About

I derive genuine joy from making things that are beautiful, taste good, make people happy, and feel good to use.

Right now I’m experimenting with a sourdough starter—I just got a bread machine. =)

Najma · “Colors” · age 2

Bio

My practice spans product design, emerging technology, accessibility, and curriculum. I tend to take on projects where those disciplines overlap—and where the work has to do more than one thing well.

Since 2022 I've been an Adjunct Professor at NYU IDM, where I designed the inaugural undergraduate Virtual Reality course and also teach VR Studio (graduate), UX for XR (undergraduate), and Restorative Spaces (graduate). I hold an M.S. in Integrated Digital Media from NYU and a B.S. in Communications Management from Manhattanville College.

I'm also a fiction writer and visual artist—see the studio for books in progress, selected digital art, and the newsletter.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to connect.
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Najma

Brands & Clients

Amscan

Athleta

LifeSci Communications

Lucky Brand

Acadia Realty Trust

Splendid

Collective

Brooklyn Bridge Flow

NYU

Veloraskin

Experience

2017 → now

2022—Present
Adjunct Professor, Integrated Digital Media
New York University
Designed NYU's inaugural undergraduate Virtual Reality course and the graduate VR Studio. Also taught UX for XR and Restorative Spaces at NYU IDM.
2022—2025
Curriculum Designer, K-5 ELA
Platinum Edge Tutoring
Standards-aligned literacy curriculum, differentiated materials, and evidence-based instruction.
2024
Strategic Communications Specialist
Teachers College, Columbia University
Digital strategy for the launch of the nation's first PK-12 Black Studies curriculum, developed by BERC at Teachers College.
2019—2022
Co-Founder
Brooklyn Bridge Flow
A mobile wellness studio increasing Black representation in yoga and wellness.
2017—2018
Graduate Assistant—Producer & UX Researcher
New York University (IDM)
Overhauled the department website for accessibility; led a lab section of 20 students.
2017
Accessibility Design Researcher & PM
Cooper Hewitt Museum (in partnership with NYU)
WCAG redesign and institutional style guide; led a team of six.

Publications & Press

2022
Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: Millennials
Featured—a 12-lesson curriculum documenting the life-journeys of Black American women aged 25-45.
2018
NYC Media Lab · Havas Fund and Support NYC Graduate Students' Emerging Technology Prototypes on Governors Island
2017
Visionary VR/AR projects from Tandon community featured at NYC Media Lab Summit
2017
NYU Tandon Explores Our Future Reality
2017
NYC Media Lab awards $25,000 in prizes for emerging media technology prototypes and startups
2017
Combining motion capture technology with a virtual reality platform, Relevant Motion provides low-cost, in-home and in-clinic occupational therapy
2017
NYU Tandon Celebrates Achievements of Our Students and Faculty
2021
Code as Creative Medium: A Handbook for Computational Art and Design—Golan Levin & Tega Brain
Contributing researcher on case-study material.
2017
Let's Get Physical!—How to Make a Physiological Response Detector

Education

M.S., Integrated Digital Media & Design
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
2018
B.S., Communications Management
Manhattanville College
Full Stack Web Developer Certificate
New York City College of Technology
2019
200-Hour RYT
Sacred Brooklyn
2019
Fine Arts Coursework
Manhattanville College & Richland College

Recognition

— Havas Fellowship, 2018
— NYC Media Lab Summit 2017 · 2nd Place, Creative Technology
— Future Tense VR Popup, 2018
— Prototyping the Augmented Island, 2018
— IDM Spring Show, 2017
— Certifications: RYT-200 · Google Ads · Full Stack Web Developer