Nandini (Nanz) Nair is a designer from Aotearoa New Zealand
Design has the power to address some of the world's greatest challenges. A smartly designed experience, interaction, or compelling narrative has the power to transform people’s perceptions and behavior, and change systems. I believe in using this power for good. I’m a product and UX/UI designer with several years of experience in social and environmental impact projects across start-ups, social enterprises, government, and non-profits.
My passion lies in bringing clarity and meaning to ambiguity and complexity through thoughtful and well-crafted digital experiences. As a hands-on team player, I bring deep curiosity and reflection not only on what we design, but also, how we design it together. I play an active role in shaping a positive team culture with facilitation and participatory processes.
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Pronunciation & Pronouns: Nuhn-dih-nee Na-yer • She/her
SKILLS, INTERESTS & COMMUNITIES
Design Skillset
I bring a range of skills to any project from research, team process, design, and implementation.
As a senior designer, I...
→ Design across product, interface, experience, data visualization, and brand
→ Support agile development teams through research, design, and implementation
→ Facilitate workshops to build a shared understanding between stakeholders
→ Use design research & testing methods to understand user needs
→ Prototype user experiences and interfaces, and create design systems
→ Facilitate strategy and planning for product teams
→ Enable the sense-making process of complex systems
→ Build design capacity within teams and organizations
→ Teach and mentor upcoming designers
→ Tinker with code
Domains
I pride myself on being a curious T-shaped design generalist exploring many interests
The Commons: Solidarity Economy, Collectivism, Mutual Aid, Alternative Economics
Systems: Design Thinking for Complex Systems, Cybernetics, Transition Design
Sustainability: Climate Action, Behavior Change and Persuasive Strategies
Flourishing: Mental Health, Meditation & Mindfulness, Adaptive Mindsets, Meta-cognition
Design Justice: Decoloniality, Indigenous Tech, Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Communities of Practice
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Design @ Carnegie Mellon University
collaboration
interaction design
A graduate studio comprised of designers from around the world learning to critically think, make and practice design in the context of 21st-century challenges. Studiomate since 2019.
Design Justice Network
design justice
social change
DJN is a global network of people and organizations who are committed to rethinking design processes so that they center people who are too often marginalized by design. Signatory since 2020.
EXPERIENCE & RECOGNITION
Professional experience
8+ years of design experience across tech, startups, social enterprises, freelance, academia
Interaction Designer • Kumu, 2021, USA - Remote
Graduate Instructor and Teaching Assistant • Carnegie Mellon, 2019 - 2020, NZ
Product Design Lead • CoGo - Connecting Good 2017 - 2019, NZ & UK
Education
A lifelong learner
Masters of Design, Carnegie Mellon University (2022 expected)
Bachelor of Design (Hons), Massey University College of Creative Arts
Awards
A little recognition
Core77 Design Award 2021: Consumer Tech Design Award (Student Winner)
Fulbright 2019 – 2022: New Zealand Science and Innovation Fulbright Grantee
Currently, residing in Dionde:gâ, the Seneca language name for Pittsburgh, the ancestral lands of many indigenous peoples.