Civilla
Rachael Carson is an accomplished design professional currently serving as Design Director at Civilla since March 2017, having previously held the roles of Design Lead and Design Researcher. Rachael's expertise in human-centered design is evidenced by earlier positions, including Design Researcher at openbox, where consultation with a NY state credit union focused on design thinking training. As a Design Fellow at Civilla, Rachael contributed to enhancing access to STEM education in Detroit and created a significant art installation. Rachael's career began at Fashion4Freedom, where growth from intern to Country Director involved developing a nationwide artisan supply chain. Additionally, Rachael was a Social Entrepreneur in Residence at VIA at Stanford University and received a Minerva Fellowship for social entrepreneurship in Vietnam. Rachael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union College, with studies also completed at Peking Union Medical College and Middlebury College.
Civilla
Civilla is a non-profit design studio dedicated to changing the way our public-serving institutions work. We believe that the best and fastest way to scale change in society is through our public-serving institutions. Our process is deeply rooted in human-centered design, an approach to service delivery that focuses on creating enduring solutions that fit peoples’ lives. By putting humans first, we help our partners deliver significant change and lasting impact in the institutions they lead. We’re researchers, designers, and strategists working shoulder-to-shoulder to foster change at scale. We wake up every day with the goal of positively impacting one billion people through institutions that are more compassionate, more effective, and less expensive to operate. Our work was recognized by Harvard Kennedy School as one of the Top Innovations in American Government. We were listed as one of the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers by GovTech Magazine. We received a global Core77 Design Award for Service Design and were honored by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) as one of the Top Organizations Moving Society Forward.