Awassada Ariyaphuttarat
Creative Technologist + Computational Design
- Portfolio: awassada.com
- awassada_ariya@mde.harvard.edu
- LinkedIn: in/awassada-ariyaphuttarat
Creative Technologist working at the intersection of sensing systems, machine learning, and human-centered design. Experienced in building data-driven products that integrate hardware and software to improve accessibility and decision-making at scale.
EXPERIENCE
Founder & CEO·IDEA (Social Enterprise)
- Founded a social enterprise making design and technology accessible to small businesses in Thailand, where professional design services are often out of reach.
- Collaborated with the Thai Deaf Foundation to develop a Thai Sign Language recognition platform, applying computer vision and ML pipelines for real-time gesture detection.
- Conducted user-informed design with deaf communities to validate usability with 15+ users.
Product Designer·Essential Studio
- Led multidisciplinary product and system design projects across physical and digital platforms, delivering end-to-end solutions.
- Built integrated design workflows (industrial, interaction, brand systems), reducing iteration cycles by ~20%.
- Translated strategy into scalable design systems, improving cross-platform consistency and delivery efficiency.
Senior Industrial Designer·Neuralis, Synaptrix Lab
- Designed an EEG-based interaction system for cognitive-controlled mobility, integrating hardware, signal processing, and UX.
- Translated brainwave data into real-time control inputs for users with paralysis.
- Built investor-facing prototypes that supported successful seed-stage funding efforts.
Product & Strategy Designer·Signature Brands
- Led brand consolidation strategy, contributing to $3M+ revenue growth through retail expansion.
- Directed packaging and CAD pipelines for Asia manufacturing partners, improving production consistency by 50%.
- Led expansion of retail distribution across Macy's, Target, Walmart, and Nordstrom, increasing brand visibility and market reach.
Contract Designer·Colgate-Palmolive, FESCO, Liaigre
- Directed brand guidelines for Colgate-Palmolive North America R&D, aligning product and innovation pipelines across cross-functional teams.
- Built 200+ CAD prototypes, optimizing manufacturability and reducing production iteration cycles.
- Designed retail systems and digital showroom experiences for global markets (North America, Europe).