Latest Publications
Navigating Ambiguity
A thought-provoking guide to help you lean in to the discomfort of the unknown to turn creative opportunities into intentional design, from Stanford University's world-renowned d.school.
Intersectional Design Cards
These cards are designed to help teams explore and develop intersectional design solutions. Hardcopies available for purchase, or visit the free online experience and download the booklet pdf.
About Andrea
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About Andrea 〰️
Andrea Small is a design strategist, educator, and now, apparently, a writer. As a Teaching Fellow at Stanford's d.school, she and her cohort originated the “Navigating Ambiguity” curricula, and she has co-authored the forthcoming d.school book "A Designer's Guide to Navigating Ambiguity.”
Andrea is currently Creative Lead at Samsung Research America on their R&D Innovation Team in Mountain View, CA. Working closely with SRA executive leadership, her team works at the forefront of advanced technology design and research. She also supports innovation and creativity throughout the R&D organization.
She currently teaches “Innovations in Inclusive Design” at Stanford. As part of the course, she and her teaching team designed a set of Intersectional Design Cards, a tool designed to help teams explore and develop intersectional design solutions.
Previously, she was the Director of Product and Portfolio Strategy at Herman Miller, focused on the future of work, and prior to that, Strategy Lead at Yves Behar’s design firm fuseproject.
Her vast experience in design includes work with some of the world's most iconic brands, including the Nike Foundation, Nivea, GE, Starbucks, Samsung and Steelcase, and a number of global and local social impact organizations and programs.
Andrea studied architecture and metalsmithing at Miami University in Oxford, OH and holds a Masters of Design in Human Centered Product Design from the IIT Institute of Design in Chicago, IL. Andrea is from Youngstown, OH and currently resides in San Francisco, CA. She loves musicals, yacht rock and camping.
Specialties
design strategy
design thinking
human centered design
intersectional design
writing
point of view and vision
brand strategy and naming
design education and workshop facilitation
design research
presentation design
public speaking
Conferences and Public Speaking
AIGA Y24, Conference Speaker, San Diego, CA (2019)
Britelite Immersive Lunch and Learn Lecture Series, Guest Speaker, San Francisco, CA (2019)
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design SUPRASTUDIO, Guest Critic, Los Angeles, CA (2017)
IDSA Design + Women, Conference Speaker, San Diego, CA (2017)
IIDA Spring Forum, “Design for Empowerment” Panelist, Santa Rosa, CA (2017)
CEDIM Innovation Series, Guest Lecturer, Mexico City, Mexico (2016)
Miami University Creative Consulting Capstone, Guest Lecturer, San Francisco, CA (2016)
Innovators’ Day, Conference Speaker, Warsaw, Poland (2015)
CEDIM Innovation Series, Guest Lecturer, Monterrey, Mexico (2015)
California College of the Arts DMBA Innovation Studio, Guest Lecturer, San Francisco, CA (2014)
CEDIM Innovation Series, Guest Lecturer, Monterrey, Mexico (2014)
California College of the Arts DMBA Innovation Studio, Guest Lecturer, San Francisco, CA (2013)
University of Washington Master's of Architecture Thesis, Guest Critic, Seattle, WA (2009)
Cisco Women in Technology Lecture Series, Guest Speaker, Seattle, WA (2009)
Awards
iF Award, Product: Robot Roomba s9 (2020)
T3 Tech Awards, Best Connected Eco/Energy Product: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2017)
Clio Awards, Grand Clio, Product Design: Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2016)
Clio Awards, Bronze, Product Design: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2016)
Core77 Design Awards, Runner Up, Design Education Initiatives: d.school Design Muscles (2016)
Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards, Finalist, Social Good: SPRING Accelerator (2016)
Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards, Honorable Mention, Product: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2016)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Bronze, Product Design: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2016)
International Design Awards (IDA), Silver: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2016)
Cause Design Awards, Gold: SPRING Accelerator (2016)
Mobile Choice Awards, Connected Gadget of the Year: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2016)
Spark Awards, Gold, Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
Fast Company Innovation by Design, Finalist, Product: Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
Fast Company Innovation by Design, Honorable Mention, Product: Hive Active Heating Thermostat (2015)
Spark Awards, Gold: Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
Spark Awards, Silver: Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
Spark Awards, Silver: Briggo Coffee Haus (2015)
iF Awards, Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Gold, Outdoor & Garden: Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Office: Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
International Design Awards (IDA), Finalist, Office: Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2015)
International Design Awards (IDA), Silver, Sustainable Living: Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
International Design Awards (IDA), Bronze, Outdoor Furniture: Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
Red Dot Awards, Product Design: Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
Green GOOD DESIGN Awards, Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2015)
Spark Awards, Gold, Herman Miller PUBLIC Office Landscape (2014)
Spark Awards, Silver, Landscape Forms MultipliCITY (2014)
Spark Awards, Silver, Briggo Coffee Haus (2014)
Core77 Design Awards, Runner Up, Strategy and Research: Nike Foundation + Girl Effect Strategy (2014)
Core77 Design Awards, Notable, Professional Design: Herman Miller PUBLIC Design (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Bronze, Strategy: Herman Miller PUBLIC (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Office and Productivity: Herman Miller PUBLIC (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Entertainment: Fanhattan FanTV (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Strategy: Briggo Coffee Haus (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Digital Design: Briggo Coffee Haus (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Environments: Briggo Coffee Haus (2014)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Bronze, Design Strategy: Nivea Brand Strategy (2013)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Silver, Logo: Nivea Logo Design (2013)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Finalist, Design Strategy: LOCAL Bicycle Strategy (2013)
Green GOOD Design Awards, LOCAL Bicycle (2013)
IDSA International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), Bronze, Sports, Leisure and Recreation: LOCAL Bicycle (2012)
Niche Awards, Finalist, Metal Non-wearable Sculptural: Lunch Launcher (2004)
Toys Designed by Artists, National Exhibition Finalist: Lunch Launcher (2004)
Each experience builds on the next. Over the past 15 years, Andrea has worked with a large variety of start-ups, non-profits, consultancies, and companies.
Past clients and collaborators include:
