Meet the 2025 Cohort
From Dallas, Detroit, to Austin, these Fellows really thrived at The Summer Studio. Check them out!
Maki
We first met Maki several years ago in the classroom, where he was intense, curious and demanding in all the best ways. After graduating, he went on to do incredible work first at HEB Digital and then at Civilla. But Maki left to take a breather, to figure out what's next, and we snagged him during that sabbatical moment. He brought all that intensity and rigor to The Summer Studio, but now with years of real work behind it. Maki asked the questions that made everyone think harder, pushed back when something felt too easy, and never settled for surface-level understanding. That classroom energy we remembered? It had matured into something even more powerful—a designer who knows what great work looks like and isn't afraid to hold himself and others to that standard.
Eesha
Not one to shy away from complexity, Eesha has contributed to projects ranging from improving Michigan’s driver’s education publications to supporting unemployment insurance delivery and research across multiple states through her work as a Senior Designer at Civilla. Recognizing Eesha’s momentum and leadership potential, Civilla supported her participation in The Summer Studio alongside another member of the team, strengthening what they could build and bring back together. In the Studio, Eesha was the studio’s embodiment of Joy and often the comic relief, bringing levity without ever losing sight of the work.
Mary
Mary is the Director of Program Innovation at The Educator Collective, where she leads human-centered design work that equips school leaders with the tools and mindsets to create lasting change for students. She already brought deep design experience and serious presence to the Studio – after all, she was named Dallas ISD Teacher of the Year in 2021 for her innovative teaching at City Lab High School. Mary joined The Summer Studio to sharpen the specifics of leading and facilitating in the design space, and she made the most of it. She showed up to early-morning office hours every single day, fully taking advantage of the Studio’s less formal moments. That attention to detail and willingness to lean in is part of Mary’s magic.
David
David is an Academic Technology Specialist focused on UX Research and Product Management at The University of Texas at Austin, but we knew him first as a colleague in admissions. Back then, we'd watch him in meetings and think: this person sees people. He had this way of making everyone feel like they belonged in the room. So when we heard David was ready to go deeper into facilitation and design, it made complete sense. He showed up to The Summer Studio with that same generous presence. David's human-centered approach isn't something he performs; it's just who he is. You could see it in how he'd check in on quieter voices during group work, how he'd reframe a tense moment with curiosity instead of defensiveness. May we all have a David in the mix.
Ryan
Ryan is a Senior Product Designer at Procore Technologies, and his design resume reads like someone who never met a medium they couldn't master—digital, analog, 2D, 3D, he's done it all. But what makes Ryan special isn't just his range; it's the thoughtful seriousness he brings to every project. He's not flashy about it—he's the person who asks the grounding question when a conversation gets too abstract, who brings the team back to what matters. Procore's leadership recognized his potential and sent him to The Summer Studio, and Ryan made the most of it. His quiet intensity became an anchor for the group.
Tiffany
Tiffany is a Senior Designer at Civilla, where she focuses on understanding people’s needs through research and using those insights to improve complex public systems. Tiffany has been a key contributor to Civilla’s health and human services work in Missouri and Washington, helping redesign benefits applications, renewals, and correspondence. Civilla recognized that Tiffany is on the rise and invested in her by sending her to The Summer Studio alongside a colleague, creating a shared learning experience they could bring back to the same organization. Tiffany’s optimism and warmth are matched by a steadfast pursuit of what is real and right, and she brought that combination to many of the Studio’s most important moments.
Are you ready?
The Summer Studio
Join the next cohort in Austin, TX.
May 11-15, 2026