STRATEGIC DESIGN + MANAGEMENT, MS
Marianne Abreu
ESTHER AHN is currently a MS Strategic Design + Management candidate at Parsons School of Design and by day a Product Strategist for GLG Labs (a Gerson Lehrman Group). Before falling in love with technology and its innovative potential to disrupt emerging economies, Esther spent three years as a Co-founder and Executive Director of 5and2 Foundation, strategically funding economic development projects and traveling throughout Asia and Africa. Before traveling the world, she spent two years in corporate litigation and client management services in the financial industries. With a B.A. in Economics and Government from Smith College, Esther spent her junior year in Cape Town, South Africa learning how to surf, and scuba dive, while volunteering to build mobile health clinics for HIV patients in shantytowns. Esther believes design is a way of thinking, a precursor to disrupting this world’s growing complexities.
ALYA AL NOAIMI is a multicultural design strategist. Alya holds a BBA in Design and Management from Parsons School of Design, and participates in the Strategic Design and Management graduate program from Abu Dhabi. Alya believes in the power of design strategies to bring about positive change in a variety of areas. She strives to deepen her knowledge and skills in this field in order to bring this unique, cross-disciplinary perspective into any challenge.
VICTOR ANGEL MOSTI currently leads the design and engineering efforts at Uncharted Play. In this role, he has designed a number of products aimed at introducing play within the context of environmental sustainability and social impact. Previously, Victor has co-developed a number of early-stage projects in the fields of diabetes management and tissue engineering. His upbringing in Mexico City inspires him to consider social, economic and environmental factors in his work. He is interested in design as a strategic tool for innovation management. He holds a bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering and Nanotechnology from Boston University.
MARIA DEL CARMEN CARRERA, who goes by the nickname Maca, was born and raised with her identical twin sister in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Right after High School, Maca went to the Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah, GA. In 2010, after her four years of intensive studies, she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design. Then, Maca moved to New York City to work in a small residential interior design firm as an Interior Designer Associate. Maca is a very creative young professional who loves spatial design, fashion, photography, art, culture, traveling, human behavior and her family. Throughout her 3 years of working in that interior design firm, she has learned the importance of solving design problems in a collaborative environment. Also she felt that she was lacking of knowledge between the business and design area and how this impact the nowadays world that is constantly changing and evolving. That is why Maca decided to continued her studies at Parson The New School of Design for Design Management (online), which is a perfect major for her as she can develop and apply her skills into the design and business world. In her first year at Parson, specially in her Intensive Studio Class with Professor Rhea Alexander, she has learned key research, communication and visualization skills by conducting interviews, documentation behavior using photos and videos, prototyping based on research, planning scenarios, ideating, creating solutions graphically and creating comprehensive strategies. A month ago, during midterms, Maca gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! For a week she was not able to access her emails or get in touch of her classmates. But thanks to her wonderful team she had, it was easy for her to catch up immediately and Maca realized how important is working in a collaborative environment, Maca believes that with research and design we can find sustainable solutions to solve the environmental, political and social problems. Now Maca is experiencing a new chapter in her life, being a mom. She believes that with great effort, dedication, sacrifices and love she will find a job where she can apply all her skills and knowledge to give her daughter a great future.
David Carrion
Chet Chetchotisak
Denise Chiang
Catherine Choronzey-Picard
Yelena Filipchuk
TARYN GUIDRY is from Thibodaux, Louisiana. Taryn has a BFA in Digital Art from Louisiana State University. Before coming here she worked in economic development for digital media, and would like to use her art background and Strategic Design and Management experience to get back into the digital world, especially production.
Michele Haltenhof
PRANG HANVONG is a design industrialist and a fashion designer. In order to understand the complexity of design and business process, Strategic Design and Management program sets a systematic way of thinking for her before launching a product to the world. Apart from her study, She is working as a fashion design and development intern at Natalia inc., a modern clothing made by robot company that focuses in sustainability and innovation
JAMIL HUSSEIN is originally from Canada, and graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Administration in Accounting. In 2008, Jamil launched a graphic t-shirt and faded, used, and unwanted jeans company. While working as an accountant for a modeling agency and several mining companies, he pursued the Certified Management Accountant designation (CMA). After completion of this degree, Jamil, became more focused on the fashion business/industry, and created a blog, www.byjamilhussein.com. Jamil believes that the MS-Strategic Design and Management graduate program at Parsons The New School for Design has opened his mind to the infinite opportunities in the design industry and has allowed him to explore and question areas such as: strategy, innovation, design thinking, product design and ideation.
ANDREW HUTTON is a management consulting professional for Accenture, and is studying to expand his design and innovation capabilities. In the past year, Andrew has interned at the branding and innovation firm Vivaldi Partners Group, and the product design firm ECCO Design. Before that, Andrew was the Director of Ugandan Operations for a development consultancy, creating sustainable and profitable ventures in Uganda, East Africa. Andrew has B.A. in economics and political science from Wheaton College in Illinois. Andrew hopes to blend his background in the social sciences with his new studies and experiences in design and management, and combine them all in his management consulting practice, and hopefully expand into practicing innovation consulting.
MONICA ISAZA was born and raised in Colombia, transplanted to California at age 13 she is a traveler, food passionate, dancer, and art/design lover. Her curiosity to learn more about the world, its peoples and its cultures motivated her to become fluent in Spanish, Italian, French, and marginally fluent in Madarin, and Bengali. Monica’s undergrad studies in Global and International Studies with an emphasis in culture, at UC Santa Barbara were the beginning of the long fun adventure that is her life. As a Peace Corps volunteer after graduation she became thirsty to see more, to explore more of the world and since then has lived and worked in Miami, France, Belgium, China, and Italy. Currently, she resides in Rome as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service Corps. In her previous life before the Foreign Service, she worked as a textile design teacher and as a jewelry designer. She is passionate about learning, exploring and growing as an individual and a professional. Her need for creativity, for being surrounded with creatives and innovators made her gravitate once again towards the creative world and she is currently a Strategic Design Master’s candidate. In her future life, that is about to begin as she finishes her degree, Monica plans to work in a creative industry, using design as a tool to make a difference in people’s lives and in the world.
JASON KING is a design-inspired technology lead and strategist for organizations driven to make a difference. Jason combines technical depth, business acumen, and design sensibilities in helping them to create breakthrough services and service ecosystems. Over the past 15 years, Jason has had the privilege of working and living in 4 countries (Canada, US, India, Brazil), and has helped clients and teams tackle some of their greatest challenges in industries such as financial services, energy services, automotive, mining, and manufacturing. Jason has a special interest in integrative approaches to human-centered design and entrepreneurship. He’s exploring ways to collaborate beyond the existing boundaries of disciplines, professions, and world views to co-create truly meaningful and innovative services for an interdependent world.
Pamela Koretz
MARK LEAL entered the program in order to become an innovation strategist. Mark came to Parsons by way of Northeastern University, in Boston, after graduating with a BS in Music Industry. Apart from his studies, he works full-time at the Directors Guild of America and volunteers for DesigNyc, a non-profit that, “connects civic-minded designers with extraordinary nonprofits serving the public good.”
Jason Lundy
Li Ma
TOM MUDGETT is from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business and a concentration in entrepreneurship. After his undergrad degree, Tom worked in the PR department for the Honduran National Soccer Team, while also doing freelance design for other firms. Tom joined this program to complement his business background with design strategies in order to become a better problem solver.
ZANE MURRAY leads the 3D Printing Lab and Academic Resource Center at Parsons. His BFA in product design and expertise in technology has helped create these new and exciting spaces, blending rapid prototyping with education, exploration and cutting edge research. As a Design and Management student, Zane is pursuing advanced skills; employing strategic planning, innovation tactics and business analytics, gaining insight for future exploration of emerging technologies and markets. Zane’s career is highlighted with several notable achievements, including the Sausalito Arts Festival Award in 2008, the Design Within Reach Student Competition in 2009, the Michael Kalil Endowment for Smart Design in 2010 and the Donghia Materials Library Design Competition in 2011. Zane has presented at several venues regarding his work in operational innovation and strategic design; most recently he spoke at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference in Los Angeles in 2012, and at the Urban Affairs Association Conference in San Francisco in 2013.
Michele Okuhara
JOSHUA PAN is a creative strategist, artist, and music producer. He recently graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Marketing. Josh says that the Strategic Design and Management program allows him to blend his background in marketing with his visual/musical talents to create a more holistic approach to design strategy. You can find Josh’s work at www.joshpan.com
HSING CHUNG SU is from Taipei, Taiwan, and recently graduated from the Pratt Institute with a master of Architecture. After studying as an architecture student for six years, he decided to leave his comfort zone and embrace the business domain that he had been thinking of exploring for some time now. He believes that being educated with aesthetic training in spatial and graphic design gives him an edge in positioning himself in and contributing to a transdiscplinary team that implements strategic practices.
MARINA TSVIGOUN is originally from Moscow, Russia where she received her first Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Marina has completed residential and commercial projects and worked in teams with other interior designers and architects. This experience made her want to learn more about the business and its strategies; and how to create a product or service that people will like and use. Marina joined the Strategic Design and Management program at Parsons to gain knowledge that she will need to create a sustainable business.
SAMANTHA TURNER is a University of Central Florida graduate, who is currently working as a business operations analyst and liaison among stakeholders for successful healthcare software start up. After four years of mastering the technique of consumer and industrial psychology, Samantha ventured abroad to teach English. Since her return, she has tried her hand at nearly everything – from accounting, social media, pitching healthcare industry press releases, to managing hectic schedules of corporate level executives. Within the last year, Samantha’s desire to establish herself and discover her niche has manifested. Determined to obtain a career in an industry and position, where her true passion lies, she enrolled in the first class of Strategic Design and Management. By virtue of her experiences, she has matured into an effective communicator, an active listener, and an innovative intellectual. She carries the strongest demand and aspiration to expand her knowledge, work in a fast paced industry and make a difference in today’s society. Samantha possess’ the passion, street smarts and foresight to become a recognizable frontrunner along with her peers. The chance to continue learning and acquire experience at Parsons has allowed me to flourish in distinct and innovative trades that truly inspire me. Samantha craves to make an eminent impact and become a recognizable innovator.
TAKAO UMEHARA Art Director and Design strategist. He is a creative director of Creativity is Everywhere (creativityiseverywhere.net). Takao combines creative thinking and analytical thinking to bring best user experiences by design. He has worked in field of Branding for 14 years and helped various companies to build design strategies. Client includes Coca-Cola, Motrola, DuPont, New York Times, Absolut Vodka, and SAT. He also help build presentation, and recently helped building presentation for TEDx conference. He also has been working in interaction design field and currently working as an art director / design strategist at Amplify. (amplify.com) where he design entire experience of learning products under ELA, design methodologies, office interior designs. He is also a workshop planner / facilitator and currently helping the company to obtain more strength in innovation workshop. He has also published a book ‘extra ordinary’ (http://goo.gl/tbqit). Takao believes in power of creativity that would bring harmony in our chaotic world.
KHOURIN WIlKINS graduated from Kean University with a BA in Communications, and is currently working with a non-profit that assists young adults by providing them with career coaching and employment opportunities. Before that he worked with the Joan Rivers Company. Khourin has returned to school for the challenging progressive environment, and is looking to develop the skills to eventually start his own consulting firm.
DESIGN BUSINESS,
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
BEA ATIENZA has a holistic background in digital, with experience that covers community management, content, digital production and account management. Her first digital role was as Community Manager & Producer for MTV Philippines in 2006 (before the dawn of Facebook, Twitter or YouTube). She moved to Harrison (a fully-owned subsidiary of McCann Philippines) as the agency’s first digital champion in 2007 and led initiatives to bolster the agency’s digital capability and credentials. After completing Digital Media Marketing studies at New York University in 2010 she was invited to join the agency’s planning team as the digital planner.
Bea now heads Strategic Planning for MRM Manila, leading a team of three digital planners. She champions the practice of Digital Strategy within sound Brand Planning, establishing digital strategy standards within the agency in the areas of asset architecture, content strategy and user journey mapping. She leads strategy development for new business and handles strategic requirements for all of MRM Manila’s accounts, which include Nescafe, Coca-cola and Unilever. Her work has greatly contributed to the agency’s string of wins and she was recently named Southeast Asia Account Person of the Year (a category for account people and planners) by Campaign Asia in 2012. She was recently awarded Rising Star at the McCann Worldgroup Excellence Awards for her work with MRM.
She can be found all over the social media space, but most often tweets as @beaa and blogs at http://www.beyourdigitalbest.com. She loves to visit new cities, has an affinity for subway maps and enjoys breathing life into ad agency work by providing a digital point-of-view.
Rachel Iwaniec
Sujata Nandwani
Ruchi Shah
Rachel Suming
Todd Trosclair
Annick Tyler
