A Hopeful Future
Meet alumna Alexis Hope: An innovator, artist and entrepreneur
Alumna Alexis Hope recently returned to Seattle, where it all started — her interest and early years in human centered design and engineering. A recent Ph.D. graduate from MIT, Hope graduated from the UW HCDE bachelor’s program in 2010 followed by the master’s program in 2012. Fueled by energy, creativity and a love of design, she recently co-founded a company — and continues to innovate in the field.
How did you first become interested in the field of HCDE?
When I was an undergrad at UW, I basically tried to major in everything — I took classes from Engineering, the School of Social Work, Design… you name it. Finally, I saw a poster for HCDE in a bathroom stall (captive audience!) and realized it was the major I’d been looking for all along: creative, technical, and with a strong focus on people and values around how technology could promote human agency instead of stifling it.
During my undergrad and then master’s degree, I had the opportunity to work with Professor Beth Kolko on the Low-Cost, Portable Ultrasound project. This project helped me learn how to build relationships with partners, conduct qualitative research inside and outside of hospital contexts, and prototype design solutions to be tested in the field.
You just finished a Ph.D. at MIT? Tell us more!
In HCDE, I fell in love with being in an interdisciplinary environment. Being able to draw on many fields of study helps me find the freedom I need to be creative, and helps me approach the kinds of complex technology design challenges many of us from HCDE face. The MIT Media Lab — which hosts research at the intersection of art, design, science, and engineering — definitely offered that. I was interested in bringing a human-centered and participatory design approach to the Media Lab, which at the time was somewhat new for the institute.
I finished my Ph.D. in 2021 and then stayed for a postdoc with the Lifelong Kindergarten research group, so I spent about 9 years at MIT in total. It was an amazing and creative place. I learned so much from all of my peers who were doing research on wildly different topics, and enjoyed being in a place where people were working on different kinds of outputs — from traditional academic research papers to art exhibitions to community events and much more.
What are some design challenges you’re passionate about?
I love to create playful experiences that help people find joy, self-compassion, and connection with others. I have worked on projects across a variety of domains, from low-cost cameras for deep-sea exploration to creative learning technologies for children.
A memorable project at MIT was co-founding the “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck Hackathon,” which brought together hundreds of parents, caregivers, and their children to invent new ways to support breastfeeding and postpartum health. The first instance of this collaborative art and design intervention took place in September 2014, the second in May 2018, and our third, in partnership with Detroit-based organization Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, took place in August 2019. After the first event, we learned from over 1,000 women’s and parents’ stories that breast pumps are not the only thing that sucks for postpartum women. Women pointed out the lack of paid family and medical leave in the US; the lack of affordable daycare; shaming women in public spaces while breastfeeding; women resorting to pumping in closets and bathrooms, and most disturbingly, the fact that black and brown babies are four times more likely to die in their first year and that rate is going up. We staged a second breast pump hackathon for April 2018 focused on equity in breastfeeding as well as the “Make Family Leave Policy Not Suck” Summit that focused on fixing broken paid family and medical leave policies in the U.S.
In addition to being a product designer, I am also an artist working across a variety of mediums, including sculpture, digital art, and hosting collaborative gatherings. My practice centers on designing spaces for artistic freedom, experimentation, and community support. I recently joined the faculty of the University of Maine Intermedia Arts department, and am currently co-teaching a course in the Arts & Humanities in Medicine program.
You co-founded a company?
Yes! Currently, I wear multiple hats, but what excites me the most is the company I co-founded with my fellow UW alum, Nodira Khoussainova (UW CSE, Ph.D. ‘11), and Justin Trobec.
Our company is called focused, and we help busy people get stuff done. Specifically, we are designing technology and a community to help people establish healthy work routines, gain momentum, and achieve their most important personal, professional, and creative goals. It has been an incredible journey, and I am highly motivated by the opportunity to learn from our members and the people we have already helped.
I also work two days a week at a coffee shop in Columbia City called Empire Roasters & Records. That helps me meet my neighbors since I just moved back to Seattle after a decade away — and keeps me from spending all my time on the computer!
What does the future hold?
I hope the future holds more growth for our company focused, another album released with my band, and learning lots of new things! Oh, and making new friends in Seattle now that I’ve just moved back.
Does HCDE run in the family?
My sister, Josephine Hoy (HCDE bachelor’s ‘06, master’s ‘19), is the one who got me into HCDE in the first place — she majored in it before me! Her values and approach to design have always inspired me. She’s currently a Ph.D. student in the department.
You’re offering fellow alumni a free month of membership?
Yes! I’d love to share a free month of focused membership with anyone from the HCDE community who wants to give it a try! If you’ve got something you want to accomplish this month and could use a little extra support and motivation, you can sign up here. During checkout enter the code “huskyfriends” to get a free month. And of course, if you have any experience design feedback along the way, I’d be very grateful to hear it. :)
Learn more about Alexis:
- Personal website: http://www.alexishope.com/
- Contact information: alexis@focused.space
- View a recent talk from the UX Speaker Series: https://www.hcde.washington.edu/ux
