Rachel Young
Building a BETTER-DESIGNED FUTURE
I am a...
Creative executive driving the delivery of exceptional design across industries. Transdisciplinary experiences includes product, brand, research, strategy, storytelling, and co-design methodology. Most of my work at IDEO is privileged and confidential. Public case studies below.
Experience
IDEO
Executive Director
2022–2024
Ideo
Senior Portfolio Director
2021–2022
Ideo
Director
2020–2021
Ideo
Senior Design Lead
2019–2020
Ideo
Design Lead
2016–2019
Character Lab
Director of Engagement
2013–2016
Kipp Schools
Senior Creative Manager
2009–2013
I Have a Dream Foundation
Senior Program Manager
2005–2007
Teach for America
Teacher
2003–2005
Work
Ethiqly
We Created:
A new app that uses generative ai to help teachers give personalized feedback on essays — while also supporting students in the writing process. Recently mentioned in the NYT.
Deliverables:
Design research, value prop development, product design, AI prototype, development, brand, brand strategy, gtm strategy
RoLe:
Portfolio Director
Bendable
We Created:
A free learning app that connects residents to local learning opportunities through a city’s library system
Deliverables:
Research insights, product design, development, brand, brand strategy
RoLe:
Project Lead
Little Book
We Created:
The second edition of the Little Book of Design Research Ethics — a long overdue update of a beloved IDEO resource.
Deliverables:
Fresh research, content development, brand, illustrations
RoLe:
Head of Research
National Science Foundation
We Created:
A year-long design curriculum to teach scientists convergence research methods in order to get science to the American people faster.
Deliverables:
Curriculum, strategy, and implementation of modules
RoLe:
Portfolio Director
Ebo
We Created:
Ebo, a digital literacy app and game (in English and in Arabic) for young children with Down Syndrome and other developmental delays.
Deliverables:
Curriculum, game mechanics, product design, development, brand, and implementation strategy
RoLe:
Curriculum and learning Design Lead
Verizon
We Created:
Verizon Explorer Lab, an immersive digital STEM learning experience — with an associated iPad game — that takes place entirely on a bus.
Deliverables:
Curriculum, bus design, product and game design and development, implementation roadmap
RoLe:
Curriculum and learning Design Lead
Along
We Created:
A brand for Along, a new type of digital tool to facilitate meaningful conversations between students and teachers.
Deliverables:
Brand identity, strategy, expression, and guidelines
RoLe:
Portfolio Director
About
Rachel (she/her) is an Oakland-based creative executive using design to make the world more accessible, inclusive, beautiful, and just. She’s committed to equity-centered co-design methodology, human-centered AI, anti-racism, reproductive justice, human rights and dignity, and reversing the effects of climate change.
As an Executive Director at IDEO and the head of research, she led a team of 40+ social scientists, data scientists, and research ethicists to develop the human-centered insights behind all of IDEO's innovations. As a Senior Director, she guided a portfolio of teams to design 20+ innovations and transformations guiding creative excellence, client relationships, and responsible design. Earlier in her career, she developed a love of brand, storytelling, graphic design and marketing while leading it for the KIPP Schools and a love of impactful product design while at the startup Character Lab. In her 20’s, she worked in direct service in communities in poverty, which continues to serve as her foundation human-centered design training. She's a hobbyist photographer, a third generation Californian, and 90% vegan. In her spare time, she's working on a creative non-fiction book about the role of design in perpetuating America's digital literacy gaps.
The most complex and beautiful project to which she's ever contributed is raising her daughters with her partner.
Acknowledgements
I’m grateful for the collaboration I’ve shared with my design colleagues and friends. I am especially grateful to
Sandy Speicher,
Becky Bermont,
Zena Barakat,
Dan Perkel,
Marta Cuciurean-Zapan,
Alysha English,
Becky Lee,
Brian Pelsoh,
Brittany Butler,
Diane Robinson,
Margarita Florez,
and Mary Clare Reilly
for their mentorship and guidance.
Getting In
Touch
I’m more likely to be found outdoors than online when I’m not at work, but you can still find me in some of these likely places: