What made you decide to go to design school?
Prior to returning to school, I worked in international trade and finance and civil rights policy advocacy at nonprofits in Washington DC. I hold a BA in International Relations, and much of my career involved communicating policy issues. I became interested in methods of communication and rhetoric employed by design, which I saw as having an application in policy. Since then, my focus has shifted a bit, but my work is still concerned with design and its relationship to how groups of people form opinions and make decisions.

Has it been a positive experience?
On the balance, it has been positive. Coming to an MFA program represents a major career change, which is exhilarating and terrifying. However, it's been very interesting and rewarding to develop a new lens and skillset. The most rewarding aspect has been meeting and working with other students, undergrads as well as grads, in all departments.

Design Hero?
My studiomates
Favorite Color?
Black:
1. How designerly!
2. Both all colors (subtractive)
3. And no colors (additive).
Favorite Typeface?
Elderkin (Eric Olson), Mercury (HFJ)
Favorite TV Shows?
30Rock, The Daily Show, Strangers with Candy.
Favorite Radio Shows?
NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show, Morning Edition, Studio 360
Favorite Books?
Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error
Favorite Movies?
Blade Runner, Oldboy, Playtime, Rushmore
Favorite Fine Artist?
William Eggleston
Favorite Gadget?
Bike light
Bookmarked Websites?
fastcodesign.com, fatbackdc.com, linedandunlined.com, radiolab.org