I explore and transform ideas into real-world impact through a blend of
Hello! I'm a design strategist + researcher with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Currently a Master of Design student @ the Institute of Design, Chicago.
Previously @ Deloitte Consulting, Relish Works, FEG DRIVE, and ChiByDesign
with a background in Business Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Humanities @ UCLA
Along the way, I’ve built brands, launched ventures, and helped organizations navigate ambiguity.
🌟 selected work
Projects done between 2022 - 2025
Below is a collection of my favorite design & innovation projects: complex problem-solving with thoughtful research, synthesis, and impactful storytelling
Equipped the product and design team with a blueprint, 6 design principles, and 2 user models that clarified key gaps, exposed challenges, and laid the foundation for future development.
What could an end-to-end online counseling experience look like for working adults in Taiwan?
MIND+ BLUEPRINT

Product Design & Strategy
Blueprinting
Design Research
Boosted survey participation by over 55% and delivered a store employee engagement framework adaptable to broader uses — as a bonus!
How can a global coffeehouse chain boost store employee survey participation?
INCREASING SURVEY PARTICIPATION

Mixed-Methods Research
Innovation Strategy
Design Strategy
Coming Soon
Built a growth toolkit for a 3,600-participant program across 65 sites — informing future fundraising, workstreams, and strategic initiatives.
How might we develop a growth framework that helps an aging-in-place program to scale sustainably?
CAPABLE GROWTH MODEL

Growth Strategy
Design Research
Systems Mapping
Coming Soon
Launching to 30,000+ users in 2026, phasing out the current app.
What kind of mobile banking experience can help a rural Indonesian bank become the top choice for everyday transactions?
LESTARIGO

Product Design
Digital Strategy
UX Research
Check back soon to see the impact of this work!
How might we design an inclusive and anti-racist early childhood services for the state of Illinois?
SERVICE DELIVERY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

Service Design
Co-Design
Design Research
Coming Soon

Over the years, I've developed a community of 10K+ creatives on my Instagram page, @sammys.journal, where I share my illustrations, journal pages, and other creative pursuits.
Sammy's Journal: My Creative Community

Visual Art
Content Creation
An interactive game as a learning companion for 6th-graders learning biology . Students learn through a combination of digital and tactile experience, optimized for immersion and inclusivity. The experience is delivered on an tablet-based app and physical gameboard.
Bloxology: Inclusive Design through Gaming

Inclusive Design
Game Design
Before I found my way into strategic design, my first love was creative entrepreneurship. Even as a kid, I was drawn to creating things and building around them. These explorations are no different. Some emerged from my design work, others from curiosity and moments of inspiration.
🌱 side quests & explorations
🛠️ This part below is currently under construction. Feel free to explore, but pardon the odd bits!
✏️ media & featured blog posts

Blog Post
Lessons learned while building a business

Podcast feature
My co-founder & I talk about our experience launching a photo album brand

Press Coverage | Daily Bruin Newspaper
Project Memory combines photo books and journaling to create a community

Blog Post
5 things my life at UCLA taught me
see more blog posts
👋 thanks for visiting!
I'd love to hear from you. Email me at samantha.chandra@gmail.com