Making our way toward a better world

with storytelling, research, and design as mediums for social change

Our Principles

Our principles speak to the nature of the process we seek to uphold, and the designs and outcomes we seek to create. The following principles ground our relationship with our work, collaborators, and communities.

  • We remain rooted in curiosity and humility through inquiry. We seek to listen first, and uplift what is already working, as the source for transformative change.

  • We blend rigorous, structured thinking with inspired and empathic practice. We arrive at a place of perspective that integrates knowledge from the brain, body, and soul.

  • We strive to center the experiences of those directly impacted by systems and outcomes of the design process. We hold deep attention to participant care, research ethics, and acknowledgement of power and bias.

  • We believe in the power of each person’s lived experience. Through facilitation and co-creation, this means building in partnership with communities, team members, and stakeholders.

  • We work toward sustainable, community-led outcomes through cultivating design approaches and capacity. We are committed to elevating talent locally, and investing in expanding design leadership globally.

We acknowledge and remain inspired by the practices of design justice and equity centered design, and hope to continue building and applying these principles within the greater equity & justice design community.

Behind the Scenes

I started IO Studio as a home for my independent and freelance work at the intersections of storytelling, design, and social impact. Over the past decade, I’ve served as a research lead, product manager, experience designer, and facilitator in local and global contexts across the United States, East & West Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America. I’ve worked across nonprofit, social enterprise, education, tech, and civic sectors and am committed to working toward an equitable and liberatory world.

I truly believe in partnering with changemakers: all individuals, organizations, and communities with the truest connection to a place, a challenge, a vision – and the unyielding commitment to make the world we want to see. Whether solo or through curating a bespoke team: as a consultant and partner, I hope to supplement your work with the clarity, energy, and capacity to unlock your next horizon. If you’d like to explore collaborating, please get in touch. I would be honored to play a part in supporting your journey.

– Sara

Get in Touch

Old friends & new — drop a line at sara@dezinelab.com