Melissa is the Co-Founder and Head of Design at Dupla Studios, where she works with industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. She’s passionate about humanizing technology and using design as an enabler of human potential.
Prior to starting Dupla, Melissa worked at Microsoft where she designed experiences that were used from data centers to connected cars. She has been recognized for leading the first team of design integrators, and creating design systems that got used across the Windows Server and System Center suite of products — home of Microsoft’s most complex products.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Interaction Design. In her free time, she enjoys designing with sound, whether as a drummer or a DJ.
Past Talks
Metaphor is one of the greatest tools we, as humans, have for understanding. In the face of complexity, or even just novelty, our brains offer us something we know to help us digest something we don’t. From "words are weapons" to "she's a shining star," metaphors infuse our language with vivid imagery, enabling us to grasp abstract concepts effortlessly.
Metaphors can also be powerful design tools. Because, when stripped down, design is a form of communication. The choices we make as designers – about how to enter an experience, how to move through it, what it looks like, what it feels like – all express something to the user, aiding or disrupting their understanding of the task at hand.
When metaphors are used to tie entire experiences together, even complex tasks can become easily digested, relatable, fun, seamless, and intuitive. What if we told you that behind every great design lies a carefully crafted metaphor? Join us to learn the secrets of using experience metaphors to elevate product experiences, differentiate brands, and deliver value to users, customers, and businesses alike.
In this session, you’ll learn:
· The longest running metaphor that made computing available to the masses, and how Apple leveraged a metaphor to make backups intuitive and fun.
· How Dupla Studios created a relational map metaphor for an event production application, and an eye exam metaphor for a service that matches creators to presentation experts.
· A simple guide to applying these concepts in your own work