Tipping Point fights poverty in the Bay Area. Since 2005, we have raised more than $60 million to educate, employ, house and support more than 250,000 people living in poverty. T Lab at Tipping Point is an initiative that will bring together a diverse group of nine Problem-Solvers to tackle challenges in Child Care, Early Childhood Education and Prisoner Reentry.

Problem-Solvers seek to understand users’ needs through field interviews and participatory design methods. Using key findings from research, they brainstorm ideas before building prototypes and testing solutions.

Design and fabricate high and low fidelity prototypes.
Develop design research (customer, aesthetics, functionality, materials, market, etc.).
Aid in designing and fabricating product testing fixtures and methods.
Aid in product design, materials sourcing, design strategy, and quality assurance.
Work in a collaborative multidisciplinary and fast paced environment.

Utilize a variety of methods to develop research for design, marketing, business strategy
Illustrate and validate concepts though prototypes, story boards, info graphics, personas and other methods.
Coordinate with clients, manufacturing companies, consultants, and press.
Maintain company blog and develop new business ventures.
Notable products - Senza Bike lock, Impact Sports Harness.

Utilized digital imaging to fit brand image and goals.
Self taught Autodesk Showcase for two month project.
Find and/or create materials, environments, and modeling surfaces.
References: Derek Sanden, Vice President (425) 483-7000
Scott Roth, Consultant (206) 842-8222

Sponsored project at SCAD, worked directly with company.
Devised a comprehensive strategy to address plastic bag waste.
Lead interdisciplinary design team.
Present to Corporate Representative on multiple occasions.
Research methods: Ethnography, focus groups, user testing and observation.

Qualitative research of industry trends, markets, users, and products.
Develop product and business strategies to fill the indentified gaps.
Maintain company blogs.

Offered by the University of Virginia
In this course, we will explore the underlying theory and frameworks that provide the foundations of a successful business strategy. We will develop your ability to think strategically by providing you the tools for conducting a strategic analysis. Strategic analysis is critical for analyzing the competitive context in which an organization operates and for making reasoned and reasonable recommendations for how that organization should position itself and what actions it should take to maximize value creation.

#1 Entrepreneurship Course on Coursera*
#8 Overall Business Course on Coursera*
*CourseTalk's "Top Rated" MOOCs (November, 2013)

Offered by The University of Maryland.
Using proven content, methods, and models for new venture opportunity assessment and analysis, students will learn how to enhance their entrepreneurial mindset and develop their functional skill sets to see and act entrepreneurially. The initial steps to creating a business plan, and raising financial capital to launch the firm, are examined as well. Our goal is to demystify the startup process, and to help you build the skills to identify and act on innovative opportunities now, and in the future.