I am a design anthropologist
creating products and experiences
that help us re-imagine our everyday
for a more just and equitable future.
my story
I was born and raised in Sri Lanka, a little island off the Indian ocean known for its long breezy days, smiling people and of course our steaming cups of freshly brewed tea. Most of my childhood was spent in Deraniyagala, a quaint little village south of the island. I grew up there during a time when the corner shop was the fastest mode of communication, when days ended sharp at 4 pm and where everyone knew everything about each other.
Much of the work I do today, draws inspiration from this deep sense of human connectivity that I saw and experienced growing up in Deraniyagala.
Life took some strange bends and detours that made me stumble upon anthropology and my love for designing learning experiences. My work revolves around understanding people in a deep and meaningful way; be it consumers, beneficiaries, donors, 6-year-olds, or adults by asking questions that matter and by sparking conversations that empower.
Student Commencement Address | Wellesley
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tool box
anthropology
my training is in design anthropology and film.
I combine anthropological ways of knowing and
‘deep hanging out’ with the power of visual ethnography
to unpack the complicated ways in which individuals and
communities understand and interpret the world around them.
human centered design
Over the past five years I have worked in the spaces
of micro-finance, fin-tech, education, development and
advertising to help teams find empathetic ways of
co-designing with communities as equal partners to create
products and experiences for a more fulfilling everyday.
social impact
At the core of great design is justice and equity.
I fiercely believe in the power of effective and relevant
learning experiences in transforming communities. Content and programs I’ve designed have trained nearly 2600+ young
people in critical thinking and problem solving skills.