Consultancy

Curriculum Design Internship with Upstream 360

Project Background:

I worked in a cross-disciplinary team to design and develop the foundation for curriculum materials for online continuing medical education. My team served as production consultants, focusing on best practices for online learning retention and engagement. We assisted in creating an educational template for the client, ensuring it aligned with their goals and objectives.

Team Members: Cassie Loper and Laura Guarana

Deliverables:

  • Report of research and findings

  • Additional resources and technology document

  • Pitch presentation for solutions

  • Slide revision examples for medical professional presentations

  • Prototype video on how to create an engaging online course

Role:

As the lead for conducting empathetic interviews, I identified the needs of stakeholders and clarified the project brief. Additionally, I took charge of video production for our prototype, creating a compelling demonstration of how to design an engaging online course. Throughout the project, I helped my team navigate timeline challenges by offering both micro and macro perspectives. By encouraging the team to step back and reassess priorities, we effectively tackled obstacles and ensured that the task backlog was prioritized to meet project milestones.

Human Centered Design Internship

Currently under NDA

I had the opportunity to work with a Richmond-based firm as part of a human-centered design internship focused on user experience (UX) with a large general contractor. I collaborated with my interdisciplinary team to identify and address the needs of the end users, ensuring that the design solutions were intuitive, effective, and aligned with user expectations.

Using my Figma skills, I helped create wireframes, prototypes, and design mockups that visually communicated the user journey and improved the overall digital experience. My work involved conducting user research to gather insights that informed design decisions and enhanced user engagement. This hands-on experience allowed me to refine my design process and gain a deeper understanding of the application of human-centered design principles in real-world, high-stakes projects.

VCU da Vinci Center

As part of the MPI program, which emphasized entrepreneurship and venture development, I took on the role of a consultant, assisting fellow cohort members with their ventures and projects. I prioritize building strong connections with those I work with and taking the time to understand their unique needs. Through collaborative ideation, I guide them using targeted questions to explore diverse pathways and generate innovative ideas, helping them think outside the box and refine their entrepreneurial approaches.

Consulted with:

  • Branding (personal, business, or product)

  • Naming Ideation

  • Product Ideation

  • Product Iteration

  • Visual Merchandising

  • Graphic Design

  • Nurturing Team Dynamics

  • Event Organization and Management

Testimonials

  • "When I didn't know where to start in order to start understanding myself as a whole, Cael was willing to step in and help me. Even with it being late in the evening, she grabbed some dry erase markers, we went to the whiteboard, and she stayed with me until I was finished. She was very patient, comforting, and clear in her explanation. It was a great start to building my brand, and I will always go back to her if I need anymore help."

    Mee Mee Little, MPI student at VCU

  • "I’ve had the pleasure to get to Cael over the last 3 moths and I can say without a doubt she is one of the hardest working individuals I’ve ever met. Her talent for ideation, collaboration. and service leadership shine through in every professional circumstance she embarks on. In addition to having a lethal set of practical skillsets, her emotional and personal skillsets should be the mindset that consultants strive for. Cael consistently upholds a calm, authoritative but kind demeanor in situations that range from giving feedback to a budding entrepreneur, to conflict resolution within her own team. I can say for certain that having her input and expertise on a project can transform any vision into an innovative plan for execution, and that any company would be blessed to call her a teammate."

    Isabella Lubinskas, MPI student at VCU

  • "I just gotta give a huge shoutout to Cael!! Seriously, she’s been an absolute rockstar since day one of our MPI program; I remember she was the person welcoming me with warm gesture!! Her vibe just set the perfect tone for everything that followed. Plus, her ideation about setting up my business’s visual? Priceless. And I won’t forget how she’s always on point with team dynamics. She’s like the glue that holds u together, always making sure we’re collaborating like pros. Couldn’t have asked for a better teammate!!"

    Shaira Zahin Khan, MPI student at VCU

  • "Cael is a wonderful person to work with. She narrows down more significant problems into digestible plans of action. She will dedicate herself to your industry to analyze the opportunities you can capitalize on. Cael is like a camera with the ability to manipulate focus, as a business, you are faced with hundreds of problems, but Cael prioritizes and strategizes with a unique and effective technique. The tales are true. Cael is a 4’9 powerhouse that you’d be lucky to have as an asset."

    Mason Miles, MPI student at VCU & Founder of Dress For Yourself

  • "When you give Cael an idea, she'll give you back twenty. She's so full of good ideas and advice, it'll make your head spin in the best way with all of the newfound possibilities. I don't know how so many great thoughts and concepts can fit inside of one person, but Cael manages to pull it off with enthusiasm and style. I was not paid or bribed to say any of this."

    Luke Florio, MPI Student at VCU & Creative Correspondence

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