Bethany Cummings

Nice to meet you…

I am a design researcher focused on service systems. My approach sees the merger of sociology and design: bringing both sociological research methods and design practices in order to identify the key, transformative leverage points in a system. I am particularly curious about user relationships with product/service systems and how we can design stronger, more long term relationships that favor user needs. I move between theory and practice always striving to apply, transform, and innovate whether in market analysis, customer-journey mapping, or AB testing. I believe design research comes from a synthesis of empathy, inquisitiveness and impact.

I am currently exploring how to maximize relationship durability in bi-user systems that manage conflicting user needs. I’m particularly interested in connecting broader social transformation theory with user-experiences to create durable, measurable solutions.

Discovering, designing, creating since 2001…

My design approach is a synthesis of distinct landscapes and disciplines. I grew up seeing the Rocky Mountains from my window and drinking locally-roasted coffee in the PNW: experiences that shaped my belief that beauty is not a luxury, but fundamental to the human experience. This began my passion for design.

While my home sits in research, I care deeply about the impact research can have on user experiences. My academic foundation was built at the University of Notre Dame where I earned my B.A. in Sociology & Innovation/Entrepreneurship followed by an M.Phil at the University of Cambridge. Investigating the intersection of education, knowledge, power and politics (while simultaneously finding the best scones in England) taught me to read systems below the surface, understanding who they impact, how, and which are the key leverage points that transform an experience.

I believe tranformative theory should not live in academia but ought to be practiced. This belief empowered me to pursue an M.S. in Product, Service, System design at Politecnico di Milano where I am now, acting as both a Fulbright Scholar and Student Representative for the School of Design.

I thrive in multidisciplinary multi-cultural teams, growth-oriented environments, and working with product service systems that are radical, transformative, and user-centered.

My Design Principles

Empathy

Deep empathy characterizes my research approach, my design research philosophy not only considers user painpoints, but the social ecosystems that informs their experience spanning both desk and ethnographic research methods.

Inquisitiveness

As a designer researcher, it is my job to stay curious: asking the right questions to uncover unstated painpoints and influences in the user experience–whether in user interviews, focus-groups, or statistical analysis.

Impact

I translate research findings into actionable design impacts that resonate with design teams and users alike. From short-term OKRs to long-term success metrics, I filter findings to create impact.

University of Notre Dame | University of Cambridge | Politecnico di Milano

Fulbright Scholar | St. Edmunds/Notre Dame Scholar | Annexstad Scholar