About the Lab

We study desirability in design processes, products, and services.

The lab is a hub of teaching and research resources on design and desirability. Our research focuses on quantifying design desirability in different areas. Courses cover topics like need-finding, creative problem solving, design leadership, design teams, human-centered design processes for product, experience, and service design; interface design, UX/UI, strategy, learning design, game design.

Recent Themes:

• Ongoing: How to teach and learn expert creative fluency?
• 2022: Changing business models for creative industries and collaborations
• 2021: How to use emotions as creative fuel?

Previous Themes:

• Designing human-centered robotics
• Teaching the next generation of technical leaders
• Accessible ways of teaching human-centered algorithm design
• Cognitive, social, and emotional factors related to success and failure of team-based creative projects
• Making sustainability aspirational in fashion by 2025

History

The Desirability Lab was founded by Dr. Beth Ames Altringer Eagle, Executive Director of the MADE program and Professor of Design Engineering at RISD and Brown University. Previously, Altringer spent 10 years as faculty on Innovation and Design at Harvard University’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the Graduate School of Design (GSD), and core faculty of the joint engineering MBA degree offered by SEAS and Harvard Business School.

The DL’s research on teaching and learning has been supported by many generous funders, including Harvard SEAS and the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching. In addition to working with industry, the DL often collaborates with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Innovation Lab, other departments, and other institutions on teaching, field courses, and mentoring.

Inquiries: ba[at]desirabilitylab.com

Opportunities to Join the Lab

The DL has part-time learning by doing fellow roles each term. We provide the necessary project-specific technical and domain expertise. All roles work with the director. All roles are open to non-traditional as well as remote candidates unless otherwise indicated.

• Research: Interested in joining our research team? We regularly accept new researchers. These are usually part-time, learning and mentorship-based roles. We currently do not have paid positions. Register your interest in research positions here and we’ll be in touch.
• Teaching Fellows: Interested in joining the teaching staff for one of our courses? These are part-time roles and only available to Harvard-affiliates. Please fill in this short form to let us know, ideally a month or more in advance of the start of term.

Below are examples of the types of skills we are often looking for:

• Analytics – previous analytics experience (we have both qualitative and quantitative datasets), detail-oriented, able to work well independently. R, python, Tableau, SQL, and similar experience a plus.
• UXUI/Design/Data Visualization – some previous skill and high interest in visual content creation and editing using Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, After Effects, Sketch, AB testing, and/or similar tools.
• Writing/editing/research – literature reviews, product and marketing research, crafting engaging storylines, conducting interviews, engaging casual learning content.
• Education/curriculum – assist with developing and refining educational content and delivery mechanisms.
• Front/backend Development – we have a professional full stack development team. Fellows help as we go along, and participate in feature strategy, prototyping in response to user feedback, etc. Active projects are in SWIFT, SQL, Node.js, Laravel, WordPress.
• Teaching Assistants –  The Innovators’ Practice course (fall) and Design for Desirability course (spring). Must be in-person.
• Generalists – collaborative, can-do, get things done, communicative, flexible attitude. Must be detail-oriented.

To express interest, send CV and portfolio (if you have one): ba[at]seas.harvard.edu.