Julianne Gauron
Julianne Gauron has longstanding professional, personal and academic experience surrounding the body in contemporary American society, along with a deep understanding of the intersection between the body and designed objects. In addition to her strong interpersonal skills, which are critical for conducting design ethnography, Julianne brings the tools for cultural analysis and subsequent problem solving through design of products, systems and services. In her role as Design Researcher Julianne acts as a user advocate working daily with residents, staff, administrators and family members at the Tockwotton Home, a nursing home and assisted living facility in Providence, to gain a deep understanding of nursing care in the US today. This in-depth knowledge will enable the design team to identify design opportunities to improve long-term care.
Julianne attended the Rhode Island School of Design to earn her Masters degree in Industrial Design, and was selected to be the department’s Graduate Representative, working with peers and administrators to shape graduate curriculum and experience. In addition to her graduate degree Julianne has an undergraduate background in Art History and Architecture. While an undergraduate Julianne actively pursued sports, including Division I downhill ski racing, which helped inform her longstanding personal interest in how the body’s physical experiences affect quality of life.