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What we do
What we do
Foundational design research
Foundational design research
Understand what to build -- for whom, and why.
We collaborate with the people closest to a problem or opportunity to understand what’s needed and what’s possible.
From defining the problem and conducting foundational research to prototyping and testing solutions, we design bespoke research projects that bring the right people together and move ideas toward action.
Design Research and Strategy
Design Research and Strategy
Build your human centered design practice
We work with professionals to design research projects, methods, and activities that engage the people their work is intended to serve. We support teams in creating meaningful opportunities for participation and co-design throughout the process.
Capacity building is woven into our work as needed. Alongside or as part of a project, we help teams and individuals develop their human-centered design capabilities and confidence
Evaluative Design Research
Evaluative Design Research
Ensuring things work for all people.
We identify opportunities for improvement by connecting with people, understanding their goals, and observing how they interact with products, services, communications, and environments.
We use what we learn to identify barriers, uncover opportunities, and make experiences more useful, accessible, and effective for the people who rely on them.
Working with Wikipedia editors, designers and engineers to make it easier to add citations to an article.
DRS Founder
DRS Founder
Abbey Ripstra is a human-centered design researcher who helps people and organizations work toward positive social change.
With decades of experience working with organizations large and small, for-profit and nonprofit, Abbey specializes in understanding complex design challenges and developing human-centered, data-informed ways to move from insight to action.
Abbey brings a global network of design professionals and organizations to her work, along with a deep commitment to making the world more equitable and inclusive.
Every project has a team behind it. Abbey works with the right people for each project, bringing together the expertise and perspectives needed to do the work well.
Education
Education
Master of Design (MDes), Human-Centered Design
Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology
Master of Design (MDes), Human-Centered Design
Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology
Institutional Leadership
Institutional Leadership
Former research lead at high-impact organizations including Wikimedia Foundation, Salesforce, Instagram and Cisco Systems..
First full time design researcher at Wikimedia Foundation who established and scaled the global design research practice.
Academic & Community Leadership
Academic & Community Leadership
Course facilitator, UCSF (IMS 243)
Participant, HMNTY CNTRD, focused on ethical research practices
Organizing member, Institute of Design Alumni Community, Illinois Institute of Technology
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