Research
My research explores how design methods and collaborative practice can address complex systems: organizational, cultural, and technological, in ways that are human-centered, equitable, and sustainable. Grounded in entertainment design yet extending into education, business, and community contexts, my work investigates how design processes and collaborative structures can expose systemic challenges and reconfigure them to better serve human capacity and collective well-being. By applying design as a systems-oriented practice, I demonstrate how cross-disciplinary methods can generate innovative outcomes, strengthen organizations, and reimagine the role of design as a catalyst for cultural and social transformation
Bringing Set and Costume Designs to Fruition: Made by Teams
Bringing Set and Costume Designs to Fruition: Made by Teams dives into the collaborative working relationships between set and costume designers with their technical counterparts throughout the theatrical production process, from concept to execution.
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Set and costume designers render environments and characters for a wide array of performative events; skilled artisans and technologists bring these visions to life. This book explores the dynamic between those who decide what the set and costumes should look like and those who make them work, including scene designers, costume designers, scene shops, and costume shops. The book discusses how to identify resources, ask the right questions, and engage in healthy collaborations. Following these fundamentals are practical activities and interviews with industry professionals that demonstrate how these skills can be applied to a broad range of productions and other avenues for creative design and production.
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TEDxUF
2022
"Why Is Anyone Listening to Me?"
Design by Kaitlin Hannah
CDTxUF
"This Is Us"
"This Is Us" is a community-driven project at the University of Florida that gathers biographical works created by design students. These projects, grounded in Cognizant Design Theory, are uniquely layered with each designer's personal ancestry. Here, "ancestry" refers to both family or ethnic heritage and "family" to any individual who has demonstrated commitment, offered grounding, and fostered growth or transformation through a strong emotional and values-based connection. The project aims to assemble and exhibit the rich and diverse tapestry of identities within the UF community.
Microcontroller and Pixel Integration
Collaborating with Associate Professor at University of Buffalo Jon Shimon, this series of projects explores the integration of embedded pixel technology and microcontroller systems within performance costumes to extend corporeal expression through digital augmentation. It examines the convergence of wearable technology and fashion using flexible LED pixel arrays and microcontroller architectures, emphasizing sensorial responsiveness and interactive capabilities. Furthermore, it investigates the potential of embedded electronic systems to foster real-time interactivity, enabling performers to modulate visual effects responsively and create immersive participatory experiences.
Design by Cait Cisek
CDTxHMP
Cognizant Design Theory x The Huddled Masses Project
CDTxHMP is a collaboration with Production Designer, Cait Cisek. Utilizing Cognizant Design Theory as a foundation, Cait explores how design can challenge bias, represent diverse identities, and create connective narratives that resonate beyond the arts. These approaches highlight the designer's role as a mediator between culture, technology, and human experience.