nikki pfarr
I help design teams create products that nudge people to make better decisions and lead healthier lives. I do this by combining insights from behavioral science with qualitative and quantitative design research.
I bring a behavioral economics lens to my work as a design researcher and strategist, an approach that allows me to better understand human behavior and identify the subtle factors that may influence people's decisions.
I've supported design and innovation centers in companies like Google, Samsung, Group Health, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. My own background as a designer means I'm focused on ensuring research insights are actionable for design. Through workshops and speaking engagements, I help design teams learn to incorporate behavioral science insights into their daily work.
| MIT & MIT Media Lab SB CMS |
Google UX |
Institute of Design Master of Design |
CMU HCII |
Artefact Research & Strategy |
Independent Consultant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- 03-06 / MIT & MIT Media Lab, SB CMS
- 06-07 / Google, UX Design
- 07-10 / Institute of Design, MDes
- 10-11 / CMU, HCII
- 11-15 / Artefact, Research & Strategy
- 15-19 / Independent Consultant
Designing Gadgets to Be DIY Will Make Us Love Them Even More
How taking a cue from IKEA can make products more valuable to customers.
Wired.com
Forget the Quantified Self.
We Need to Build the Quantified Us
Exploring the potential between big and small data.
Wired.com, co-authored with Matthew Jordan
10 Scientific Insights That Could Make You A Better Designer
Using behavior change strategies to design persuasive products.
Fast Company, Co.Design
From Data to Decisions: The Path to a Meaningful Quantified Self
How can we use self-tracking to promote healthy behavior?
Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry, co-authored with Matthew Jordan
To Get Users To Make Smarter Choices Now, Show Them Their Future
How we can use the future to influence behavior in the present?
Fast Company, Co.Design
Artefact Report:
Designing to Incentivize
The surprising truth about how some incentives can backfire, and how to avoid unintended consequences.
Artefact
Artefact Report:
Behavioral Economics
A look at how behavioral economics and cognitive psychology can improve the design process.
Artefact
Cognitive Biases and
Design Research
Re-evaluating design research methods through the lens of behavioral economics.
Design Research Society, co-authored with Judith Gregory (2010)
Innovation Learning Network
Workshop: Smarter Design for Smarter Decisions (2016)
Innovation Learning Network
Improving Breast Cancer Decisions with Human-Centered Design (2016)
with Karen Wernli
The Economist Human Potential Forum
Panel: Teaching Design Thinking (2013)
Seattle AIGA Workshop
Motivation through Communication: Applying behavioral economics for persuasive communication design (2013)
Seattle Net Impact Workshop
Lighting a Fire: Increasing participation in sustainability programs (2013)
Four Peaks Innovation
Summit Keynote
Motivation through Communication: How context, framing, and presentation can change behavior (2012)
Psych! Interactive Strategies Conference Keynote
Playing Games: What motivates people to act? (2012)
Seattle Design Festival Workshop
Waste Not! Designing to encourage smarter consumption with behavioral economics (2012)
IDSA National Conference
Shaping Behavior through Design: Bringing behavioral economics into the design practice (2012)
IDSA Western Design Dialogue Conference
Designing for the "Irrational" Brain (2012)