Janna Kimel

Past

• Design/Research at Intel
• Principal at Accessible Threads Design Studio
• Design Research Intern at 180s

• Museum Educator at Kohl Children's museum
• Wardrobe Supervisor at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theater

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2 more...

Education

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Archeworks School for Socially Responsible Design
• Indiana University Bloomington

• Columbia College Chicago
• Decatur
• Niles West

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3 more...

Recommended

8 people have recommended Janna

Connections

395 connections

Industry

Research

Websites

• My Blog
• My Company

Janna Kimel’s Summary

Conducting research to inform hi-tech and health care related companies about their customers' experiences. This research creates design guidelines for an enjoyable user experience based on findings from qualitative research and conversations with end users. Past and current clients include multi-million dollar companies who create products, services and software.

I have 15+ years of work in design and research with expertise in user experience, participatory design, and working with special needs population. Areas of interest include medication management, medical products, exercise and physical rehabilitation.

In addition, I have designed soft-goods and worked with sensors and wearable technology.

Janna Kimel’s Specialties:

design research, concept generation, fieldwork and interviewing to get at the root of unmet needs through research and usability issues, writing requirements,
interaction design, user experience, also textile research and sewn prototyping

Population focus includes elderly, people with a disability, people going through physical rehabilitation and those living with chronic disease, user experience.
Tools: Office Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop, Morae, Survey Monkey

Janna Kimel’s Experience

• Design/Research

  Intel

  (Public Company; INTC; Semiconductors industry)

  June 2005 — 2008 (3 years )

  Position Intel as a leader in the healthcare industry by conducting health related design and user experience research. Present and publish results both internally and externally. Conducted design research and usability testing for the Intel Health Guide 6000.

• Principal

  Accessible Threads Design Studio

  (Apparel & Fashion industry)

  January 1990 — June 2005 (15 years 6 months)

  Ran a business designing apparel for people with special needs. This morphed into a consulting business where I worked with other industrial design companies to design and prototype soft-goods and sewn products. Managed external vendors, multiple projects, budgets and timelines.

• Design Research Intern

  180s

  (Public Company; 51-200 employees; Apparel & Fashion industry)

  June 2004 — August 2004 (3 months)

  •Collaborate with the design team on products for fall 2005 and 2006 preparing sketches, prototypes, spec sheets and selecting materials including work on the Quantum Vent Jacket
  •Define product opportunities citing key needs and secondary findings after ethnographic field research, interviewing experts and research on demographics and purchasing habits

• Museum Educator

  Kohl Children's museum

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Museums and Institutions industry)

  1995 — 1998 (3 years )

  Creating content and teaching classes both in the museum and in schools for children 2-10. Topics were based on educational goals in the Illinois school system. Sample topics included cultural immersion for Africa, China, Japan, science/machines, computer camp, and dinosaurs.

• Wardrobe Supervisor

  Marriott's Lincolnshire Theater

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)

  October 1990 — October 1995 (5 years 1 month)

Janna Kimel’s Education

• Georgia Institute of Technology

  2002 — 2005

• Archeworks School for Socially Responsible Design

  certificate , Design , 2001 — 2002

• Indiana University Bloomington

  Theater , Costume Design , 1984 — 1988

• Columbia College Chicago

• Decatur

• Niles West

Additional Information

Janna Kimel’s Websites:

• My Blog
• My Company

Janna Kimel’s Groups:

IDSA,, CHIfoo, IxDA

•    Medical Device Networkers
•    Interaction Design Association
•    Intel Alumni Association
•    Portland Connect
•    Healthcare-IT/ EHR/ HIS
•    Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
•    User Experience
•    Medical Devices Group
•    Industrial Design
•    Design Research
•    Ethnography Forum
•    CHIFOO
•    The Luggage and Accessories Designer Network
•    Oregon Creative Industries
•    St. Johns, Portland Professionals - Keeping it Local
•    Band of Entrepreneurs
•    Healthcare UX
•    International CES
•    Healthcare Innovation by Design

Janna Kimel’s Honors:

Select Publications:
Business Week feature: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_41/b4004414.htm

Thesis online looking at rehab technology:
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~gromala/biomedia/images/proj/student/kimel/iswawc%20submission.pdf

ICOST 2006 on Meds Reminding:
ftp://download.intel.com/healthcare/pdf/icost_camp_4_.pdf

Sketching as Interdisciplinary Communication:
http://www.kid.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/chi06-sketch-ws/final-position-papers/J_kimel_sketching2.pdf

In-situ Independent Living research:
http://www.pervasivehealthcare.dk/UbiHealth2006/papers/2006/2.b.Early%20retirement%20J_kimel%20final.pdf

Janna Kimel’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch