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Hi, I'm Zaheer,

And I'm an Industrial Designer. I like to design products to increase a user's feelings of wellbeing and belonging. I focus on inclusivity and making someone feel like their needs have been considered. I enjoy drawing from my cultural background and experiences, as well as researching new experiences and learning new perspectives. I'm a huge music and comic fan, and a sculpture and miniature painting enthusiast. I love to focus on making everyone feel like they belong!

Education
Rochester Institute of Technology — Master of Fine Arts in Industrial Design
August 2021 - May 2023
Project, research, and narrative focused design degree. Notable coursework: Thesis on increasing product life-spans through modularity, Section on AI and design, soft goods Studio.
University of California, Santa Cruz— Bachelor of Arts in Intensive Psychology
September 2016 - August 2019
Research focused psychology degree. Notable coursework: research study on an app that supports toddler reading acquisition 


Experience
Mount Diablo Unified School District, Bay Point Ca — Art Teacher
October 2023 - PRESENT

  • Teaching 7 periods of 30 students each at Riverview Middle School

  • Classes cover Art and Digital arts, as well a STEAM based Design and Modeling class

  • Designing and writing lesson plans with a focus on accessibility for students with a wide range of ability and English language comprehension

  • Preparing for instruction in advance, and thinking on my feet to keep classes running smoothly​

Future Design Embassies, Essen Germany — Cultural Ambassador
January 2023-June 2023

  • Prepared and led a workshop on Light and Modularity for a group of 10 German students at Folkwang University.

  • Spent 6 months collaboratively preparing a design workshop

  • Met with US and German based mentors

  • Guided students in ideating, designing, prototyping, refining, and presenting light fixtures

Skills

  • Visual storytelling

  • Design for Accessibility

  • Adobe Suite

  • Fusion360

  • ZBrush

  • Figma

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Written Works

Supporting Long Lifespan Products with Modularity - Masters Thesis, RIT​

Designing While Neurodivergent: Reframing Values, Diversity, Cognition, and Skills - Collaboration with Alex Lobos, director of the School of Design, RIT

Contact me!​

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