Hello, I use design thinking as a tool to serve people by understanding and solving complex problems. Through my practice I aim to tackle unjust systems surrounding us and pave the way for equitable solutions.
 
Please find my resume below and scroll further to find more about my practice and my design.
TANVI RANKA
Design Research and Strategy
Professional Experience
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UIC Institute of Healthcare Delivery Design

Strategy Design Fellow | Chicago, United States | 2020

  • Conceptualised the needs of OCHNA (Office of Community Health Needs Assessment) to create a collaboration platform for over 150 UI-CAN initiatives and internal stakeholders.

  • Conducted interviews and facilitated remote activities with over 10 stakeholder across the UIC system

  • Co-created tools to synthesise the research findings 

  • Envisioned and created a resource platform prototype to align the needs and values of different stakeholders

 

Rush Medical Institute

Design Research Fellow | Chicago, United States | 2020

  • Client project for Center for Community Health Equity to envision equitable solutions in family medicine for Rush communities  

  • Led the graduate team through research for the project

  • Conducted interviews and facilitated remote activities with different stakeholders in the care team

  • Envisioned and developed the blueprint of the suggested service solution along with developing a platform prototype

 

UIC Institute of Healthcare Delivery Design

Design Strategy Intern | Chicago, United States | 2019

  • Worked on a client project to create a medication education tool. Led research and synthesis with multiple stakeholders

  • Developed an opportunity map for the COPD wellness committee at UI Health to improve COPD care during and post hospitalisation

  • Co-Conducted workshop for the medical professionals at UI Health and facilitated a focus group consisting of COPD patients

 

Mindtree

Service and Strategy Designer | Bangalore, India | 2018

  • Restructured and redesigned existing social innovation programs for the University of Commons 

  • Developed content, service flow, and marketing plans for youth engagement programs

  • Developed materials and activities for children of ages 8-12 

  • Co-conducted prototyping workshops for children of ages 8-12

 

Chirmi Overseas

Product Designer | Jaipur, India | 2017

  • Designed lifestyle products in wood and metal for a Denmark based company

  • Worked with local artisans and woodworkers to cater to export demands

 

Dileep Industries Pvt. Ltd.

Product Design Intern | Jaipur, India | 2015

  • Designed a range of ceramic jewelry for a local brand named ‘Anuva’ and developed packaging for the same

  • Worked with various traditional materials like terracotta, ceramic, wood, and metal

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Education

 

IIT Institute of Design

Master of Design

Chicago, Illinois | August 2018 - May 2020 

  • Teaching Assistant: IPRO Energy and Sustainability

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Srishti Institute of Arts, Design and Technology

Bachelor of Industrial Arts and Design Practices

India, Bangalore | July 2013 - June 2017

  • Collaborative project with Central Saint Martin, London which was later exhibited in Tate UK and Kochi Biennale

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The Sustainable Design School

Exchange program in Industrial Design

Nice, France | February 2016 - June 2016

  • TEDxCannes Volunteer

  • Design Strategist on a client project for Trinseo (a global materials company) 

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Zurich University of the Arts

International Design Summer School 

Zurich, Switzerland | 2016

  • One of 10 representatives from India for IDSS’16

  • Worked with refugees in Zurich to design a service for them to better integrate into the swiss community

Notable Projects

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Mobile Lawyer - Providing Equitable Solutions for the Residents of Chicago | 2019

  • Client project for the City of Chicago to develop a service to improve the parking ticket experience for the residents of the city. The driving idea for this service was to empower the low income residents in paying their parking tickets and avoiding the debt spiral 

  • The service idea was then presented to the City Clerk 

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COMET: COPD Medication Education Tool | 2019

  • The project was about creating an in-patient medication education and symptom recognition tool for COPD patients for better hospital-to-home transition. Summer and fall project at UI health for the Respiratory Health Association

  • Led a student team through research, synthesis and development of a medication education + symptom recognition tool for COPD patient care. 

  • RHA has taken the project ahead and are currently conducting an acceptability study

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COGBE: Communication for Gyn. Brachytherapy | 2019

  • A collaborative project with Uchicago Medicine to design communication tools for gynaecology brachytherapy. The three versions of discussion guide were designed to empower the patient and set expectations as they enter the treatment process

  • Currently the guides have been requested for use by Yale Cancer Center, Ohio State and University of Illinois at Chicago

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CORD: COPD Management Service | 2017

  • A collaborative project with Philips Healthcare India to deliver accessible and affordable healthcare to the underserved population 

  • Designed a service for COPD patients to better manage their health and take preventative measures 

  • The idea was later pitched to the design team at Philips, Bangalore

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Skills
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Systems Design | Behavioural Design | Service Design | Strategy Design | Information Design | UI/UX Design

 

User Research | Qualitative and Quantitative Research | Protocol Development | Analysis and Synthesis | Framework Design | Stakeholder Interviews | Design and Conduct workshops | Service Blueprints | Wireframing | Sketching | Prototyping | Product Fabrication | Process Management 

 

Adobe Creative Suite | Autodesk Fusion |  Mural and Miro

They ask me what is design? 

In the world where design has become a commonplace verb, what am I to say?

Is design about making things beautiful? Sure yeah, why not!

 

Then why do you study it, they say?

My design, my practice is about serving you, I say. 

Understanding your unspoken needs and that of every individual on the street.

 

My practice, my intention is about feeding you with love and care

I say, my design is like a mother’s recipe

That serves you, that is made especially for you

It’s something you crave for, but you yourself don’t know

 

From knowing your cravings to your low capacity of spice

A mother’s recipe captures it all

It still tastes delicious, It still feels like home and home is familiar-

Design too creates familiarity- it brings warmth- 

It brings solutions to problems we never knew we had

 

So is there a method you study? They ask

A method, hmm sure, yeah why not!

 

You never ask the mother for her recipe and expect it to be the same

With every person’s touch, it changes for better or for worse

There’s no strict rule book, but there are ingredients that need to be kept in mind

In the end, the aroma of what we create, touches every part of the house

 

So sit down

Take your time 

But indulge in your next meal with all your senses

Experience it with every action- from lifting the spoon to feeling it move on your body

and then ask me why design?

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-Tanvi Ranka