, students, and parents. After synthesizing all of our research we generated prototypes and returned them to the school to test with parents, teachers, and students. We presented our final findings virtually to the school with suggestions on future ways to integrate them into the community.

Frame & Plan ︎︎︎ Research ︎︎︎ Synthesize ︎︎︎ Ideate ︎︎︎ Prototype ︎︎︎ Implement & Iterate
Baltimore, MD︎
Role:
Design Researcher & Strategist

Skills:
Human-centered design, Qualitative research

Collaborators:
CNH Charter School - Elementary
MICA Center for Social Design
Output: Research Report with insights and prototypes