OLIVIA JEAN YAO
oliviayao.net ojyao@mit.edu 973.338.2558
EDUCATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Class of 2020
B.S. Candidate in Mechanical Engineering, Concentration in Industrial Design GPA: 4.7/5.0
WORK EXPERIENCE Eleven — Design Intern
January 2020
Human centered design consulting studio working in service, strategy, and product design. ● Conducting research for a wearable medical device carrier via primary market research and qualitative interviews to identify key objectives for future designs. ● Created and administered user testing of a new kitchen appliance for OXO. Analyzing data from tests to inform and communicate future iterations to the design team. ● Ideating growth strategies for Campbell’s Soup to expand into new markets.
Ideation Lab — Researcher
June 2019 - September 2019
MIT-based laboratory studying the design process in order to create compelling products ● Secured university funding for a self-led project researching mental health education. ● Administering qualitative 45 minute interviews with students, school administrators, psychologists, and psychiatrists as primary market research to examine stakeholders and identify opportunities for new teaching strategies.
Brain Power — Design Intern
January 2019 - May 2019
Neurotechnology company developing AR/VR teaching tools for people with autism ● Created iterations of Brain Power’s app from wireframe to finalized UI, organizing quantitative user testing among focus groups. ● Conducted competitive analysis of other educational technology marketing sites and data from Google Analytics to provide statistical reasoning for design changes.
IDEO CoLab — Winter Fellow
January 2018
Collaborative research and design platform for a global innovation and design firm ● Conducted user research and informational interviews with industry professionals to inform low fidelity prototypes and explore a series of design briefs.
US Army ARDEC — Intern
Summer 2017
Primary research and development center of armament and munitions for the U.S. Army ● Developed techniques with ARDEC executives, working to manufacture custom made circuits and circuitry housing for fuses using additive methods. ● Independently designed and created a small 3D printable radio-controlled tank.
January 2019 - Present
Organization promoting Asian American advocacy at MIT and in the Boston Asian community ● Organized and moderated a panel about affirmative action for the MIT community. Recruited an NAACP senior counsel and MIT administrators as panelists. ● Created and serving as managing editor for ROOTED, a community publication about the MIT multicultural experience. ● Conceptualized, planned, and executed a public installation for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, photographing and collecting quotes from over 100 MIT APA students to highlight diversity and celebrate community.
Infinite Magazine — Editor in Chief
Adobe Creative Suite Photography UI/UX Design Sketching Invision Journey maps Storyboards Solidworks 3D Printing (FDM, SLA, Inkjet) Laser cutting Soldering Machine shop tools Sewing MATLAB
RELEVANT COURSES Designing the First Year at MIT Learning Creative Learning Drawing for Designers Design Across Scales The Human Factor in Innovation and Design Strategy
INTERESTS Public installation work Portrait photography Social activism Competitive figure skating Fashion
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Asian American Initiative — Co-Founder
SKILLS
September 2019 - Present
MIT’s arts and fashion magazine ● Oversee all decisions behind Infinite Magazine and its brand. ● Manage content from contributors and staff, as well as conceive and create features.