Nice to meet you! š
Iām Diana Chalakova ā a Bulgarian-born, Seattle-raised, New York-based designer. Currently, I am pursuing my M.F.A. in Design and Technology at the Parsons School of Design. I strive to hone my skills through collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, addressing real-world challenges. My approach emphasizes translating data insights into actionable strategies while prioritizing user needs.
I hold a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Informatics from the University of Washington. My background in psychology, research, and data analysis has been a great strength in my ability to both empathize with and understand user motivation/behavior throughout the design process.
Outside of class and work, I enjoy photography, exploring creative technology, painting, and have been training for my first half-marathon!
Iām currently working on projects that I am unable to put in my portfolio yet, but Iād like to briefly highlight here:
leading the design of an experimental project featuring LLM integration alongside engineers at Cornell Tech
redesigning the menu at Talea Beer Co to reflect the visual and aesthetic design of the taproom
website design for the Design and Technology class of 2025 (MFA + BFA) thesis exhibit
re-envisioning camping gear design in collaboration with Michael Verbos (Prof. of Product Design at Parsons)
designing a website for alternative and sustainable tourism in New York City