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.
Download Resume
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.
Enspiral
collectivism
non-hierarchy
micro-solidarity
A non-hierarchical collective of skilled people who practice new ways of working through experiments on group decision-making, collaborative budgeting, and facilitation. Contributor since 2012. Enspiral.com • Enspiral Tales
Design in Transition / Diseño en Transición
systems change
transition design
Design in Transition is a podcast about designing for systems-level change toward more sustainable and equitable futures. Contributor since 2021.
Art~Hack
solarpunk
creative exploration
Social gathering of creative techies in Wellington exploring and experimenting with art, code, music, and crypto. Art hacker since 2016. arthack.nz
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
Freelance Designer • nanz.design Present, New Zealand
UX/UI Designer • Ackama 2016 – 2017, New Zealand
Designer • Inspiring Stories Trust, 2014 – 2015, New Zealand
Social Innovator • Lifehack Labs, 2014, New Zealand
Designer-in-residence • Live the Dream, 2014, New Zealand
Contributor • Enspiral 2012 – 2017, New Zealand
Designer • Open Lab, 2011 – 2012, New Zealand
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Teaching assistant for Interaction Design Seminar (2020)
Research Assistant for Transition Design Institute (2020)
Instructor for Communication Design Fundamentals (2019)
Massey University, New Zealand
Senior tutor & Guest Marker (2014 - 2016)
Education
A lifelong learner
Masters of Design, Carnegie Mellon University (2022 expected)
Bachelor of Design (Hons), Massey University College of Creative Arts
Web Development Bootcamp, Enspiral DevAcademy (2019)
User Experience Design Masterclass, Peak Usability (2017)
Design Exchange Student, Nanyang Technological University
Awards
A little recognition
Core77 Design Award 2021: Consumer Tech Design Award (Student Winner)
Fulbright 2019 – 2022: New Zealand Science and Innovation Fulbright Grantee
DESIGN AWARDS
Best Award Finalist 2017: Together We Make a Nation
Best Award Gold Award 2013: Gallagher HR4 Hand Held Reader (Open Lab – UI design)
Best Award Bronze Award 2011: BLAST Conference
Best Award Bronze Award 2011: Asian Language Retention
Best Award Bronze Award 2011: Dulux Transformations
AWARDS/GRANTS
Ākina Bursary Recipient for Social Enterprise World Forum 2018 in Edinburgh
Exchange Students Travel Grant 2008
New Zealand Undergraduate Study Abroad Awards 2008
Massey University High Achievers Scholarship Art & Academics 2007
COMPETITIONS
Visa's Everywhere Initiative 2017 – Finalist
GovJam Wellington 2015 – Most Viable ServiceGovJam
Climathon NZ 2015 Winner
ContriBeauty Infographic Design Winner, 2013, 2014
Currently, residing in Dionde:gâ, the Seneca language name for Pittsburgh, the ancestral lands of many indigenous peoples.