Amanda Acquaire, EDI '24Design Research, Service Design, Healthcare
About
People are often charged with finding the “right” answer to a problem, and have been conditioned not to give any wrong answers along the way. Amanda believes, however, that problems often don’t have one “right” answer or one “right” approach; by soliciting input from diverse sources, engaging in open collaboration, and constantly iterating, designers can identify more effective real-world solutions. After undergoing cancer treatment and noting firsthand how even the best hospitals have opportunities for improved processes and elevated services, Amanda is particularly drawn to leveraging design research and service design to improve the experiences of those involved in delivering and receiving healthcare.
Portfolio
Why EDI?
When discussing grad school plans with friends or family, Amanda would hear a common refrain: “Engineering? You?”
Given her professional background in analytics and education at a liberal arts school, their surprise was natural. After starting a new position at work, however, Amanda was introduced to human-centered design and, thanks to a few key mentors, nurtured that interest into a passion.
Amanda chose EDI because of the collaborative and intimate nature of the cohort, the sense of shared purpose in the community, and the ample opportunity for cross-disciplinary, interactive applied learning. Beyond her areas of expertise, Amanda aspires to become a T-shaped designer with a breadth of skills to engage with any undefined problem that people face. Through hands-on, studio classes across disciplines and everyday interactions with classmates who possess different backgrounds and focuses, Amanda hopes to gain not only a firm foundation in design, but also friends with whom to work, play, and grow.
Education
BA, Economics & Psychology, Middlebury College.
Experience
Data Analysis & Insights Analyst, Fidelity Investments; Service Design and Delivery Analyst - Digital Workplace, Fidelity Investments.
