I was really happy to attend this class because I have heard of the design approach and how one can use it in their own life. This class was especially helpful to me as I was able to identify the problem at hand and get it on paper. I then was able to explore it further with the steps and prompts that were shared by Dr. Abigail in her design class. This really helped me get unstuck and move my process forward as I am working on switching my career. I was able to build my own journey map on what I have done, where I am at, and where I want to be. I have more information now to carry out my prototype in addressing my personal needs.

"I think what these activities helped me to do was push myself just a little to be more of the person I want to be ... a storyteller, a 'creative' a person who feels empowered to make things or even just to try."

The concepts Dr. Abigail covered during the Your Innovation Toolkit workshop at the 2023 Tech Intersections event were tailored around design thinking and how we as individuals can apply the same principles when designing a system or artifacts focused on our personal care needs and goals. The workshop was mindfully designed and mastered what many other workshops often forget - providing a balanced experience for both learning of principles and application of the learning, the doing. I’m beyond grateful for Dr. Abigail’s wonderfully crafted workshop and have begun applying the learnings to help me reach an important 2023 goal. I hope to attend other workshops in the future and personally recommend Dr. Abigail’s workshop for both organizations/teams and individuals seeking to improve how they approach personal care needs and goals.

As a leader, Abigail brings out the best in others, earning their trust because she listens with an open heart and mind and communicates their value to the community. We brought 6 teachers to attend an SEL conference, and to help us process what we learned and consider the next steps, Abigail guided us through a design thinking exercise. This was the most productive faculty meeting we experienced because we started having no vision of how to collect our thoughts, collaborate on a shared vision, and design something for our learning community. With her facilitation, we felt charged and enthusiastic about the possibilities. Thanks, Abigail, for modeling what a positive collaborative space should look and feel like.