Unify

Unify

Project Overview

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About

Unify, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and the Royal College of Art, enhances public participation in smart city developments. Addressing the gap in tech-driven cities, Unify connects local governments with domain-specialised "enablers" for holistic citizen engagement. This platform offers a knowledge repository and a network of verified experts, aiding civil servants in devising inclusive strategies. Unify facilitates job postings, attracting a broad spectrum of talents, ensuring urban development remains inclusive, aligning with UN-Habitat's vision of citizen-centric, human rights-focused smart cities.

Team

Marta Suslow

Marta Suslow

Royal College of Art

I am Marta, a seasoned systems and service designer with over a decade of experience, collaborating with renowned brands like Henkel, NIVEA, and SAP Fioneer. Additionally, I proudly serve as a sustainability jury member of the Pentawards.My journey in design and innovation is fueled by a passion for impactful solutions. As a Sustainability Manager, closely collaborating with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, I have witnessed the transformative power of systemic change. One of my proudest accomplishments is the NIVEA Shower Gel Refill Station, a finalist in the “National German Sustainability Awards” and recognized among the “Top 10 Social Impact Stories of 2021” by Designboom and an honorable mention from Fast Company. My core belief centers on merging digitalization and sustainability for a brighter, more sustainable future through cross-functional collaboration.

Madhurya Katragadda

Madhurya Katragadda

Royal College of Art

I am a Design Researcher and Spatial Designer dedicated to crafting user-centric experiences within the built environment. With an extensive professional background spanning over 8 years in the architectural industry, I have worked on over 20 projects in both India and Oman, designing for diverse user and business needs. Notable projects in the Middle East region include the Lulu Mall and the Hotel Citadine in Muscat, the DusitD2 Resort in Jebel Akhdar, and the spatial design of the QIWP desalination plant(Qurrayyat). Drawing from these experiences, I am skilled at employing lateral thinking combined with systems thinking, and blending user needs with business requirements, allowing me to approach challenges holistically. I am driven to continuously innovate and deliver design solutions that resonate with both the client's vision and the end user's expectations.

Yashasri Sadagopan

Yashasri Sadagopan

Royal College of Art

I am a User Researcher and Service Designer based in London/Mumbai, with a dynamic journey spanning organizations like frog design, Philips, Accenture Song, UK Government's Department of Health and Social Care, Imperial College Business School, and the Royal College of Art. With a background in technology that enables me to design for practicality coupled with a practice in Experience Design that provokes and pushes me to design with empathy, I bring an ability to look at systems and services through a multidisciplinary lens. I strive to design for complexity by co-creating with people, businesses, and stakeholders and foster impact.

Sujeet Kumar

Sujeet Kumar

Royal College of Art

With over 5 years of professional experience spanning non-profits, start-ups, and large corporations, I identify as a designer, technologist, and entrepreneur. I am the founding partner of CometCatapult, a design firm dedicated to catalyzing and enabling positive change. I have previously collaborated with organizations such as JP Morgan, SAP Labs, Sattva Consulting, and Mindtree to co-design and deliver multiple user-centric services, products, and experiences. These endeavors prioritize not only desirability but also the viability, feasibility, and sustainability of these offerings for organizations. My educational background includes a Master's degree in Service Design from the Royal College of Art, complemented by a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science engineering.

Kazuhiro Naito

Kazuhiro Naito

Royal College of Art

I am a policymaker and service designer with a commitment to advancing innovation globally. While serving as a government official in Japan, I had the opportunity to contribute to the launch of 'Moonshot', the country's pioneering mission-driven R&D program. This endeavour highlighted the importance and intricacies of envisioning a future that resonates with the public. This experience led me to the Royal College of Art, where I deepened my knowledge of service design and speculative design. Currently, as an MPA candidate at UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), I am further exploring the nuances of innovation policy and seeking avenues to cultivate a more innovative world.

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