University of Hartford

Faculty Member, Visual Communication Design: Hartford Art School

Assistant Professor

Hartford Art School

Thesis Title: "Making sense with design: A taxonomy of designed experiences"

About

Natacha Poggio is a multidisciplinary designer and Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Design from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Natacha Poggio's research focuses on socially responsible design; she is interested in strategic design projects dealing with social change, to promote sustainable development and change the world for the better. She approaches design by examining how people interact with objects and environments, looking for ways to expand the awareness of the physical senses to make these interactions aesthetically pleasing and functional for the greatest number of users –especially people with disabilities.

In her teaching, Natacha Poggio focuses on the role the environment plays in people's lives and encourages students to find solutions that will inspire positive change in society through service learning projects that educate them on the impact and importance of their work –bridging worlds, whether locally or internationally– so that their design solutions address the needs of their target audience.

Natacha Poggio is dedicated to realizing design's potential to help improve the human condition and the global environment. She regularly speaks at conferences about the important role graphic designers can play in enhancing social conditions around the world, as opposed to applying their skills to help companies manufacture false needs.

Areas of research:
social design, universal design, accessibility, sustainability, humanitarian design, exhibition design, user experience, graphic design, information design, usability, interaction design, emerging technologies

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