Anita Schnitzer
About Anita Schnitzer
Anita Schnitzer is a Senior Design Research Lead at IDEO, with a background in Industrial and Product Design. She has extensive experience in design research and product management, and she advocates for mental health awareness and circularity in her work.
Current Role at IDEO
Anita Schnitzer serves as the Senior Design Research Lead at IDEO, a position she has held since 2019. Based in the Munich Area, Germany, she focuses on integrating user insights into design processes. Her role involves leading research initiatives that inform product development and enhance user experience. Schnitzer's work at IDEO emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and behaviors to create innovative design solutions.
Education and Expertise
Anita Schnitzer has a solid educational background in design and mathematics. She studied Technical Drawing at Technische Universität Graz from 2006 to 2008. She then pursued a degree in Industrial and Product Design at FH Joanneum, achieving a Diploma in Engineering from 2008 to 2012. Additionally, she studied Mathematics at Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz from 2004 to 2008. This diverse educational foundation supports her expertise in design research and user insights.
Previous Work Experience
Before joining IDEO, Anita Schnitzer accumulated significant experience in design and research roles. She worked at KISKA in Salzburg as a User Insights and Product Research Senior from 2015 to 2019, and as a Strategic Product Management Specialist from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, she contributed to the Future Living Studio as a Designer and Consultant for the EU Funded SPIN Project in Cambodia in 2013. She also interned at Feiz Design Studio in Amsterdam from 2010 to 2011, gaining valuable insights into product design.
Advocacy and Personal Interests
Anita Schnitzer advocates for mental health awareness, integrating this perspective into her design projects. She believes that understanding mental health can enhance user experience and inform design decisions. In addition to her professional interests, she engages in outdoor activities that inspire her creativity. Schnitzer enjoys photography, which she incorporates into her design research process through visual storytelling. Her passion for circularity also influences her approach to design, emphasizing sustainable practices.