thinking design for
people and the planet

Cia partners with forward-thinking manufacturers, museums, and communities to transform research into sustainable innovation by design.

independently, her speculative art and design projects serve as catalysts for dialogue with her design students and collaborators.

  • product ingredient sustainability app - concept

  • a bent-formed bamboo stool or table

    uno stool or table in bent-formed bamboo

    uno stool

  • science discovery museum and whirlpools exhibits

    exhibits
  • pepper mill in ceramic and walnut

    pepper mill in molded ceramic and walnut scrap wood

    peppa

  • staple series model

    staple series

  • research study with female users of mobility aids

a collaborative and insight-driven approach

1 research

empathize + learn

workshops, interviews, and field work with stakeholders and users to understand behaviors, motivations, and breakdowns. identify unmet needs, shift thinking, break open ideas, explore competition and markets. establish project constraints.

A group of people gathered around a square table with two smartphones, paper, and photographs on the table and engaged in a discussion outdoors.

  • research report, empathy maps, personas, user journey, uncovered patterns, key opportunities, problem framing and initial problem statement, metrics for success, timing, and resources

2 ideation

play + explore

brainstorm a wide range of creative solutions from initial insights. provide sketching, develop questions, user mapping (affinity/mind), and prioritize evaluation filters. identify potential patent opportunities and Establish sustainability goals.

Group of five diverse people sitting around a wooden table, participating in a discussion or workshop about social advocacy, with papers and drawings on the table.

  • idea clusters and concept sketches, priority list of solutions, idea evaluation matrix, early concept narratives

3 prototype

make + test

build tangible examples of selected ideas as lo-fi prototypes. storyboard and mock-up documentation. develop learning objectives for testing, role play and co-creation with users. testing with users and the stakeholders. document the learnings.

One woman and three men are studying a prototype of a metal desk or shelving unit in a large open space.

  • simple physical protoypes, protoype documentation of iterations in images and experiences including user feedback summary, protoype test plan, learning objectives, and recommended refinements for next stage development

4 refine

iterate + synthesize

Analyze insights from feedback, synthesize and refine design ideas for clarity. develop materials selection (cfm). support engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing reviews (dfm), i.p. reviews, key stakeholder reviews, eco-measures and test requirements.

Three people examining an architectural model on a desk, with two Apple computers nearby in a modern workspace.

  • updated prototypes, drawings, and/or revised product requirements, design synthesis report (key insights and directions), revised evaluation filters

5 implement

execute + launch

Translate refined solutions into production-ready designs, plans for market introduction, Engineering collaboration, production alignment, first article reviews, support marketing and communication design, and contribute to launch plan and rollout.

Four workers are assembling chairs on a conveyor belt in an industrial factory. Two of them are attaching chair backrests, while the other two are handling chairs at different points along the production line.

  • final design specifications and manufacturing files, go-to-market and storytelling assets, Implementation roadmap

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lifecycle assessment checklist
circular manufacturing system
cia mooney, the designer, on a black background.

about

cia (chi-ah) is an american designer based in portland, Oregon. her international career spans the creation of products, objects, furniture, lighting, spaces, and exhibits. she has held senior positions guiding design, engineering, and marketing teams for manufacturers recognized as leaders in product design and sustainability. her aesthetic austerity, born from her new england roots, is balanced with the poetics of her progressive italian training. in addition to her product work, cia has developed audience-winning exhibits for science, technology, and children’s museums in the u.s. and beijing, china. she is a frequent teacher and guest lecturer with degrees in industrial design from pratt institute in Brooklyn and milan’s domus academy. cia’s design work has been exhibited at the salone del mobile, euroluce, the milan triennale with isao hosoe, and group exhibitions in new york, Miami, and portland.

  • moderation is one solution. use less, consume less, and waste less.

  • treat people and the planet with care and respect. guide children with love.

  • artisanship brings beauty, function, and emotive connections to things worth keeping.

  • nothing great was achieved without a curious mind.

  • consider the context and long-term consequences of our actions so future generations inherit a vibrant planet.

values

stories

thinking design for people + planet

more stories

what story will we
tell the children?

our products are outliving us in the oceans, air, and soil. why add more things to an already polluted world? as circular systems and bio-based solutions emerge, still in their infancy, is there an opportunity to reduce consumption altogether?

a frequently cited fact is that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish. still, the expected increase in the global production of future plastics is enormous.

how might we change our ways? we can begin by ending single-use plastics that cannot be recycled.

Learn more