Ibuki Iwasaki

I'm a designer and problem solver who likes to code and learn about the way humans think.

About

Hello! I'm Ibuki. I currently solve complex issues in healthcare data as a Technical Solutions Engineer at Epic Systems, but before that I studied design, cognitive science, and computer science at MIT (you can read more about that in this article), researched alignment behaviors in children at the Early Childhood Cognition Lab, and prototyped experiences for clients as an Interaction Design Intern at IDEO Tokyo.


And long before all of that, I was a one-year-old on a 13-hour plane ride immigrating from one side of the world to another. “Are you more Japanese or more American?” Growing up, I would agonize over this question. But eventually I figured out that I had built my own bridges between the two and I didn't have to choose one over the other.


For me, design is a way of continuing to build bridges - between technology and people, between intent and action, between complexity and clarity. I believe that it is only by bridging these gaps that we can make this messy world a bit more navigable than it was yesterday.

A little more about me:

I moved to the US from Japan when I was one year old.

I currently live in the Midwest, but I grew up on Long Island, NY and went to MIT in Boston (↓ me with my brass rat).

My favorite activities include exploring thrift stores in different cities, spending hours in museums, and playing ping pong, in no particular order.

And of course, eating.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect.

Resume

Please reach out if you have any questions or are interested in a detailed CV.

Summary

Ibuki Iwasaki

A multidisciplinary designer with a background in design, computer science, and cognitive science. Has a versatile skillset and broad perspective from work experience in healthcare IT, design consulting, and multiple years of academic research.

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science

Sept 2018 - May 2022

Cambridge, MA | GPA: 4.8/5.0

Coursework included: Creative Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Designing Learning Technology, Introduction to Algorithms, Design Studios

Skills

Designing

Figma, Blender, Fusion 360, Illustrator, Photoshop, Rhino, Unity


Coding

Python, JavaScript, React, Three.js, WebGL, p5.js, HTML, CSS, R, GraphQL, MATLAB


Fabricating

Arduino, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Shop Machines

Work Experience

Epic Systems
Technical Solutions Engineer and Usability Facilitator

09/2023 - Current

Madison, WI

  • Lead weekly customer meetings with SQL and Oracle database administrators, ETL specialists, and report writers at 6 major healthcare organizations to ensure data availability and system reliability
  • Investigate and resolve complex database and infrastructure issues by collaborating with customers and R&D teams
  • Conduct task-based usability studies and user interviews with end users; synthesize insights and deliver findings to UX teams to improve product usability

IDEO Tokyo
Interaction design intern

09/2022 - 12/2022

Tokyo, Japan

  • Collaborated with designers and engineers on designing new features for a global tech company to boost engagement among Japanese users
  • Conducted 20+ user and expert interviews and A/B tests across 2 projects; synthesized data to uncover actionable design recommendations

MIT Early Childhood Cognition Lab
Research Assistant

05/2021 - 09/2022

Cambridge, MA

  • Designed graphics, recorded video/audio, and wrote code in Python and JS to fully automate a study that collected 60+ responses within two weeks
  • Regularly recruited for and conducted interviews with children ages 4-9
  • Produced statistical analysis and data visualizations in R