michelle’s portfolio


design, strategy, 
research



Below, a list of projects that I am proud to have worked on...

Project work

UI/UX
  1. Financial Learning
  2. Chorus
  3. SlowMo
  4. Drama
  5. Solstice
  6. Circular Economy Projects

Qual and Quant Studies
  1. AI Assistants and User Behavior (Quant)
  2. AI Assistants and Recommendations (Qual)
  3. Pebble AI Assistants and Wearables

Mediated Reality and GenAi

  1. Post Truth Democracy (Social Media)
  2. Aurum
  3. Renderella 
  4. Schlumpy Funk
  5. NIO

Design Strategy,  International Development, and Civil Society Work  
  1. Scaling a Youth Health Program Globally 
  2. Advocacy for Community Development 
  3. Supporting Cross-Functional Teams

Behavioral Design and Cognitive Science Research
  1. Behavioral Design and Theories
  2. Neuroscience
  3. Ritual
  4. Behavior Settings
  5. Ownership 







 project snapshots


about  

          


as a Designer


I am driven to design meaningful changes in people's daily lives while also driving wider organisational and systemic changes. My approach, grounded in UI/UX practice and immersive interaction design, focuses on creating intuitive experiences that translate complex challenges into accessible, everyday actions:




  • Imagining the Future: I envision desirable futures that inspire people and organisations to take action.
  • Framing Complexity: I analyse complex system interactions to uncover opportunities for meaningful innovation.
  • Designing Interventions: I craft concrete, short-term innovations that act as catalysts for long-term systemic change
  • Shaping Experiences (UI/UX/XR): I design intuitive, human-centered interfaces and immersive interactions that translate complex ideas into accessible, engaging, and transformative experiences.

as a Design Researcher


I am passionate about understanding how designers can drive long-term systemic change in areas such as energy, healthcare, and much more. My research interests also extend to UI/UX design as a way to visualise and test systemic interventions, using interfaces and prototypes to make complex systems legible, actionable, and engaging for diverse stakeholders:


  • Building Coalitions: Exploring methods for sustained stakeholder collaboration.
  • Evaluating Systemic Change: Investigating how to measure the impact of interventions on societal systems.
  • Visualising Complexity: Developing new ways to communicate about complex systems effectively to diverse stakeholders, such as through interactive system maps or role-playing complexity.
  • Designing Human System Interfaces (UI/UX/XR): Creating intuitive and immersive interfaces that make complex systems legible and actionable, empowering diverse users to engage, decide, and act with confidence.

as a Design Mentor / Coach


I am passionate about empowering other students, peers, and professionals to grow as designers and leaders by refining their skills, teaching UI/UX, broadening perspectives, and driving systemic impact. I guide others in developing the craft of creating human-centered interfaces while connecting design practice to larger systemic and organizational change. My experience includes:


  • Individual Coaching: Mentoring design students on diverse topics, including two Master’s graduation projects through the Interaction Foundry.
  • Engaging Teaching: Lecturing in Master’s electives like Design Psychology and Designing Interventions for Behavior Change and Impact, focusing on transition design, behavior change, and design insights. 
  • Inspiring Practitioners: Delivering workshops to design professionals, equipping them with tools for tackling interaction design and systemic challenges.
  • Expanding Mediums (UI/UX/XR): Guiding students and practitioners in crafting intuitive interfaces and immersive experiences, highlighting how digital and extended realities can serve as testbeds for innovation and systemic change.



me



bio



I’m a design strategist and researcher based in Pittsburgh PA, working at the exciting intersection of design, UI/UX, XR, behavioral science, and societal impact. Proudly Panamanian American, I bring a unique perspective to tackling complex challenges.  
My work bridges creativity, research, and strategy to address complex challenges in ways that foster long-term impact. Grounded in UI/UX practice, my goal is to design intuitive and human-centered experiences that enable meaningful change in people's daily lives while also driving wider behavioral, interactive, organisational, and systemic transformation. 

skills

  • 8 years of UI/UX/XR work
  • Creating intuitive, human-centered, and immersive experiences that translate complex systems into accessible interactions and foster long-term engagement.
  • Systems Thinking: Tackling complex challenges like circular economy.
  • Transition & Systemic Design: Guiding societal and organisational change.
  • International Development
  • Civil Society Work and Social Innovation Strategy 
  • Visioning, Co-Creation, & Reframing: Fostering collaboration to uncover new opportunities.
  • Research Expertise: Utilising qualitative and quantitative methods for impactful design strategies.
  • Actionable Designs: Transforming insights into innovative business opportunities


 connect!