Fall 2026 Speakers
Dr. Daniella DiPaola
Postdoctoral Associate - MIT Media Lab
November 19th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST (Virtual)
In the fifth installment of By Design, researcher and educator Dr. Daniella DiPaola will explore how design, literacy, and policy can support young people in navigating the responsible use of AI.
Drawing on her research at the intersection of AI, children, and society, Daniella will discuss how media literacy must evolve for the age of AI and how design research can amplify youth voices in shaping emerging technologies.
She will share projects that introduce young people to ethical decision-making around AI and create opportunities for them to participate in shaping AI policy.
Daniella is a Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Media Lab, where she researches human-AI interaction, develops K-12 AI curricula, and supports educational policy on AI in schools.
Dr. Susie Wise
Author & Educator - Stanford d.school
In the fourth installment of By Design, designer and educator Dr. Susie Wise discussed how design can foster belonging by creating the conditions for inclusion and collaboration.
Drawing on her book, Design for Belonging: How to Build Inclusion and Collaboration in Your Communities, Susie explored how spaces, rituals, roles, and systems can help people feel a sense of belonging.
Susie shared practical frameworks for using creativity to build belonging and discuss how inclusive design can support innovation across workplaces, communities, and schools.
Susie is the co-creator of Liberatory Design and a longtime educator at Stanford University’s d.school. She holds a PhD in Learning Sciences and Technology Design.
Spring 2026 Speakers
Dhaval Patel
Founder & CEO - Lotus
In the third installment of By Design, founder and CEO of Lotus, discussed how to build a product and company by designing for accessibility first. Lotus is a wearable ring that allows users to control lights, switches, and other objects simply by pointing, without any apps, WiFi, or rewiring.
Dhaval discussed how designing for inclusivity can lead to more usable products for everyone, and how simplicity can remove friction from the environments we interact with daily.
Lotus was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2025, recognized in Inc Magazine's Best in Business for Veterans, and is used by organizations across 30+ states.
Joe Hollier
Co-founder - Light
In the second installment of the series, Joe Hollier, co-founder of Light will joined us virtually for a conversation about how the Light Phone uses minimalism as both an aesthetic and strategic choice. He discussed how subtractive design decisions challenge dominant technology models built to grab as much of our attention as possible. This conversation also explored Light's unconventional marketing tactics and how they reinforce the philosophy of the product, positioning it as a tool for more intentional use and sustained focus.
Joe Hollier is a multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur, who has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for consumer technology products, Print Magazine’s Top 20 Under 30 for visual artists, and the A.D.C Young Guns. The Light Phone was named one of Time’s Best Inventions of the Year in 2021 and 2025.
Diana Tobey
Executive Design Director - IDEO Play Lab
In the first installment of the series, Diana Tobey joined us virtually to discuss play as a core design skill. She shared how embracing ambiguity and imagining multiple possible futures can lead to more thoughtful, human-centered outcomes.
Diana is the Executive Design Director at IDEO’s Play Lab and with 15 years of experience in strategy, startups, and innovation, she helps organizations move ideas from concept to impact.
Hosted by Georgia Tech's MID Program
By Design is hosted by Georgia Tech's Master of Industrial Design program.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Tim Purdy or Tamika Blanks.
Interested in Being a By Design Speaker?
Contact our By Design Student Coordinator, Leehie Shamia, with your information.
