Design thinker, researcher, and strategist Linda Wagner joined Carbon Design Group as Director of Research.
"It's fantastic to have Linda on our team," said Dan Blase, Carbon Design Group President. "Adding her deep expertise is an important step in continuing to deliver user-focused solutions for our clients."
"Carbon is a team of curious and passionate problem solvers that care about the work that they do and the impact they have," said Wagner. "I see that across all disciplines and departments. I love the fact that a significant portion of the work that Carbon does literally saves people's lives."
The wide variety of products and clients in Carbon's portfolio was also a big draw for Wagner. "I find that doing a project in one industry, often unexpectedly informs a project in another industry. The products themselves may seem unrelated, but the customer experiences can connect them in unexpected ways. I find this variety and crosspollination inspiring."
Prior to joining Carbon, Wagner spent five years at Microsoft managing user research teams and projects. There she brought a user experience and business planning perspective to the incubation, design, and development of consumer products that integrate hardware, software, and services.
With over 10 years of consulting experience in design and research with Fortune 500 companies, Wagner's work spans multiple industries including healthcare, consumer electronics, automotive, mobile communications, financial services, as well as government and non-profit sectors. Wagner continues to explore new ways to inspire design, business, and users, most recently adding a focus on sustainability as a strategic issue for businesses and an emerging source of innovation and differentiation for product development.
Wagner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design from the School of Design Architecture, Art, and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, and a Master of Strategic Design Planning degree from the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology. This past year, she completed a Certificate in Sustainable Business at Bainbridge Graduate Institute.
"As Carbon continues to expand our offering upstream to help clients identify and capitalize on new business opportunities, Linda is going to have a huge, positive impact on clients' business," said Blase. "That's the bottom line."