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Hi!
I am Neha Mann, a designer-researcher hybrid living in Seattle, US.
I am interested in studying people, why we do things the way we do. I have trained in qualitative methods both on the job and at the graduate level. Lately, I have been enjoying applying the principles of design research to intuitive digital user experiences at the Stream team in Microsoft.
As is reflective in my work, I am an advocate for women's health and rights. I stand by 'Women's Rights = Human Rights.'
I am generally considered an extrovert, but it's tough for me to leave the house unless the plan includes live music.
Work Experience
MICROSOFT
Nov 20 - Present
Senior Designer
MS Office, Microsoft Stream
I design AI features for video viewing and engagement in enterprises. Some of my recent work includes:
• Auto-generated chapters to provide an at-a-glance overview of content
• Point of interest to make it easier to find relevant sections in long videos
• AI assisted summarization of videos
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Oct 18 - May 20
User Experience Designer & Researcher
Dept.: Behaviour Medicine and Clinical Psychology
• Designed a patient-facing iOS app to facilitate shared-decision making
• Web design of a shared portal for doctors, patients and community
• Co-ordinated with developers
• Presented at the Annual Sickle Cell Convention 209 in Washington DC
• Designed workshop and activities for product evaluation
• Visualized research data for other teams
HISTORY MOVES
June 19 - Aug 19
User Experience Design Intern
History Moves is a research collaborative at the intersection of public history and graphic design. Since 2014, they have been working on a mobile exhibition titled 'Women's History of HIV in America.
• Development of a custom curation tool to enable remote collaboration in the exhibition design process.
• Co-ordinating with developers from the Digital Humanities department at University of Cincinnati
• Presenting Scholar, International Association of Societies of Design Research (IASDR) conference, Manchester, UK
• Designing data into exhibition content
NOURISH ORGANICS
Apr 18 - July 18
Graphic Designer
Nourish Organics is an organic breakfast-food company in India.
• Designed annual festive bundle packages (2017 & 2018)
• Redesigned section of the packaging for the entire product collection
• Designed print campaigns, catalogues, promotional media
• Co-ordinated with digital marketing agencies
• Photography and art direction for digital marketing
CENTER FOR KNOWLEDGE SOCIETIES
Aug 17 - Mar 18
Design Researcher & Graphic Designer
Project: Beyond Five (combating under 5-year-old mortality rates)
Client: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Ethnographic research in rural India to understand social vulnerability
• Rapid prototyping and testing
• Designing and testing strategies to improve adoption of interventions
• Workshop facilitation on field
Project: Read to Kids Program (an early-grade learning software)
Client: Worldreader, USA, a not-for-profit working in education technology
• Design strategies for scaling the ed-tech ecosystem
• Influencer mapping to increase engagement
• Usability testing with users on the field, in their home (typical use environments)
• Graphics for all print and web collaterals required for promotion, events, workshops, across the organization.
TRIDENT GROUP
Jul 16 - Feb 17
Digital Designer
Trident Group is the world's largest terry towel producer, and a leading manufacturer of paper, chemicals and energy in India and a USD 1 billion conglomerate.
• Designed the corporate website (www.tridentindia.com)
• Co-ordinated with remote developers to build the website
• Strategy and design for digital marketing
Teaching Experience
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Jan 19 - Aug 20
Teaching Assistant - Trend Forecasting
With Professor Brooke Brandewie
• Designed new pedagogical methods in Trend Forecasting and how it can aid social innovation.
• Guest lecturing
• Feedback and student counselling
• Designing worksheets and class content
Education
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Aug 18- Dec 18
Research Assistant - Equity for youth artisans
With Dr. Ashley Kubley
• Researching equitable practices and design guidance for Mayan indigenous artisans in the New Mexico region.
• Responding to grant proposals
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
AUG 2020
Masters of Design (UX & Design Research)
Masters Degree
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
MARCH 2020
International Women's Health and Human Rights
Graduate Certificate
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY
MAY 2016
Bachelors of Design (Lifestyle Accessory Design)
Bachelors Degree
Awards & Conferences
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
2020
AIGA DESIGN CONFERENCE
2020
Poster Presentation
Curatorial Groupware: Impact of digital tools on the exhibition design process
DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETY,
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
2019
Presenting Scholar
Teaching Design Strategy for Social Impact: A Synergistic Pedagogical Framework
ACADEMIC DESIGN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, TORONTO, CANADA
2020
Presenting Scholar
From Self-Advocacy to Public History: Building Collaborative Capacity among Remote Communities
ACADEMIC DESIGN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, TORONTO, CANADA
2020
Presenting Scholar
Mediating Piatt Park: Addressing Crime Prone Public Spaces through Design
DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, US
2019
Catalyst Award
Supported project work and travel for research presentation at an international conference (IASDR 2019, Manchester, UK).
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION,
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, US
2019
Conference Presenter Award
Supported travel for research presentation at an international conference (IASDR 2019, Manchester, UK).
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DESIGN RESEARCH SOCIETIES, UK
2019
Presenting Scholar
Curatorial Groupware: Designing Collaborative Curation Tools for Public Exhibition of Community-Built Archives
ANNUAL SICKLE CELL DISEASE CONVENTION, US
2019
Workshop Lead
Designed and led a focus-group workshop with doctors, patients and community-led organizations.
EUROSTAMPA GLOBAL PACKAGING DESIGN CHALLENGE
2018
Best Use of Substrate
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
2018-2020
Graduate Scholarship Award (75%)
