Juan Ignacio is an Industrial Designer from Costa Rica with a strong passion for making - and for creating tools and experiences that inspire wonder and help people wherever possible. He joined CIID to learn how Interaction Design can impact projects with potential for social impact in areas such as healthcare, mobility, and education.

His undergraduate work includes an accessible play-based learning experience that encourages high school students to explore STEAM careers through hands-on robotics and embodied learning principles, as well as an ergonomically improved coffee-picking basket that aids one of Costa Rica’s oldest and most labour-intensive traditions.

For seven years, he volunteered his free time to provide tutoring and safe play spaces for children from socially at-risk communities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He sees design as a powerful platform for creating people-centred solutions that address real human needs.