Ilyssa Kyu is a design researcher & strategist focused on people and planet.

 
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Bio

Ilyssa Kyu is #opentowork after her tenure as a Senior Design Researcher at frog, where she led inclusive design efforts to ensure products, services, and experiences are useful and joyful for all people.

She is also the founder of the sabbatical program, Amble (featured in the NY Times), and co-editor of Campfire Stories: Tales from America’s National Parks and Trails—a collection of best-selling anthologies from America’s national parks and card decks that ignite imagination and storytelling around the campfire.

Resume

Ilyssa has over a decade of experience leading teams, projects, and programs for organizations and corporations spanning industries that include: social impact, arts & culture, health & wellness, publishing, telecommunications, banking, transportation, higher education, and environmental conservation.

Her human-centered research approach has informed and built strong foundations for an array of projects using qualitative and quantitative methods. As a facilitator, convener, and strategist, Ilyssa uses design-thinking and unconventional ways of solving problems to help organizations achieve their mission and impact, while prioritizing marginalized communities and educating clients & stakeholders on why inclusive design is good design.

 

Experience

frog
Senior Design Researcher
Feb 2021 - Aug 2023

Co-Editor & Writer
Campfire Stories
Jul 2015 - present

Amble
Founder & Program Director
Jun 2018 - Jan 2021

Artist-in-Residence
Independence National Historic Park, National Park Service
Funded by National Endowment of the Arts, Mural Arts Program
2018

Design Research & Strategy Consultant
Self-Employed
June 2018 - Jan 2021

P’unk Avenue
Lead UX Researcher
Sept 2012 - Jun 2018

Made By We
Collaborator - UX & Strategy
Dec 2017-Jan 2021

 

Education & Certifications

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Design
University of the Arts, Philadelphia
2007 - 2011

Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)
IAAP - International Association of Accessibility
2021

 

Skills & Qualities

Design Research

Inclusive & Universal Design

Qualitative & Quantitative Research

Ethnographic Research

Consumer Insights

Interviewing & Facilitation

Workshopping & Co-Creation

Empathetic

Collaborative

Inclusive

Communicative

Curious

Values-driven

Parent

 
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Contact

Fill out this form or email me at ilyssa.kyu[at]gmail.com