GOING PLACES. PAINTING THINGS.
Design Strategy and Research
A Portfolio DESIGN
“Design provides possibility that every person’s good can be within the framework
the common
provides the that each and person’s individual considered, framework of good.”
-The Design Way
Welcome Hello Carolyn!
When I first met your colleague, Shannon Wallace, she had visited my art festival booth and we easily fell into conversation about human centered design in a health behavior change capacity. It was so refreshing to talk design and “nerd out” about our common passions!
I have been running my own art and design business for nearly four years, and I have enjoyed incorporating my passion for user experience design into every touchpoint of my business. From website development to festival booth experience, every aspect of my business has been intentionally iterated, prototyped, tested, and evaluated with end users in mind - including myself!
Now, I would like to apply my passion for healthcare and design and grow in skill and knowledge through Personify Health’s UX Designer role. It would be an honor to facilitate improved healthcare solutions and experiences while working with a team committed to design thinking and human centered design principles.
In addition to healthcare, my passions are: Big picture, system thinking (I always know how all the parts fit together.)
Strategic planning (Every method and tool must serve the end goal.)
Generative research tool design (I create effective and engaging tools that delight)
Data synthesis (I am adept at seeing patterns and relationships.)
Empathy (My ability to connect with people helps them feel heard, generating valuable insights.)
My love for design is driven by deep curiosity, a desire for change, compassion for all people, and a strong need to connect with others. I care strongly about healthcare accessibility and improved health outcomes, as demonstrated by my thesis work at Indiana University School of Medicine Student Outreach Clinic, as well as my experience at Indiana University Health and Roche Diabetes Care.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my passions and skills will be an asset to Personify Health.
With
joy, Kim Lyon
Experience
+1 317-691-2462
kimlyondesign@gmail.com www.kimlyondesign.com
Education
2018
MFA, Visual Communication Design with Emphasis in Design Thinking and Design Leadership
Indiana University
Herron School of Art and Design
2006
Secondary Education Licensure
Indiana University
2004
B.A. in German with high distinction Certificate of Translation Studies
German
Indiana University
Design Skills
Design Session Planning
Design Session Facilitation
Design Research Project Planning
Design Research Method Design
Ethnographic Research
Empathizing
Insights Synthesizing Strategizing Presenting Reporting
Visual Communication Design
Presentation Design
Journey Mapping
Ecosystem Mapping
Adobe Creative Suite
DESIGN
GOING PLACES. PAINTING THINGS.
9450 E. Becker Lane APT 1016A Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Current Experience
Founder, Kim Lyon Design LLC
June 2021-present
•Mixed media design for fine art prints and surface pattern design.
•Graphic design services: print and digital assets
•Design Strategy and Research: design research tool development, workshop facilitation, data synthesis and visualization, reporting
Design Research Experience
Design Strategist and Researcher, HEARD Museum
September 2024 – January 2025 (5 months)
∙Developed generative design research tools as workshop activities
Facilitated 3 stakeholder workshops
•Synthesized and visualized data
Design Strategist and Researcher, Children’s Museum of Phoenix February 2024 – May 2024 (4 months)
∙Developed generative design research tools as workshop activities
Facilitated 4 stakeholder workshops
•Synthesized and visualized data
UX Researcher, Roche Diabetes Care
May 2019 – October 2019 (6 months)
•Visualized Jobs to be Done data in InDesign and Illustrator
•Designed educational workshop materials to foster empathy and understanding of end user emotions and needs, as well as Jobs to be Done, in Illustrator
•Ideated and provided feedback for wireframe prototyping and customer engagement via the UserTesting platform
Independent Design Researcher and Strategist
September 2017 – October 2019 (2 years)
•Conduct phone or in-person user surveys and interviews
•Analyze, synthesize, and visualize customer insights data
•Design and facilitate educational Design Thinking workshops
•Conduct on-site user observations
•Design and implement service ideation and prototyping sessions
•∙Clients included Collabo XD, Smallbox, and DORIS
Design Research Intern, Indiana University Health
May 2017 – July 2017 (3 months)
•Designed an educational and functional design research toolkit to educate the Design and Construction Department on the design thinking process
•Developed design research methods and tools to uncover staff, patient, and family functional needs in the healthcare experience
+1 317-691-2462
kimlyondesign@gmail.com www.kimlyondesign.com
Additional Skills
Project Planning
Curriculum Development
Lesson Planning
Activity Design
Writing
Editing
Copywriting
Social Media Management
Storytelling
Public Speaking
Translation
Interpretation
Cultural Competence
Wordpress
Microsoft Office
Google Drive
Google Classroom Canvas
Power School
Skyward
2011 Indiana AATG Rising Star Award 2005 IUPUI World Language Academic Achievement Award Awards
Languages
English (native), German (fluent)
Travel
Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Morocco, India, Argentina, Brazil, Aruba, Mexico, Australia, Canada, Japan
DESIGN
GOING PLACES. PAINTING THINGS.
9450 E. Becker Lane APT 1016A Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Professional Experience
Graphic Design and Business Teacher, Scottsdale USD
July 2020 – May 2021 (1 year)
•Designed digitally accessible dual credit graphic design lessons in Google Classroom
English Teacher, MSD Lawrence Township
July 2019 – May 2020 (1 year)
•Designed digitally accessible 10th grade English lessons in Canvas and Google Drive
•Visualized curriculum components into system map for visual anchor
•Formed student design team to develop and prototype studentcentered activities
Teacher, Carmel Clay Schools 2004-2006, 2010-2016 (8 years)
Broadcast Journalism, German
•Developed and implemented 6th, 7th, and 8th grade German Level 1, German Culture, and German Conversation curriculum.
•Developed and implemented curriculum to teach 6th and 7th grade students to produce broadcast news videos
Contract German Language and Cultural Consultant 2002-2010 (8 years)
•German daily life resource for PRI Intercultural Services
•Interpreted and translated for the NCAA Eligibility Center and Amateur Activities Department, as well as private individuals
•Taught Travel German classes for clients such as Indiana German Heritage Society and Carmel ClayParks and Recreation
•Teacher of Beginner’s Class at Indianapolis German School for Children
Volunteer Experience
Guild Member, Carmel Arts Council 2018– 2020 (2 years)
•Served in the World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery
•Served on the Gallery Commitee and Scholarship Commitee
Burnside Writers Collective 2007 – 2014 (7 years)
Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Associate Social Justice Editor
•Oversaw entire publication which included overall vision, publishing schedules, columns, writers, images, editors, and social media
Design Research Case Studies
“Play is the highest form of research.”
-Albert Einstein
The Imagining Workshops
Objectives
Understand past, present and ideal future childhood experience
Define top 5 character traits to foster in children
Generate new building ideas
Challenge
Expanding the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix intends to expand and design new, unique experiences for museum visitors that center around developing character traits in the children and families of today and tomorrow. The goal of the Imagining Workshops was to uncover Museum stakeholders’ (categorized as educators, members, and business leaders) hopes and dreams for the children of the future. What character traits need to be fostered most in children? What does the childhood of the future look like? What is the best way to support children’s learning and growth through Museum expansion and new spaces?
Methods
Iteration feedback tool
Custom empathy maps
Mad Libs generative tool
Musical chairs ideation game
3 Google form surveys
Affinity mapping
Approach
Utilizing Design Thinking methodology and backwards planning, a thorough research plan focused on fact finding and ideation was developed. Scaffolded, custom generative design research tools were designed in collaboration with the team and applied during the four, two hour long Imagining Workshops to allow up to 400 stakeholders to move seamlessly through a process of diverging and converging. The collected data was synthesized through Google form survey results and affinity mapping, then visualized to reveal deep, qualitative insights that serve as a foundation to guide the Museum into its next chapter.
Outputs
Quantitative data
Imagining Sessions Workbook
Understanding Childhood Concept Map
Fostering Character Concept Map
Written report
Full design research document
Outcome
A $2.5 million Lilly Endowment Grant
A full written and visual report summarizing findings and defining opportunity spaces within the three categories was designed to aid in determining the Museum’s direction. The research document was submitted to the Lilly Endowment and helped the Museum to earn $2.5 million in funding to foster character in children.
The link to this research document is unlisted, link available upon request.
Read the full report here.
FOSTERING CHARACTER IN CHILDREN:
2. First, place your post-its in the squares where it says “place post-it here.”
Next, read the 22 character traits listed below or on the insert and choose the 5 that you feel best help children thrive. Write your top 5 character traits in the blanks that follow “Kids need.....”
Bravery/Courage
Compassion
Confidence/Self-Confidence
Creativity
Critical Thinking
Curiosity
Empathy
Gratitude
Grit
Joy
Kindness/Caring
Love
Love of Learning
Motivation
Patience
Perseverance
Resilience
Respect Responsibility
Self-regulation
Teamwork
Zest
Mad Lib Generative Research Tool
This activity was designed to help stakehodlers explore which character traits they feel shoudl be fostered in chidlren, and why. Writing the “why” on post-its allowed for easy affinity grouping to determine opportunity space for fostering character within museum activations.
THEN, to explain WHY these traits are important, write in ALL CAPS on the post-its and finish the phrases “in order to,” “because,” or “so that.”
(10 min)
(phrase) (phrase) (character trait) (character trait)
CHILDREN: Mad Libs!
Kids need ________ because .....
Kids need ________ so that .....
(phrase) (phrase)
place postit here place postit here place postit here
3. Time to share! (5 min)
(phrase) (character trait) (character trait) (character trait)
Kids need ________ so that they ..... . .
• First, place your stars on the poster to indicate your top five character traits
•
• Then, share with your table mates your top character trait and your why.
Ideal Childhood Concept Map
This concept map visually summarizes the data and insights generated from an empathy map activity seeking to understand
Ideal Childhood Experiences Insights Map
“Prior to our major facility expansion, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix had a generous opportunity to gather insights from our community about childhood, character, and what the 2.0 version of the Museum might look like. The task seemed daunting – we had a very long list of community stakeholders we wanted to engage, and we wanted a lot of information from them. We also wanted the process to be fun, playful, reflect the Museum’s ethos, and we wanted the process to help participants be wildly creative. And very importantly, we needed the information we gathered to be meaningful and actionable… no small order! Just when I was thinking we were asking for the impossible – Kim agreed to take on our big, audacious, messy project and be our “Conductor”. Kim used her unique combination of formal education, life and professional experience, and unparalleled creativity (along with her epic Post-it note organizational skills!) - combined with her deep understanding of Design Thinking – to lead our team and our community through a beautiful, thoughtful, and impactful process. Under Kim’s orchestration, 384 participants laughed, created, debated, brainstormed, drew, daydreamed, danced and elevated their individual ideas into something bigger. Kim then somehow took all these thousands of insights and turned them into a roadmap for the Museum to follow as we plan for our next 5 million visitors. Kim was a true partner in this process, caring deeply that the community was heard and the Museum was able to follow up on the insights they provided. I can not recommend Kim more highly.”
-Kate Wells, CEO Children’s Museum of Phoenix
“Always be searching for your true passion in life.”
-HEARD
Museum Elder
Creative Aging at the HEARD
Objectives
Understand Elder’s perfect day
Generate Creative Aging activity ideas
Envision Ideal Space for Creative
Aging perfect day
Methods
Generative design research tool
Ideation and Prototyping workshops
Affinity rouping
Functional needs survey
Challenge
Becoming a Creative Aging Hub at the HEARD
The HEARD Museum received a planning grant from E.A. Michelson Philanthropy to explore how the Museum might become a Creative Aging hub for elders in the community, addressing issues such as isolation and agism. How might the Museum, which already incorporates creative aging classes and workshops, expand programming to attract and retain elders for a full, joy-filled day of connection, movement, learning, contemplation, and giving back in an intergenerational environment? And what would that space look like?
Approach
Utilizing Design Thinking methodology and backwards planning, a thorough research plan focused on fact finding and ideation was developed. Scaffolded, custom generative design research tools were designed and the resulting perfect day journal activity, snowball ideation game, and floorplan collage activity were applied during the three, two hour long Visioning Sessions to move stakeholders through a seamless and engaging process of diverging and converging. Perfect Day journal entries were affinity mapped and visualized in concept maps. And the floor plan collages were then synthesized through a visual summary envisioning what a creative aging hub might look like in terms of facilities to support desired activities within creative aging pillars.
Outputs
Outcome
Perfect day at the HEARD Concept Map
Conceptual floor plan
A comprehensive, conceptual floor plan
The floor plans reflect elders’ preferences for a space that is open and communal. Elders communicated the desire for outdoor spaces, sliding glass walls, communal dining, a walking path, and a stage for sharing. These floor plans will be shared with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy and will also aid in receiving additional funding and in drafting a future capital campaign.
EDUCATION
workshop
lecture
book club
rehearse a play
learn new artform
watch a movie
learn a new language
yoga dance free dance group dance walk swim garden
teach a class mentor volunteer
read to children
Uber walk shuttle
join a tour learn instrument field trip trip to museum art exhibition writers group what else?
water aerobics
strength training pilates
dog walking what else?
STEP 1: Design
Design an entire things that bring left or choose your
dog walking visit animal shelters what else?
drive bus what else?
watch a movie children grandchildren
dine with new/current friends
coffee/tea with new/ current friends meet new people group dinners what else?
Design Your Perfect Day
entire joy-filled day from start to finish by filling your calendar with bring you the MOST JOY! Choose activities from the menu on the your own.
Circle the activity that brings you THE MOST joy! Then with your neighbor.
Opportunity spaces to design the ideal day at the HEARD Creative Aging Hub
Meditate
Sit in stillness
Relax Meditate
Morning ritual
Energy alignment
Read news
Read paper
Morning reading
Listen to podcast
Music
Puzzle
WELL-BEING/ CONTEMPLATION
Greet morning
Sit outside
Bird watching
Read outside
DINING OUTDOORS
Dining
Chocolate
Sweets treats
Coffee
Tea
Brunch
Latte
Cookies
2nd breakfast
Coffee with friends
Breakfast with friends
CONNECTION
Text/call
Carpool
Road trip
Play with
Heard
Attend
Art museum
Needlework
Paint/create
CREATE
Join tour
Field trip
Lectures
Art history
Learn new language
Practice spanish
Play flute
Practice music
LEARNING
Gardening
Landscaping nursery
Garden center
WELL-BEING/ CONTEMPLATION
Feed pets
PETS
WALK Run
Gardening Hike
Swim Trip outdoors to hike
Yoga
OUTDOORS MOVEMENT
Pickleball
CONNECTION
Water aerobics Yoga Strength training Gym morning sun outside watching outside
CHORES
Grocery shopping Plan day
Work outside
class museum visit tour trip
Lectures history course
LEARNING
GIVE BACK
Check email friends with friends to yoga trip with family/friends with nieces/nephew
Mentor Volunteer teach Meetings
The Perfect Day Concept Map
This concept maps demonsgrates the overlap of Elders’ perfect day activities and communicates opportunity spaces to prioritize when iterating and developing creative aging activations that serve multiple needs simultaneously.
“This is supposed to put me back together again.”
-Clinic patient
Designing for Health Literacy
Objectives
Improve Patient-Provider Communication
Improve Clinic-Patient Communication
Improve Clinic-Community Communication
Support Health Literacy Development
Improve Clinic Experience
Methods
Think aloud observations Immersion/Observation
Ideation and Prototyping workshops Interviews
Literature Review User Testing Prompt Cards Journey Mapping
Outputs
Patient Journey Map Toolkit Prototypes
Ecological Health Literacy Model
Challenge
How might generative tools support women and immigrants’ health literacy development within an ecological health literacy model?
Communication was an oft discussed challenge at the IU School of Medicine Student Outreach Clinic. A predominantly underserved community both in need and skeptical of healthcare providers, the clinic faced the challenge of both communicating with their patients and the community at large. How could a people-centered, design thinking approach generate new communication methods that fostered trust and learning within this ecological health literacy model? This MFA thesis project was conducted over the course of one academic year.
Approach
A thorough research plan utilizing Simplex methodology was developed, revised to fit new constaints, and implemented. Literature review as well as generative design research methods generated insights around stakeholders needs, health literacy, health information, and health communication strategies within each process step. Primary stakeholder interviews as well as literature review revealed methods for using generative, participatory design tools to develop health literacy in vulnerable populations. Iterated prototypes were tested and further refined by both experts and stakeholders alike.
Outcome
My Healthy Goals Toolkit: Identifying our Strengths, Goals, and Ideal Health Outcomes
The resulting four step toolkit comprised generative design methods adapted to health literacy strategies. The toolkit outcome allowed providers to communicate new recommended health behaviors, empowered patients to choose new health behaviors, and provided an avenue for patients to communicate health goals with their families and friends.
Read full report here
Visual Journey
This visual journey map comprising health behavior related icons was accessible to patients of all reading levels. Visual in nature, patients could quickly and easily talk about their current daily health behaviors with the nurse navigator by circling activities and foods withn two hour time frames. The journey map starts at midnight to be inclusive of those working second and third shifts. The design was intentionally kept simple and and not too “perfect” as to feel more accessible to the community. After testing the toolkit in the clinic, nursing students reported being able to establish rapport with patients much more quickly and learn new things about their patients and provide them with more detailed health care. Patients reported being able to easily “tell their truth.”
“I just want off this medication. I want to get back to my natural way of living.”
-Sarah, patient
United We Stand
Bringing the community together to solve Indiana’s opioid crisis
Objectives
Educate and empower patients
Educate providers
Educate and engage community
Alleviate burden on state
Unite stakeholders
Challenge
How might we empower patients through education and engagement before, during, and after treatment?
Indiana has been facing a serious opioid epidemic that has burdened the state on a multitude of levels. From individuals,families, and children, to health care providers and the government, the state has seen a rise in addiction and opioid related deaths and the aftermath of both. Interprofessional teams facilitated by the IU School of Nursing, comprising graduate students in Nursing, Medicine, IT, HCI, and Visual Communication Design were given one semester to address the challenge head on to discover solutions
Methods
Expert Panel Interview
Literature Review
Online ideation sessions
Interviews
Journey Mapping
Curriculum Development
Approach
Team A, comprising nursing students, medical students, and one design student, was primarily remote, so weekly Zoom check in sessions were held to determine project next steps. My role was to help guide our team through a humancentered design team process and use visual communication design to communicate research and ideation findings. An initial brainstorming session was held to determine areas of literature review. Literature review analysis and synthesis resulted in a system map of the epidemic, and a combined journey mapping and ideation session resulted in a patient/ provider journey map. As a recurring theme throughout the research project became “silos,” the group determined through an online ideation session that an online community to bring the various silos, such patients, providers, alternative medicine providers, volunteers, government, and the
Outputs
Patient/Provider Journey Map
System Map
Stakeholder Map
Content Development Map
Ideation Map
Outcome
An online community content development map conveyed how stakeholders can be educated, engaged, and empowered as a part of both an individual and community effort to learn about the risks of opioid use, alternative ways to alleviate pain, and ways to engage with the community. A strategic planning map outlined steps required to make such an online community a reality.
Read the full report here.
A System Map:
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic in Indiana
A System Map
A system map depicting a patient’s path to opioid addiction and treatment as well as the effect on the community helped the team understand the scope of the epidemic, cause and effect, and relationships between stakeholders. This map also helped the team discuss opportunity spaces within the challenge.
Kate Wells CEO, Children’s Museum of Phoenix 808-382-9060
kate@collaboxd.com
Iman Pirzadeh Senior Design Researcher, MO Studio 317-941-9209
iman@themostudio.com