product and experience design

Collections and Conversation Starters (2022)

At PBS KIDS I conceived, project managed, curated, and produced new collections to the PBS KIDS for Parents site around SEL topics like creativity, curiosity, self-confidence, and managing challenges. These topics were selected in conjunction with our first PBS KIDS for Parents co-design group. Working with PBS SoCal and Arizona PBS to facilitate co-design groups in both English and Spanish, ten parents and caregivers living in low-income households supported the selection of topics and basis of design.

As a result of these conversations, two new types of collections emerged: one that facilitates intergenerational conversations associated with short media clips, and the other a type of collection that bundles related content to be delivered through a playful shuffling effect. I worked as a facilitator of those co-design groups, drew up basic wireframes to share with our internal UX designer, created content development guidelines, oversaw the product and content development, and engaged with a group of students to run formative testing. Additionally, I managed an agency that helped drive traffic to these sites and adjusted messaging based on learnings about resonance with parents and caregivers from marketing metrics.

Funmingo (2020)

Funmingo was a quick, absurd game conducted over video chat that was safe for work and family friendly. In the winter of 2020, we had a successful Kickstarter, and created dozens of personalized birthday parties, happy hours, and graduation celebrations for people of all ages as they gathered to celebrate events virtually, perhaps for the first time. 

My co-founder Gabe Lamanuzzi and I believe people can and should goof together anywhere. We made Funmingo in part to try and indoctrinate people of this deeply held belief. But mostly, we wanted to make each other laugh...and help others experience the joy of making others laugh. We created it in our last semester of grad school, which was interrupted by the pandemic. We grew the game, launched a successful Kickstarter.

Funmingo remains an interesting space for us to explore, test, and play in the space we all continue to spend more time together, apart. 

Innovation Portfolios (2019)

At Digital Promise, I conceived, product managed, edited, marketed, and launched innovation portfolios a multimedia storytelling platform that empowers innovative school districts to share first-person accounts of their stories, projects, and innovations.

• I worked with district leaders at the onset, identifying needs and incorporating feedback into early prototypes, creating champions of the work.

• I managed the team, including an external backend developer, front-end developer, communications departments from over 70 school districts, our internal communications team, and our program team. 

• I held storytelling workshops for school district superintendents and leaders to hold time and space for reflection and creation.

• I edited over 150 stories submitted by school district leaders.

• I authored and produced 5 deep dive case studies, like this one.

• I supported the marketing plan for the platform, which highlighted and celebrated individual district contributions.