Laura C. Martini
martini at mit.edu | martini.mitplw.com | Menlo Park, CA

EDUCATION

Stanford University | Stanford, CA
MS in ME, Product Design June 2011. June 2011.

Stanford's human-centered design program combined my interests in Mech. Engineering, Human Factors and Anthropology, enabling me to address problems with a combination of ethnographic needfinding, high-level framework synthesis and rapid prototyping.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) | Cambridge, MA
SB in Mech. Eng. with conc. in Product Development and minor in Anthropology. June 2008.
GPA 4.9/5.0

Followed self-designed Product Development course combining technical classes like thermodynamics, kinematics and Engineering Human Factors with an Anthropology minor.

PRODUCT DESIGN

IDEO Mechanical Engineering Intern | Palo Alto, CA
June 2010 - September 2010
* Conducted interviews and synthesized feedback from users; incorporated results into design solutions and iterations.
* Solid modeled, animated, sketched and built product concepts, including working full-sized model of a videoconferencing space.
* Contributed to consumer products, experience design, iPhone app, water filtration and toy projects.

Apple, Inc. iMacs Product Designer | Cupertino, CA
June 2007 - August 2007; August 2008 - December 2008; April 2009 - June 2009
* Team leader during early-stage design of a new iMac.
* One of five interns out of 100+ in Apple Hardware selected to present work to Hardware VP Bob Mansfield.
* Designed test instrumentation and procedures for calibrating iMac hinges at assembly sites, installed on vendor production lines in China.

Cooper Perkins Technology Development Firm Product Designer | Burlington, MA January 2008
* Worked on many facets of project including dynamic and structural analysis, creating parts in machine shop, building circuits for product testing, running sound level tests, and solid modeling.

Physical Language Workshop MIT Media Lab | Cambridge, MA
Product Designer under John Maeda October 2004 - May 2007
* Designed a system to create online communities among users of a particular brand of kitchen. Did market testing and data analysis to determine feasibility of idea. Presented results to companies in Tokyo and LA.
* Prototyped user interfaces for electronic books incorporating flexible LCD displays
* Spearheaded project with AARP to create a clock that is accessible to mature users. Involved phases of market research prior to prototyping.

UX DESIGN

Percolater | Palo Alto, CA
percolater.com October 2010 - May 2011
* Led UX testing and design for iPad news reader app that was featured in the App Store
* Finalist in Stanford BASES Cool Product Expo, May 2011
* Invited to present at Apple's iOS Developer Showcase, March 2011

Notely | Palo Alto, CA
notelyapp.com January - March 2011
* Led user testing, created logo and branding for this iPhone application allowing users to anonymously post stories in any location.
* Top 4 Finalist out of 15 class projects
* Invited to present at Apple's iOS Developer Showcase, March 2011

STRATEGIC

Palo Alto Investors, Designer in Residence | Palo Alto, CA
July 2011 - Current
* Perform ethnographic research, both internally for PAI and externally for portfolio companies, and make recommendations based on insights. Past projects include observations in a hospital waiting room that caters to uninsured clientele and website design suggestions for a CRM company in the fitness space.
* Assist with identity, strategy and branding for internal firm projects ranging from health supplements to game design.
* Listen to company pitches and perform assessments on viability and market need from a design perspective.
* Maintain relationships with other designers working in the health and wellness field.

LEADERSHIP & TEACHING

Teaching Assistant, History and Philosophy of Design with Design Historian Barry Katz | Stanford, CA
Spring 2011
Lectured on history of industrial design to a class of 60 students and led section discussions with groups of undergraduates, guiding them through research projects on the history of an object and its cultural relevance.
Teaching Assistant, Designing the Authentic Life | Stanford, CA
Fall 2010
Guided 9 undergraduates through finding their calling in life using Design Thinking methods to examine their passions and interests.

System Integrator, Product Engineering Process (2.009) | Cambridge, MA
Fall 2007
Co-led an 18-person team through the brainstorming, mock-up and alpha prototype stages of a machine for extracting oil from used car oil filters in order to reduce the environmental impact of filter disposal.

Dorm Executive, East Campus Dormitory Cambridge, MA
Vice president, February 2006 - February 2008
Elected by majority of 350-person dorm.
Treasurer, February 2005- February 2006
Responsible for allocating and tracking $60,000 annual dorm budget.

Dormitory Council Executive, M.I.T Cambridge, MA
Vice President May 2006 - May 2007
Represented undergraduate population in regular meetings with high-level MIT administrators.
Secretary, May 2005- May 2006

Team Consultant, Rube Goldberg Competition Cambridge, MA
Spring 2006
Advised teams of middle school students during design and construction of Rube Goldberg machines.

Undergraduate Advisor for Design and Manufacturing I (2.007 Competition) Cambridge, MA Spring 2007
Guided students through process of designing and building a remote-controlled competition robot.

HONORS & AWARDS

* Invited to moderate at 500 Startups Women in Design event, Fall 2011
* Received a $15,000 grant from Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts (SiCa) for Eames Design exhibition, Spring 2011
* Stanford Mechanical Eng. Graduate Fellowship: Sequoia Capital Fellow
* MIT 2.007 Competition, robot in top 10% of 160 participants
* Member of Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi engineering honors societies

SKILLS & INTERESTS

* Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Premier Pro
* Strong machine shop and prototyping skills: know Unigraphics, SolidWorks, Mastercam, Matlab, Scheme, basic Python, Arduino
* Public speaking and client interactions (seriously!)
* French proficiency
* Love biking, river rafting, robots and getting my hands dirty in the machine shop