As Design Researcher, Leah (she/her) ensures key decisions are informed by those who will be most impacted by the outcome. Whether it’s for a project, a workshop or a training, Leah translates research findings and jargon to relatable terms and brings people in as collaborators. She is passionate about de-centering her role as a designer by creating meaningful opportunities for people to participate in the design process.

The human-centered design process can feel uncertain and unstructured. With 3+ years as a designer in the public sector context, Leah helps to chart the course from understanding lived experience to defining the problem space and identifying solutions. Drawing on her background in linguistics and organizational management, she examines the underlying structures, processes and mindsets that make the difference between intended outcomes and real impact.

Leah lives in San Francisco where she spends most of her time admiring/fretting over her plants, listening to audiobooks, and wandering the aisles of her local hardware store.