WGI is seeking creative individuals who are interested in the possibilities of the in-between—people whose knowledge and skills rest uneasily in the traditional boxes of creative work. The ideal candidate for WGI is someone who is comfortable working in different disciplines, and who has the critical and analytical prowess to use their diverse skillset to produce unique outcomes and bolster new ways of thinking.
I have had a long journey to my current place as a designer. By circumstance and by design, I have worked in a range of disciplines and explored the liminal spaces between them. In high school, I conducted independent studies in educational philosophy and cellular biology. I went to college to study public policy and to eventually work in lawmaking; after discovering my passion for contemporary culture, I developed my own interdisciplinary major combining computer science, fine art, philosophy, and design.
My curiosity has taken me on many twists and turns over the years, but I have always emerged a better and more thoughtful person for it. I have gained a broad range of technical, theoretical, and creative skills, and I have learned how to apply these skills in unique contexts.
As an undergraduate, I worked as an assistant in American University’s Computational Material Perception Laboratory, where I applied my knowledge of user interface design and the Unity game engine to design and develop experiments testing the human perception and estimation of digitally rendered materials. These experiments utilized a haptic feedback instrument that allowed individuals to interact with digital objects physically. I worked with the lab’s primary investigators to integrate this apparatus as a key part of the project’s experimental design.
At New America, I used my knowledge of public policy, communication design, and frontend web development to bring complex policy research to life. My work touched every aspect of the organization’s brand and mission, and I created everything from interactive data projects to internal logo and branding concepts.
I have learned that there is profound value in approaching a problem from multiple points of view: the complexity of human life is something to be embraced, not reduced. This is what I believe, this is what I practice, and this is why I am uniquely qualified for WGI.