Nicole Kahn
Product Design + Human Innovation, IDEO
What were you up to before you came to the d.school?
I was a master’s student in Stanford’s Joint Program of Design. Before I came to Stanford I was working as an engineer in an energy management consulting firm. Engineering was my day job, my evenings were filled with welding, beginning sculpture, and drawing classes.
How did you hear about the d.school? Why did you come?
The d.school was forming while I was a master’s student. David [Kelley] or George [Kembel] would tour people who were interested in the idea of the d.school through the loft. A few times, I “waited” in the loft to share some of my design work with the vistors. The Masters Design students and the loft were part of the pre-selling of what the d.school could be.
During my second year of the master’s program, there was a prototype d.school class offered called Design For Autism. It was similar to the current d.school classes with master’s students in design, education, engineering, etc… partnered up on project teams. It was a really formidable experience for me. It was the first time I got to take a design leadership role teaching and guiding my team through the design process. Even better, the process worked. I felt like I was directly impacting and bettering the lives of others. These experiences made me want to be a part of more.
What did you experience when you got here? Why was it meaningful to you?
I officially arrived at the d.school in the first class of fellows. The d.school felt like a fast paced, start-up when I arrived… There was lots of excitement, enthusiasm, ambiguity, and chaos. We were operating out of a single room in Terman before we even had a building to call home. Our first building was a doublewide-trailor! Because of the start-up mentality, the fellows were pulled in all directions. I had the opportunity to teach design thinking, help with visioning the future space, coach students, spread the buzz of the d.school, help with fundraising, etc… I felt very lucky to be at the right place at the right time. The d.school has helped me see the power of design thinking: to teach it others and see them changed by it – students, executives, industry members alike.
What are you doing now? How do you use what you learned at the d.school?
I work at IDEO as a project lead/product designer/design strategist. I use what I learned at the Joint Program in Design and the d.school nearly every day. I guide team members through the design process for every project and regularly teach design thinking to clients.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I feel fortunate to consider myself part of the d.school family. I’m always welcomed with open arms when I am there – whether it’s teaching Summer College or coaching students in the Design Garage. The d.school community is highly treasured community of mine.
