TeresaBrazen

We have to admit we have a bit of a crush on Teresa Brazen. This super talented multimedia whiz is a Design Education Strategist at Cooper, where she draws upon experiences from a wide range of disciplines to inspire curriculum, teach, and build community.

Teresa's interest around questions like how we might invest in relational chemistry or integrate new team members have driven her most recent work on designing culture, a topic on which she has both spoken and blogged. She also uses film to explore her curiosities, some of which have been featured in galleries around the world, including the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

And oh yeah — did we mention she's also a talented artist? Swoon! It's easy to see why we're thrilled to have Teresa joining us at Fluxible this year.

We recently chatted with Teresa about design, culture and a few things Canadian.

**Q: What's the one UX tool you couldn't live without? **

The honest answer is empathy. This industry has taught me a great deal about how to step outside of my own shoes so that I can really see and understand the experience of others. That has come especially handy in my culture work, because one of the foundations of a healthy team culture is having empathy for your collaborators. Really understanding what they need, their point of view, what they listen for in conversations. It's funny — we spend an awful lot of time learning about users, but we don't apply those same skill sets to the people we work with every day.

**Q: When you’re not busy at your day job, how do you enjoy spending your time? **

Going on bicycle safaris. I ride around in the neighbourhoods I drive through every day and pretend I've never been there before so that I can see with fresh eyes. It's amazing what you discover that you pass by every day.

I also make short films about the human condition. I'm actually working on one right now (in collaboration with a choreographer) about the concept of soulmates and the search for them.

**Q: What are you looking forward to most about Fluxible? **

Meeting people I haven't met before, seeing familiar faces I don't get to see as frequently these days (like Leah Buhley), and hearing new perspectives. I love a good brain stretch.

Q: And because we're a Canadian conference, we have to ask: Justin Bieber or Celine Dion?

Hahah! Don't hate me (and no offence to the two stars), but I wouldn't pick either. Can I pick Mike Myers, instead? [Teresa, we could never hate you. In fact we love you more for being a fan of Mike Myers and knowing that he's Canadian!]

Be sure to check out Teresa's talk, Make Culture not War, as a part of Saturday morning's programme.