Zahin Ali
About Zahin Ali
Zahin Ali is an Interaction Design Lead currently at IDEO and an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University. With a background in design research and engineering, he emphasizes human-centered design and effective communication in his work.
Current Role at IDEO
Zahin Ali serves as the Interaction Design Lead at IDEO, a position he has held since 2018. In this role, he leads multidisciplinary project teams, emphasizing collaboration and empathy to address a wide range of design challenges. His focus is on creating human-centered interactions that balance technology and user needs, ensuring that design solutions are both effective and relevant.
Teaching Experience at DePaul University
Since 2020, Zahin Ali has been an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In this capacity, he shares his expertise in design with students, fostering an environment that encourages inquiry and critical thinking. He emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions to effectively tackle design problems, preparing students for real-world challenges in the field.
Educational Background
Zahin Ali has a solid educational foundation in design and engineering. He studied at ArtCenter College of Design, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Media Design Practices from 2007 to 2011. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley, completed between 2015 and 2018. Currently, he is pursuing a Master's degree in Interaction Design at Carnegie Mellon University, which he began in 2017.
Previous Work Experience
Zahin Ali has a diverse work history that includes several internships and positions in design and engineering. He worked as a Design Research Intern at IIT Institute of Design in 2016, a Web Design Intern at UC Berkeley College of Engineering from 2011 to 2012, and a Product Design Intern at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2017. Additionally, he served as an Industrial Engineer at Tesla from 2012 to 2014 and as Lead Product Designer at Kloog Inc. from 2015 to 2017.
Design Philosophy and Techniques
Zahin Ali emphasizes the importance of storytelling techniques in design to effectively communicate ideas and solutions. His approach focuses on understanding user needs and creating interactions that are both functional and engaging. By prioritizing human-centered design, he aims to create solutions that resonate with users and address their specific challenges.