Designing clarity in complex systems — from discovery through delivery

What I Do

I help organizations turn systems into products and services that work for people, bringing the humanity into technology.

How I Think

With a background in Anthropology and Communication Design from Washington University in St. Louis and certificates in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy and Yoga, I bring a lens of systems, culture, and psychology to:

  • Product strategy and design

  • Qualitative + quantitative research

  • Visual storytelling that moves ideas from zero to one

How I Lead

My work lives at the intersection of design, operations, and transformation — helping teams:

  • Clarify what matters

  • Design responsibly

  • Deliver outcomes that scale with the people they serve

  • Have fun and learn while doing it

I apply design thinking and strategic planning best practices to balance vision with execution — creatively mitigating trade-offs between user experience and business value. I’ve helped teams grow by improving collaboration, hiring and retention, and conflict resolution through clear communication and shared frameworks.

What I Believe

Technology should always be grounded in human needs and public benefit — creating clarity, confidence, and connection across every layer of experience.

When I’m not designing, I’m usually on a mountain trail — exploring new ways of weaving intuition into design, or tending to the practices that keep me grounded.

How I Work

  • 🌱 Root projects in primary research 

    Uncover insights that guide strategy, spark inspiration, and reduce risk.

  • 🔍 Connect systems and people 

    Align teams, processes, and technology around shared goals — ensuring decisions scale across the organization.

  • 🌍 Design for human and environmental impact

    Create services and products that are inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in real-world context.

  • 🤝 Facilitate Collaboration

    Manage group dynamics, translate perspectives, and build momentum across disciplines and silos.

  • ✨ Prototype and Co-Create Experiences

    Bring ideas to life early — building conviction, testing assumptions, and accelerating adoption.

  • 🔁 Iterative approach

    Keep listening, learning, and refining — ensuring solutions stay resilient and meaningful over time.

Hired and Trusted By

What People Are Saying

  • “Al has the talent to make the complicated seem effortless while ensuring everyone is on board and excited about the journey."

    Senior Product Manager, B2B SaaS

  • "Alissa brought stakeholders together from technology with busy on-site operations teams to deliver substantial changes to workflow and applications.”

    Technology Lead, Renewable Energy

  • "Alissa has been integral to my progress. I leave our sessions with so much clarity and increased confidence in my abilities."

    Junior Designer & Researcher

  • "Her contributions have not only driven our project forward but have also set a new standard in user experience design for our team.”

    UX Director, Telecom

Latest Work Experiences

Lead Designer at bp Onshore Wind

Head of AI Product Design at Stealth Startup

Service & Interaction Design Manager at Fjord / Accenture Song

Senior Service Designer at Philips

Senior Consultant, Service Design & Customer Experience at Booz Allen Hamilton

Community & Mentorship

Mentor at ADPList - Top 50 Mentor in Service Design

Facilitator, Austin Women Entrepreneurs Task Force, City of Austin

Former Communication Co-Chair at Service Design DC

Writing & Articles

“Embodying Change: Trauma-informed Design, Human-centered Design” in The Routledge Companion to Practicing Anthropology and Design

“Research in Three Dimensions: How Fjord Mixed Modalities for Iterative Insights” in dscout People Nerds Blog