About
I’m a designer interested in how complex ideas take shape as digital products and visual identities. I care about making things understandable without underestimating people’s intelligence or attention.
I led design at Epoch AI, a think tank, as the organization’s sole designer. I worked closely with researchers and engineers from early questions through prototyping, implementation, and launch. Much of that work involved finding useful forms for unfamiliar or technically complex ideas.
How I work
I like working with people who know their subject deeply. I learn through conversations and by observing how people use things, paying attention to where their expectations and the design diverge. That helps me decide what needs explanation, what deserves emphasis, and where people need room to explore.
I prototype in code to test ideas quickly. I explore new tools and workflows when they open up useful possibilities for a project.
Background
Before design, I earned a BA in Science & Technology Studies from Brown, an MFA in Visual Art from Bard, and worked as a copy editor, including at New York Magazine. That background still shapes how I work: close attention to language and visual form, curiosity about how technical systems structure everyday life.
I also maintain an art practice, which gives me a place to experiment with images, tools, and forms without needing them to resolve into conventional products.
Contact
r.j.sandler@gmail.comClick to copy email address.