Design strategist and Assistant Professor, Visual Communication Design
Hartford, Connecticut Area
- Current
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- Chair, Environmental and Sustainability Committee of the Faculty Senate at University of Hartford
- Design Consultant at The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
- Design strategist and social entrepreneur at Design for Global Change
- Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design at University of Hartford
- Creative Director at ValkiriaDesign
- Past
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- Project Associate at Global Studio
- Hawks Hall Residential Learning Community Faculty Mentor at University of Hartford
- Advisory Board Member; Volunteer at Knowbility
- Design Consultant at Stanford University
- Education
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- The University of Texas at Austin
- Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Stanford University
- Recommended
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9 people have recommended Natacha - Connections
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311
connections
- Industry
- Design
- Websites
Natacha Poggio’s Summary
Natacha Poggio is a multidisciplinary designer and Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, Connecticut.
Natacha Poggio received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). In 2006, Natacha received her Master of Fine Arts in Design from the University of Texas at Austin, with a concentration in experience design.
In her design work, Natacha examines how people interact with objects and environments and looks for ways to expand the awareness of the physical senses to make these interactions aesthetically pleasing and functional for the greatest number of users, especially people with disabilities. Her design expertise is not limited to visual communication but includes creating hybrid-augmented environments that coexist within a physical space. Her creative output focuses on sensorial interactions that generate relationships between people, objects and the larger environment.
In her teaching, she focuses on the role the environment plays in people's lives and encourages students to find solutions that will inspire positive change in society. Natacha's courses are deeply rooted in social design, sustainability and the application of these concepts through service learning.
Natacha Poggio’s Specialties:
social design, sustainability, universal design, humanitarian design, graphic design, service design, user experience, accessibility, interaction design, information design, usability, emerging technologies, web 2.0 and social networking technologies,
Natacha Poggio’s Experience
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Chair, Environmental and Sustainability Committee of the Faculty Senate
University of Hartford
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
June 2009 — Present (7 months)
The Environmental & Sustainability Committee serves as a forum for faculty, staff and students to learn and share about issues relating to the campus physical environment, including long-range planning, research, and policies designed to meet campus sustainability. The chair will be a Faculty Senator, and membership will consist of eight faculty members representing a cross-section of the major divisions of the University. The chair of this committee will serve as the interface with other University committees focusing upon environmental issues. The Student Government Association (SGA) will be asked to appoint a non-voting member. A member of the University Facilities Department will be asked to join as a non-voting member.
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Design Consultant
The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT)
(Design industry)
2009 — Present (less than a year)
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Design strategist and social entrepreneur
Design for Global Change
(Design industry)
April 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)
Design for Global Change is a creative think-tank, applying the power of design to develop projects that bring positive change to communities around the world. We believe that design can make a difference in our world, and as designers we are global citizens collaborating with different disciplines, crossing borders and partnerning with new communities to make responsible, sustainable design solutions to shared global problems.
Design for Global Change is currently the umbrella organization that comprises humanitarian projects developed by students (and alumni) at the University of Hartford.
It originated with Water 4 India, a campaign which began as a socially focused design assignment in the Issues In Design course I taught in the spring 2008 at the Hartford Art School. Students were challenged to create a visual communication campaign on sanitation to educate rural villagers in Abheypur, India about the importance of water resources and conservation. After a participatory process of evaluation with villagers, a group of 7 volunteer students refined the campaign, which then was implemented in India in January 2009.
Water for India was a model for bringing social issues into design education curricula at the university, to inspire students to become agents for social change. The international service learning projects continued in Kenya in the summer of 2009, developing a wellness educational campaign on topics of clean water, sustainable agriculture, disease prevention and women safety. -
Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design
University of Hartford
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
August 2007 — Present (2 years 5 months)
My research focuses on socially responsible design, I am interested in strategic design projects dealing with social change, to promote sustainable development and change the world for the better. The projects that I undertake educate design students on the impact and importance of their work –bridging worlds, whether locally or internationally– so that the interfaces, products and environments they create meet the needs of the greatest number of users (design for all, base of the pyramid approach).
A great example of my approach to design education is my "Water for India" campaign. Water for India began as a social responsibility assignment in a course I taught in the spring 2008. After promoting the student projects and receiving feedback from villagers in Abheypur, I coordinated a team of student volunteers who refined the project and shaped it to an educational campaign on sanitation implemented in India in January 2009, a model for bringing social issues into design education curricula, to inspire students to become agents for social change.
Teaching 18 contact hours per semester:
FWS110 2D Design foundations;
DES221 Type 1;
DES222 Image Making and Meaning;
DES335 Experimental Type;
DES333 Issues in Design;
DES445 Design Problem Solving;
DES440 Sequential Grpahics;
DES450 Senior Project and
DES390 Design for Global Change. -
Creative Director
ValkiriaDesign
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Design industry)
February 2000 — Present (9 years 11 months)
Plan and develop user-centered strategies and design experiences in a variety of media for an eclectic clientele (see list below). Experienced in multiple fields of design: graphic, information, environmental, editorial, web design, packaging and advertising.
Clients:
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA (see clients' list under design consultancy)
- Center for Subsurface Modeling, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
- Artificial Lift R&D Council, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Austin, TX
- College of Engineering, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
- Broadtel Wireless, Cupertino, CA
- Sociedad Central de Arquitectos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Asociacion Interdisciplinaria de Diseño del Espacio, Buenos Aires, Argentina -
Project Associate
Global Studio
(Design industry)
June 2009 — July 2009 (2 months)
As project associate I mentored a group of international students Participating in Global Studio Johannesburg, South Africa. Global Studio <theglobalstudio.com>, is international interdisciplinary action research ‘think and do tank’ developed by Prof. Anna Rubbo (based on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals initiative on Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers). Global Studio is a response to the need for new modes of education for the design and planning professions that help create inclusive and sustainable urbanization. It focuses on people-led initiatives and participatory processes, and promotes the concept of people as agents of their own development, focusing on sustainability.
As a project associate, I worked with a team of students to facilitate the development and implementation of Diepsloot Arts in Action Festival, an annual event celebrating the variety of artistic talent in Diepsloot, an informal settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Since its inception in 2005 over 450 students, academics and professionals from 50 universities and 30 countries have joined the Global Studio in Turkey, Canada and South Africa. -
Hawks Hall Residential Learning Community Faculty Mentor
University of Hartford
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
September 2008 — May 2009 (9 months)
One of four faculty mentors for Destinations [a Residential Learning Community (RLC) for cultural exploration] that purposefully integrates curricular and co-curricular experiences and promotes personal growth in a residential setting. First year students live closely together in an RLC collaborating with fellow students, faculty, and staff, and have a particular opportunity to become leaders through service to the University community.
Students experience a “journey” through different cultures via literature discussions, movie nights, getting to know international students, dinner nights featuring cultural cuisine, off-campus excursions, dance, music, and guest speakers. This unique experience will allows them to explore their own and other cultures as they take an important step toward becoming global citizens. -
Advisory Board Member; Volunteer
Knowbility
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
April 2004 — May 2007 (3 years 2 months)
Knowbility supports the independence of children and adults with disabilities by promoting the use and improving the availability of accessible information technology - barrier free IT!
http://www.knowbility.org -
Design Consultant
Stanford University
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
January 2000 — December 2006 (7 years )
Clients:
• Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs
• Stanford University Office of Student Activities
• Associated Students of Stanford University
• Stanford Women’s Community Center
• Department of Spanish and Portuguese
• African Library Collection, Stanford University Libraries
• Center for Latin American Studies
• Stanford Humanities Center
• El Centro Chicano
• Stanford Daily Newspaper
• Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Resources Center
Natacha Poggio’s Education
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The University of Texas at Austin
Master in Fine Arts , Design , 2004 — 2006
• Research Assistant - professional internship, Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
• Research Assistant, Center for Women and Gender Studies
• Teaching Assistant in Design History Lab
• Teaching Assistant in Visual Syntax in Communication- Activities and Societies:
- Argentinos en Austin
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Universidad de Buenos Aires
Bachelor of Fine Arts , Graphic Design , 1993 — 1998
Certificate, Postgraduate Studies in “New trends in education and methodology”
Part of international summer lectures series, taught by invited faculty:
- Technologies with hypermedia elements, by Prof. Fabian Wagmister (University of California, Los Angeles, CA), 10/1999.
- Technology, culture and knowledge, by UBA Dr. Edith Litwin (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina), 9/1999.
- To teach and to learn with new methods, by Dr. Goéry Delacôte (Executive Director of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA), 8/1999. -
Stanford University
- Activities and Societies:
- Argentinos en Stanford
Stanford African Student Association
Bechtel International Center host
Graduate Student Programming Board
Escondido Village Community Assistant
Additional Information
Natacha Poggio’s Websites:
Natacha Poggio’s Interests:
social responsible design, sustainability, universal design, accessibility, usability research, interaction design, ethnographic research, human rights advocacy, travel, photography, languages
Natacha Poggio’s Groups:
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA-CT),
Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD)
College Art Association (CAA),
Engineers Without Borders - USA (EWB-USA)
Knowbility,
ASV Stanford,
Stanford University,
University of Texas at Austin,
SXSWi,
Water4India
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Texas Exes/University of Texas at Austin -
Sustainability Working Group -
Engineers Without Borders - USA -
Green & Sustainability Innovators & Innovation Network -
eSSENTIAL Accessibility -
Green -
User Experience -
Stanford University Alumni -
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY NETWORK -
Design Research -
UBA Universidad de Buenos Aires Alumni -
Think Green -
Technology in the Arts -
Design Education -
AIGA | Connecticut Chapter -
TED: Ideas Worth Spreading -
Sustainable International Development (SID) - MojaLink -
FADU Alumni Network -
Water for India -
Green Education and Careers -
Design Ignites Change -
Kellogg School of Management -- Women's Leadership Workshop -
IxDA BA -
Green Graphic Design -
Universal Design Alliance -
Design for All -
Renourish Green Graphic Design Collaborative
Natacha Poggio’s Honors:
FACULTY GRANTS: at the University of Hartford
2008: The Women’s Education and Leadership Fund ($ 10,000) supporting the implementation of "Water for India" campaign on sanitation in the village of Abheypur, India.
2007: International Center‘s Faculty Grants Program ($ 1,000) used to internationalize the content of the Spring course "Issues in Design".
ACADEMIC AWARDS: at The University of Texas at Austin
2005–2006: James M. (Jimmy) Malone Endowed Scholarship
Michael Aubrey Jones Endowed Scholarship in Art
2004–2005: Marshall Wells Scholarship and Fellowship Endowment in the College of Fine Arts
Design Division Dean‘s Travel Fellowship, Department of Art and Art History
SERVICE AWARDS
2004: South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive 2004 Accessibility Shoot-Out, Austin, Texas
Service awards at Stanford University
2001–2002: Dean of Students Office; Graduate Life Office; Bechtel International Center; Stanford African Student Association
Natacha Poggio’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
