Francesca Valsecchi
About Francesca Valsecchi
Francesca Valsecchi is a Senior Design Lead at IDEO, where she uses data to address human needs and inform client solutions. She holds a Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy from Northwestern University and has a diverse background in design, consulting, and academia.
Current Role at IDEO
Francesca Valsecchi serves as a Senior Design Lead at IDEO, a position she has held since 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. In her current role, she utilizes her expertise in design thinking to address human needs through innovative solutions. Francesca's work involves using data to inform client strategies, ensuring that the designs are grounded in tangible human experiences.
Previous Experience at IDEO
Francesca Valsecchi previously worked at IDEO as a Senior Designer from 2017 to 2021 and as a Design Lead from 2019 to 2021. During her tenure, she contributed to various projects in the Greater Chicago Area, focusing on user-centered design and applying her analytical skills to enhance client outcomes.
Consulting and Data Science Background
Before her roles at IDEO, Francesca worked at Clarity Insights as a Principal Consultant for four months in 2017 and as a Senior Consultant for six months from 2016 to 2017. She also served as a Data Scientist at Datascope Analytics for two months in 2017. These positions allowed her to leverage data analysis to inform business strategies and improve client services.
Educational Background
Francesca Valsecchi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics and Astronomy from Northwestern University, where she also earned a Master of Science in the same field. She completed her undergraduate studies at Università degli Studi di Milano, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Physics. Her academic background provided a strong foundation for her analytical and design skills.
Academic and Research Experience
Francesca worked at the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Northwestern University in various capacities, including as a CIERA Postdoctoral Research Associate from 2012 to 2015 and as a Research Assistant from 2008 to 2012. Her research experience contributed to her analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which she now applies in her design work.