Project Portfolio
Co-Founded University Wide Design Thinking Initiative
Working directly with faculty, I developed a university-wide program to teach a Human-Centered Design based problem solving methodology - Design as an Immersive Vanderbilt Experience (DIVE). DIVE’s goal is to help participants incorporate the methodology into the college’s clubs, organizations and curricula. Co-developed curriculum and led hands-on workshops for multi-disciplinary teams of club leaders and professors to teach design thinking methods. Facilitated discussions, encouraging participants to solve complex problems using this method.
Impact:
Over 100 Vanderbilt club leaders, staff and professors trained in the human centered design process, who then went on to incorporate it into their organizations and class curriculums.
Designed Interactive Play/Learning Device for Child with Disabilities
For my undergraduate research project, I led a three-person team to engineer an interactive play-station device for a blind child with cerebral palsy. We used the human-centered design process and worked closely with staff at his experimental preschool to develop a deep understanding of the child’s unique learning requirements and physical limitations.
Impact:
The Play-station provides additional play and learning opportunities, encourages him to develop independent play skills, while also improving his range of motion and ensuring his safety. This device will help the child in reaching developmental milestones, which are vital to his development
Improved College Application Rates at Under-Resourced High School
I led a four-person Design for America (DFA) team to improve college application rates at Glencliff High School, a low-income public high school in Nashville. Our interviews with students, teachers and the college counselor revealed that students felt uninformed and unprepared about the college process, however, the counseling office did not have the resources to fill this gap. We developed a college readiness app for all students that could pace and coach students through the process. We also created a peer-mentoring program, in which selected junior and senior students could work with underclassmen to guide them through the college process.
Impact:
The college readiness app and peer mentoring program have lead to dramatic improvements in students interest and understanding of the college process. Three years after implementation, college applications have increased by 10%.
Designed Doll to Improve Down Syndrome Research for Infants of Color
I led a four-person Design for America (DFA) team to create a toy to better understand the developmental reflexes of infants of color with Down Syndrome. Worked with Vanderbilt’s Learning Lab clinicians and researched other infant learning tools for Down Syndrome infants. Final design used an Arduino microcontroller and a tilt sensor to create an interactive, brown skinned toy doll that responded to infants’ specific motions.
Impact:
The doll was used for the Infant Learning Lab’s Down Syndrome Study in March 2019. Though study results were confidential, we were told that the doll was instrumental in completing their study.