SELECTED PROJECTS
I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate on a variety of projects that address understanding and improving end-of-life experiences.
↓
As part of my work on Facebook’s Memorialization, I conducted ethnographic research in Indonesia, India, and Mexico. This involved, in collaboration with local guides and advisors, observing and participating in local rituals and interviewing laypeople and experts in order to understand their beliefs and values around dying, grief and legacy. It was a tremendous privilege, and a perspective-shifting experience, to learn firsthand from this wide range of people.
Product experiences I contributed to include the Tributes Section, a community space for honoring the deceased; the Legacy Contact feature, which enables users to appoint someone to manage their account in the event of their death; and a project using AI to prevent distressing experiences for the bereaved.
Features + PRESS:Keynote talk by Facebook VP of Design Margaret Stewart at 2019 F8 Conference
Blog post by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg
NBC News / The Verge / Wired / Engadget / People Magazine
During my time as a Research Fellow with End Well, I conducted research on portrayals of death and dying on television. By shedding light on current depictions and envisioning the future of these representations, we were able to identify gaps and opportunities for how these stories can be expanded.
The published study, released with USC Annenberg Media Impact Project, encourages content creators to produce nuanced, vital, and diverse stories that shape our cultural narrative about end of life.
Read the full report:
“Death On Television: Flipping The Script"
features + PRESS:Deadline / Psychology Today / NPR / Variety / SXSW Panel
I partnered with Type Books in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood to create a death-positive window installation that invites reflection and conversation around death, grief, and end-of-life care. The display showcases cross-cultural death practices and the ways different traditions honor life and memory, as well as ritual and symbolic objects involved in death rites. Bringing together visual elements that challenge conventional narratives, the installation offers a space to see death in a new light—one that is natural, meaningful, beautiful, and, ultimately, part of life.
Additionally, I curated a diverse selection of books on death and grief for all ages. The collection includes everything from practical guides on navigating loss, to beautifully illustrated and accessible stories for young readers, all aimed at fostering understanding and offering comfort during difficult times.
Read my interview with Type Books Junction:
I co-host the podcast Sweet Valley Hive, which explores the 1980s young adult book series “Sweet Valley High.” With humor and critical analysis, some of the episodes touch on themes of loss and grief.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
SELECT EPISODES: