Title: Centering the Margins: An Inquiry into Equity, Justice, and Society
Angela D. R. Smith is a doctoral candidate in the Technology & Social Behavior program at Northwestern University, a joint degree in Communication and Computer Science. She is a designer and qualitative researcher who focuses on understanding and conceptualizing technology experiences that meet the information needs and practices of homeless emerging adults. Broadly, Angela's research leverages equitable design practices to give voice to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Her specific interests are finding ways to employ design as a catalyst to combat information poverty and provide socially responsible technology experiences. In her dissertation research, Angela conducts qualitative and exploratory design inquiries by leveraging co-creation and community-based participatory research methods to understand the technology needs and experiences of marginalized individuals. Angela believes that constructs of identity and social positioning impact our interactions with technology, including individual access to online information, the relevance of certain systems in our everyday lives, and the ways we accept certain interventions.