gravitytank

Lisa holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her field of study was in the rigorous program of Fiber and Material Studies, which has helped shape her studio practice as a maker of objects and drawings. Driven by concept, she is unbound by medium or technique, and her skill set ranges from soft to hard materials, hand-made to digital realms, one-of-a-kinds to multiples. Prior to joining gravitytank in the spring of 2012, Lisa worked as a Gallery Director where she focused on curating aesthetic experiences and cultivating emerging talent for clients such as Starbucks, Leo Burnett, Joffrey Ballet, Hotel Sax, Nordstrom, as well as numerous residential clients. Lisa’s unique skill set as a trained observer, maker, and curator allows her to seamlessly collaborate with researchers and strategists to develop creative solutions and experiences for clients.

Arielle draws upon her background in strategy and marketing to develop innovative solutions for clients as a strategist at gravitytank. Her understanding of how to bridge consumer insights with business strategy has led to successful solutions for clients such as Merck, Kimberly Clark, and the Mayo Clinic. Arielle holds a B.S. in Marketing and Technology Management from Georgetown University, an MBA in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management and an MEM in Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University.

Kyleigh brings a unique perspective and culinary prowess to gravitytank. As a classically trained chef, she is an integral part of food innovation projects, from the initial trend and consumer research to developing food prototypes. She began her foray into food service by graduating from Kendall College in Chicago and honed her skills at the Peninsula Hotel. Kyleigh also has a degree from Miami University’s Farmer School of Business and experience as a project manager, so she is excited to combine her passion and love of cooking and food with helping companies solve problems, develop new products, and grow their businesses.

Andrew Bates was born in Canada and grew up in central Illinois. He has diverse work experience ranging from construction to working as a crew chief in the USAF. He is an avid runner, cyclist, and paddler, taking part in as many as twelve races a year. He began working in design and prototyping while in his third year at The University of Illinois at Chicago, where he received his BFA and spent two years working as a freelance designer in the Chicago area. Andrew enjoys solving problems through building and experimentation, using physical objects to solve compelling problems.

Teddy joined gravitytank as a fellow in Summer 2011. His passion for the arts originated from New York City where he was born and raised. After moving to Chicago, he attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and graduated with a BFA in Industrial Design. His design background consists of working with companies such as Life Fitness, Baxter Healthcare, 3M, Kraft Foods, and Kitchen Aid.

Stephen joined gravitytank's communication design team in September 2011. With a background in writing and brand strategy, he is interested in using consumer research to inform clear and elegant user-centered design solutions. He holds a BFA in Communication Design from the University of North Texas.

Reina is a communication designer whose aim is to simplify complex information with clear, engaging visual design. During her time in school, she gained experience through internships in advertising and print. After graduating, her experience collaborating as a designer in healthcare innovation and in the financial industry has helped her better understand and engage in the research process. She received a BFA in Communication Design from Carnegie Mellon University.

Rebecca joined the gravitytank team in June 2011. She holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her professional experience includes design for the packaging, retail, and housewares industries. Although she is a designer by trade, Rebecca is passionate about research and consumer insights, and her goal is to bridge these two fields in her everyday work.

Pooja integrates her desire to understand human social activity with her understanding of good business to solve multi-faceted challenges as a strategist at gravitytank. With a background in management consulting, she brings a strong operational perspective to strategic initiatives and a multidisciplinary approach to business problems. Pooja holds a BA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Finance and Sociology where she focused her studies on social enterprise and organizational frameworks.

Nicholas is a Research Associate at gravitytank who works at the intersection of social research, business strategy, and design. He helps clients discover insights and translate them into opportunities for innovation. He's worked in the corporate world for GE, Best Buy, online retailers, and a handful of startups as well as the philanthropic world on electronic medical records in Rwanda, diabetes care in India, and clean water systems in Honduras. Nicholas developed a passion for design research while earning his Master's degree in Engineering Design & Innovation from Northwestern University, where he now serves on the Advisory Board for the program.

Nadeem looks at design as applied experimentation and tries to create meaningful, human interactions between people and things. After studying industrial design at Carnegie Mellon University, Nadeem has collaborated on several projects, from the design of OXO kitchen tools to generating concepts for the future of computing. His work incorporates a wide range of interests, from the investigation of form and craft, to making interactions tangible and finding novel ways of visualizing information. Exercising this adaptability, he is equally happy with a pen, carving gouge, or soldering iron in his hand. Nadeem’s work has been exhibited and published in a number of places including I.D. Magazine, Data Flow 2 and Future Everything.

Leslie joined gravitytank as a fellow in Summer 2011. She has worked in social service, design and education. She sought to understand the interaction between people and the elements of their environments long before she learned about this wonderful field called Design and Research. Leslie graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and focused on Science, Technology and Society at Stanford University. She obtained her MA in Industrial Design and Anthropology from University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jason brings knowledge of craft and manufacturing with a passion for bringing real value to people through product design. He has worked on medical devices, tools, consumer electronics, housewares, personal care, and office products. He uses rapid visualization and prototyping skills to help teams get tangible quickly, and then uses his expertise in 3D development to create clearly refined concepts that deliver on their strategic promise. He holds a BA in industrial design from Purdue University and has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Joining gt in August of 2011, Jacob brings his technical knowledge of audio and video systems to Gravity Tank. Being a graduate of Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, and a former crew member of the Judge Pirro Show, Jacob learned the importance of collaboration and communication. Prior to gt, he helped manage Tejas Yoga, where he learned various office skills and accounting applications.

Erin brings over a decade of design experience to gravitytank as she works to frame new opportunities for both prospective clients and gravitytank. Having worked at offices such as VSA Partners, Faust, Avenue, SamataMason and IDEO, she founded EPIC: Engaging Philanthropy, Inspiring Creatives, a nonprofit organization that engages creative individuals in social change. Erin has a BS in journalism and art history from the University of Colorado in Boulder and is a design graduate of the Portfolio Center in Atlanta. She has sat on the board of directors for AIGA and has taught design classes and created curriculum for institutions such as Columbia College, Chicago Portfolio School, North Park University and Marwen, a Chicago school that educates and inspires under-served young people through the visual arts.

Erik joined gravitytank as a fellow in Summer 2011. As a graduate of the Syracuse University industrial and interaction design program, he strives to not only create compelling objects, but to produce meaningful experiences and ideas. His prior contributions on consumer, medical, and industrial projects has seen him work with clients and brands such as Proctor & Gamble, Motorola, Gillette, Charmin, and Welch Allyn.

Craig joined gravitytank as an interactive designer in Winter 2011. He strives to better the world through engaging and purposeful experiences while maintaining a balance of aesthetics and strategy. Craig studied Visual Communication and Art History at Northern Illinois University, during which he took a detour and studied contemporary Art and Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland.

Bruce is a strategist at gravitytank, where he helps clients seek out new growth opportunities, develop actionable innovation roadmaps, and work at transforming their firms. He is passionate about social innovation and has consulted for organizations such as Blue Shield of California and the National Park Service. Bruce holds a BA in Religious Studies from Pomona College and an MBA in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management, where he was an F.C. Austin Scholar.

Autumn joined gravitytank as a fellow in June 2011. She combines her experience as a journalist and designer with her passion for story telling and social change by gathering stories and communicating them in ways that enable clients to develop valuable solutions that address the needs of their audience. She holds a BS in Journalism from the Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and Masters degrees in Design Management and Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Jed is an interaction designer, hacker, and entrepreneur. He joined gravitytank in 2010 after a few years of contributing to several projects as a consultant. His background and education allow him to bridge the gap between design and programming by creating rapid prototypes and production applications. Starting with usability testing, he migrated through interaction design to geekier pastures. Jed co-founded LimeChile, which creates web apps for UX professionals. Jed holds a Psychology degree from Brigham Young University and a Master’s from IIT Institute of Design in Chicago.

Elena joined the gravitytank team in May 2010. Her background as an audio engineer and in other multimedia has enabled her to communicate unique research insights in creative and artistic ways. Her work as a sound designer has premiered in several film festivals across the U.S. She holds a BA in Spanish and Anthropology from Grinnell College, and an AA in Recording Arts from Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy.

Tom is a creative design technologist with academic and professional training in film, photography, animation, and software development. At gravitytank Tom designs and builds tools and prototypes. Prior to joining gravitytank, Tom worked in the Consumer eXperience Design group at Motorola guiding the development of media and simulations for handsets, at Bear River Associates developing software for handheld devices and at the Doblin Group where he created software and engineering prototypes. Tom spent many of his formative years traveling the globe designing and building corporate communication installations for fortune 500 companies. Tom has studied at the College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago and at Northwestern University.

Susan joined gravitytank’s Development team in Spring 2010, after two years as a Lead Strategist for the firm. Prior to joining gravitytank, Susan was a brand manager for PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, where she gained experience developing brand strategies and managing day-to-day business performance for Rold Gold, Lays, Fritos and Sun Chips, among others. Susan’s past experience gives her insight into client’s needs and allows her to help clients determine the best ways to grow their own businesses through innovation. She holds a BA in Communication Studies from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Texas.

Martha is a Partner at gravitytank and has lead the Research Discipline since the spring of 2008 when she joined the firm. She began her career at eLab in 1990s, and since then has worked across a wide variety of industries plying her skills as an applied ethnographer and business consultant. Stints include leadership roles at Sapient, Hall & Partners, and HLB. Clients are numerous and range from General Mills to General Motors; from SCJ to J&J; from Fidelity (Investments) to Security (U.S. Department of). Martha holds a BA in English from Indiana University and an MA in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. She is currently adjunct faculty at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the McCormick School of Engineering. Martha is former co-chair and current Advisory Committee member of the Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference (EPIC).

Shailesh is a partner at gravitytank and leads the strategy group, helping clients connect the dots from meaningful research insights to differentiated market positions that create new business value. He has worked in design, brand, marketing and management roles for a diverse group of companies including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Wilton industries. As a business executive working from a design point of view, he has learned how to formulate successful new initiatives and champion them to build conviction across all levels of an organization. Shailesh holds a Master's degree in Design Methods from IIT Institute of Design and a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Sriram Thodla has a background in business analysis, technology and design. He has previously worked with companies such as Target in their innovation group and helped numerous retail technology firms with their product strategy as an analyst at AMR Research. Prior to that, he co-founded Watch360, an online competitive intelligence service for companies. Sriram has completed his dual degree Masters of Design/MBA at the Institute of Design in Chicago and holds an undergraduate bachelor of computer science from U.C Berkeley.

Shelley is an expert field researcher with a fine antenna for relating to people in ways that help them open up and express what they think, do and how they feel. Known for developing research with sensitivity and imagination, Shelley has sharpened her Qualitative tool-set to include strong expertise in ethnographic, digital, longitudinal and non-traditional facility based methodologies. Her past client work has cut across a diverse set of business problems and categories around the globe: FootJoy, Horizon Organic, Orbitz, Nintendo, KFC, Samsung, Smirnoff, and Wal-mart. She holds a BA in Literature from Northwestern University and attended Miami Ad School’s Boot Camp for Account Planners.

A founding partner of gravitytank and the leader of its design practice, Scott brings over 20 years of design and development experience in product, packaging and brand initiatives to GT’s clients. His unique ability to move effortlessly between aesthetic and functional design while transforming concepts to concrete solutions makes him a trusted advisor to consumer packaged goods, retail, and consumer electronics clients. He has helped develop marquee products like Medela’s FreeStyle pump, Goodyear’s ResponsEdge tire, and OfficeMax’s private label TUL line, which includes the award-winning TUL dry erase marker. Scott holds a BS in Industrial Design from Illinois Institute of Technology and is a member of the adjunct faculty at IIT Institute of Design. Scott has been recognized with the IIT Outstanding Alumni Achievement award for his accomplishments as a designer, teacher, and entrepreneur.

Sarah started at gravitytank in June 2008. As a researcher, she helps articulate consumer pain points to create innovation opportunities. Designing qualitative programs in the U.S. and Asia, Sarah takes client teams into the lives of their customers. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University.

Seth prototypes and builds interactive software and web-based tools for teams at gravitytank. Prior to joining gravitytank, he worked as a designer and web developer working on projects for MTV, Nike and Disney as well as smaller projects for individual artists and non-profit organizations. Seth graduated with a BA in film from Bard College and has studied graphic design and interactive media at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Robert leads gravitytank’s communication design team, turning complex strategies into compelling stories and brands. Robert’s experience covers 10 years in Japan helping clients such as Starbucks, Microsoft and SunMicrosystems translate their brand messages to new audiences. He holds a Masters degree in human-centered communication design from IIT Institute of Design where he currently teaches Visual Communication. He currently sits on the AIGA Chicago programming committee.

Michelle is gravitytank’s resident hostess and an associate of operations. Previously working as a public speaking consultant, research assistant and small business manager, she is responsible for making both gravitytank staff and client teams feel at home. Whether preparing large event logistics or planning an intimate business meeting, she ensures that agendas run smoothly and that teams have what they need to be productive. Michelle earned her B.A. in Communication from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an M.A. in Speech and Interpersonal Communication from New York University. She teaches public speaking courses for local community and city colleges as an adjunct and writes creatively for hobby.

Michael leads dScout, gravitytank's mobile research platform, working closely with a team of developers and researchers as they reshape the qualitative research landscape. Prior to starting dScout, Michael served as gravitytank's Managing Partner, steering the firm through exponential growth. Michael is a subject matter expert in consumer electronics and the digital service landscape, and has a deep passion for developing high performance teams. Before joining gravitytank, Michael led product development efforts at Bay Area start-ups and media companies including Wired. Michael is an alum of IIT Institute of Design (ID) and received a BA from Stanford University. He speaks regularly on innovation in the U.S. and abroad, has taught graduate level courses on concept definition at ID, and serves as adjunct faculty at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering and Kellogg School of Management.

Maris joined gravitytank in January of 2005. As a lead strategist, she has collaborated with clients across a wide range of industries, from baby products to mobile technology. Her 2010 work with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation allowed her to combine social responsibility with design strategy—a passion of hers. Maris received a BA from Washington University in St. Louis where she studied Architecture and Psychology.

Lucas Daniel manages the strategic direction of a wide variety of projects, from product innovation to market positioning to future platform strategy. Prior to his work with gravitytank, Lucas received his Master of Design degree in Design Planning from IIT Institute of Design. He has a diverse background in interaction design, writing, and anthropology. He holds a BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, where he focused his studies on California Indian culture.

Kelly is responsible for gravitytank’s Human Resources and Project Operations. She coordinates gravitytank’s proprietary mentoring processes, which include 360 project reviews, annual goal setting & performance appraisals, end-of-project debriefs and client feedback. She oversees operational aspects of careers at gravitytank, including candidate inquiries and searches, interviewing, and new staff onboarding. Kelly has a B.A. in Psychology from Chatham University, an M.A. in Communication from NYU, and an M.A. in Industrial / Organizational Psychology. She is currently marching through a doctoral program in Business Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Justin is an interaction designer who helps teams visualize and define exciting new interaction and service concepts. He has created a range of interactions for organizations like Google, Mayo Clinic and NASA. Justin graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with Masters and Bachelors degrees in Human-Computer Interaction and a Bachelors in Industrial Design.

Moritsugu Kariya has been synthesizing information into energetic and evocative visualizations at gravitytank since 2003. He brings his strong understanding of iconography development, graphic design and illustrations from his work in the U.S. and Japan at Toshiba, Leo Burnett and Wieden + Kennedy. He holds a bachelors degree in graphic design from Columbia College in Chicago and Marketing from Takachiho University in Japan.

Julie is a lead communications designer who has helped organizations like Skype, Oprah, SCJohnson, and Officemax tell their stories through rich typography and compelling visuals. She has a BFA from Florida State University, a Masters of Education from University of North Florida, and completed her postgraduate design work at The Portfolio Center. She is on the Executive Board of EPIC (Engaging Philanthropies, Inspiring Creatives) and teaches packaging design at the Chicago Portfolio School.

Jonathan is an industrial designer who helps clients link innovative design solutions with strategy and user research. He has a BFA in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked on programs with a range of clients including OXO, HP, Tupperware, Converse, LG, Samsung, Unilever, and OfficeMax. Jon was the former Midwest District VP for the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) where he chaired their annual district conferences in 2007 and 2008.

Joey joined gravitytank as a design lead in Summer 2010. His background in product innovation and development consulting has provided him diverse experience in consumer product, packaging and medical equipment design. He has helped clients such as Philips, 3M, Unilever, Jarden, Wilson and Samsung envision successful design opportunity spaces and solutions. He holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Jenn is a researcher at gravitytank who works to understand consumer realities in their native contexts. As a trained designer, she specializes in developing tangible, visual frameworks that bring clarity and enhanced understanding to a team's research findings. She has worked for a wide range of clients across consumer, medical, and industrial categories, including Pepsico, Covidien, and Rio Tinto. She holds a BID in Industrial and Interaction Design from Syracuse University.

Gina is a communication designer who helps clients teams translate research and strategy into compelling brands. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College Chicago, she worked on print, environmental design and rebranding projects. A few of Gina’s clients were; AT&T, ForSaleByOwner, Hannah’s Bretzel, Humana Healthcare and Pfizer Healthcare. Gina currently teaches Advanced Logo design at The Portfolio School.

Diana started at gravitytank in the summer of 2010 as an Operations Associate. She has worked as an administrative assistant and bookkeeper in the non-profit sector and for emerging artists with other stints as lost-wax bronze caster, jewelry maker, and undergraduate guidance counselor. She assists with accounting tasks and arranges all travel logistics for the jet-setting gravitytank teams. With Diana’s sharp eye for detail and natural organizational coordination she keeps things running smoothly for her colleagues. She is also gravitytank’s resident ikebana practitioner. Diana holds a BA from Naropa University in Traditional Eastern Arts.

Erin helps clients find value in research by mining and organizing user-driven insights. She draws on a background in managing behavioral studies at Washington University School of Medicine to support the project team planning, coordinating, and analyzing. In 2009 she graduated with a Masters in Design from IIT Institute of Design and joined the gravitytank team, bringing with her experience conducting research for clients ranging from the Kellogg Foundation to McDonald’s to Boeing. In addition, Erin holds a Bachelors degree in Anthropology from University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Defne was born and raised in Istanbul before coming to the United States to study design at Carnegie Mellon University. Coming from halfway across the world, her outsider perspective and curiosity led her to engage in projects that were broad in scope, from cultural differences to the way people document their lives. On the other hand, she honed a meticulous attention to form and functionality through her internships, designing furniture for clients like Herman Miller and HBF. After receiving her BFA in industrial design, her interest in finding new problems to solve as well as experimenting with new ways of solving them brought her to gravitytank. She has been helping client teams define new product opportunities ever since.

Edwin joined gravitytank as a associate designer in Fall 2009. He has worked as a communications designer for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, including, Volvo, T-Mobile, Bank of America, and the United States Air Force. He holds a BA in Studio Art, and a Masters of Design degree from IIT Institute of Design where he currently teaches a course on "Storytelling through Data Visualization." His background in brand strategy, information design, and new product definition helps him craft meaningful user experiences that better connect clients to their audiences.

David has developed innovation strategies in multiple industries and has deep experience in the automotive, software and consumer package good industries. David began his career at E-Lab, a Chicago-based innovation firm largely credited with popularizing the use of ethnographic research to spark innovation. He was also a strategy consultant during the heady late 90s before studying urban planning and working as a Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago where he developed public private sustainability partnerships for Chicago and its business community. David’s work at gravitytank includes a focus on delivering business value via client sustainability initiatives.

Dave developed his design expertise through over 20 years of award-winning work with the engineering and development teams of The Knoll Group, Vecta, Brayton, Health Design and Steelcase. He also played a key role in the design and development of computer monitors and peripheral products for NEC Technologies of Japan, conceptual consumer electronics products for Philips Corporation of the Netherlands and a line of award-winning desk accessories for Details, a division of Steelcase.  In addition to awards received through company based work, Dave has been recognized several times for non-funded design explorations in the areas of packaging and electronics products. He holds a B.S. In Industrial Design from IIT Institute of Design. 

Dave Sonders is a strategist with a background in quantitative analysis, product development, and innovation strategy. Drawing from extensive experience in both creative and analytical roles, he leads innovation efforts from early conceptualization through research, financial analysis, and implementation. He has worked with organizations like Citigroup, Skype, Unilever, The City of Chicago, Samsung, and OfficeMax guiding teams through the ambiguity of innovation challenges to create new value for users and shareholders. Dave holds a Master of Design Methods degree from IIT Institute of Design and a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Michigan.

Chris is a founding partner of gravitytank and former tenured professor at IIT Institute of Design (ID). He works with gravitytank and leading firms like Samsung, Autodesk, Coinstar/RedBox, Plantronics and Unilever, to cultivate an innovative culture within their organizations. He guided a number of seminal programs between Unilever and their retail partners that culminated in the creation of their Customer Collaboration Centers in six global cities. He is working with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the California Health Care Foundation to bring design & innovation to philanthropy and create sustainable growth for some of their most effective programs. Conley was the 2006 chair of the IDEA/Business Week Awards and is a regular speaker at business conferences and leadership summits that focus on innovation and organizational culture. Chris holds a Master of Science degree in innovation and an engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Carey joined gravitytank as a research associate in Fall 2008. A graduate of Syracuse University, she discovered a passion for user research while studying industrial and interaction design. Today, Carey works collaboratively with designers, strategists and project teams to translate research insights into opportunities for growth. She has worked on innovation programs for a wide range of industries, from baby care to inventory management, and continually seeks to deliver immersive and engaging research experiences for clients.

Chad is a designer who helps teams find solutions by making interactive objects and immersive environments that tell a story. With an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a B.A. in Metalsmithing from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, he has spent the past eight years offering an unconventional perspective to both functional and experiential prototypes.

Brynn has worked as a researcher and business psychology consultant within a number of settings including non-profits, health care, higher education, and consulting psychology firms; applying psychology theory and practice as a means to help businesses reach their goals. She holds a BA in Theatre & Dance from The University of Texas at Austin and an MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Brynn is currently a fourth year Business Psychology doctoral student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Andres is an industrial designer born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden with his roots in Chile. He has been instrumental in the designing and development of a number of products and services for clients such as: BlackBerry, McDonalds, Kyocera, DKNY, Calle, RuffWear, Flextronics, and others. Andres brings innovation to clients through conceptual thinking, storytelling, prototyping and evocative visualization. Prior to being an industrial designer he did illustrations, graphic prints and mural paintings for a wide variety of corporations, schools and magazines in Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy and USA. He holds a BFA in industrial design from BYU.

Ann joined gravitytank as a strategy associate in Summer 2010. She combines six-years of professional experience analyzing company and industry performance as corporate bond analyst, with work in user research and design planning, and research in applying behavioral economics principles. This understanding of how companies succeed and how people live and think position her to help companies generate new insights and identify compelling opportunities. She holds a BA in cognitive science from Wellesley College, and an MDes from IIT Institute of Design with a focus on design strategy.

Abby joined gravitytank as a project support fellow in Spring 2010. Prior to that, she interned at gravitytank supporting the internal knowledge management system. She has worked in banking, social services and education. Abby graduated cum laude with her BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Northern Iowa. She also recently earned her MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School.

Cira is a partner and one of the founders of gravitytank. She manages corporate operations, supporting client teams with accounting, legal and logistical matters.  An engineer by training, Cira has a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois and a Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.  She has past corporate experience in designing, organizing and completing complex user research and engineering development programs and holds numerous patents for product development. 

Ben Singer has been a curious strategist, researcher and prototyper at gravitytank since 2006. He has worked on projects in consumer electronics, healthcare, electronic medical records, CPG and office products, using understanding of the peoples’ behavior and needs to create new products and services. Prior to joining gravitytank he was a principal engineer at Pitney Bowes in the advanced concepts and technology lab and a design engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation. He has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Northeastern University and a Masters of Design from IIT Institute of Design.

Amy leads logistically complex and international qualitative and quantitative research programs for technology, retail and CPG clients. She also manages the Project Support team, a group of people from across disciplines who support client projects. Prior to joining gravitytank in 2004, Amy worked as an environmental engineering consultant and as project manager for the $300 million lakefront reconstruction project for the City of Chicago. Amy holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Rice University, and developed her love for user-centered and socially responsible design at Archeworks in Chicago.

Michael joined gravitytank as a design lead in Spring 2010. He has worked as a writer, strategist and user experience lead in the design and innovation field for a wide range of industries and clients, including Nike, HP, The Department of Defense, Navteq and Adobe. His background in writing, design and the fine arts have uniquely prepared him to lead highly complex, integrated projects, including brand and product strategies, design programs and complete interactive experiences. He holds two BAs in English Literature and Studio Art, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Michelle collaborates with client teams to discover unmet needs and translate those insights into tangible, real-world opportunities for organic growth. For more than twelve years, she has been helped companies like Purina, Samsung, Unilever, OfficeMax and Fidelity Investments with qualitative and quantitative research programs. Michelle taught high school mathematics in Kenya for two years as a member of the Peace Corps, holds a BA in Economics and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences from Northwestern University and serves as adjunct faculty at the IIT Institute of Design.

After working as a print designer and web development consultant, Kunal joined gravitytank as an interaction design associate in Spring 2010. Kunal specializes in developing information architecture, interactive prototypes and designing compelling interaction experiences across a variety of mediums and technological ecosystems. He has contributed to a number of online and mobile initiatives for clients as wide-ranging as GE, First Data, STAR and USAA. Kunal received his BFA in design from Missouri State University with an emphasis in graphic design and illustration, and minors in art history and web application development.

Amy uses her logical problem solving skills and passion for understanding people to bring strategic value to client projects. She is experienced in redefining user experience and product offerings and has worked with clients ranging from SC Johnson to Microsoft and Skype. Before joining gravitytank, she worked at the Center for Innovation at the Mayo Clinic, was a user experience designer at Google, and taught mobile interface and board game design in Singapore. She holds a Bachelors of Computer Science from Princeton University and a Masters of Design from IIT Institute of Design.

Antonio is a designer on gravitytank’s interaction team where he creates multi-sensory interactive experiences through content development, illustration, sound design and narrative video. Prior to joining gravitytank, Antonio was strategic director of Firebelly Design, a socially responsible design studio focused on brand development for nonprofit clients working in youth subculture, social justice, sustainability and LGBTQ communities. He holds a BFA in Advertising Design from the Atlanta College of Art (now SCAD) and attended the Harvard Business School AIGA Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders Executive Education Program in 2007. Antonio is also a board member of the Center for Cross-Cultural Design and Beyondmedia Education.

Jim started his research fellowship at gravitytank in May of 2010. A background in theater, psychology and design research enables him to find and communicate the stories people have to tell and turn those stories into meaningful insights. His past work includes: LifeFitness, Boeing, MSK, Hyatt, Nike, and the Mayo Clinic. He holds a BA in Theater from Northwestern, two years of coursework towards a Master in Counseling Psychology, and will complete his Master of Design from IIT Institute of Design in December 2010.

Amaris manages gravitytank’s physical and digital assets. She prepares equipment for teams before they head into the field, A/V equipment before and after presentations, and office equipment as needed. She is also responsible for archiving the gravitytank library and the collateral generated during projects. As one of gravitytank’s first employees, Amaris holds years of stories that she regularly brings to life connecting new generations of employees to times before.