I'm Parnaz Rad!

I'm a  UX Interaction Designer, and researcher who has extensive experience in human-centric Augmented (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) design. Through design-led thinking, I find creative solutions and prototype interactive products. By enforcing cutting-edge technologies to aging industries like General Electrics, I learned the importance of visual communications, and how to have a holistic overview of the roadmap of the needs and solutions.

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I have hired and led teams of designers and technical artists, created systems, and shipped interactive products. I believe in systems and the fact that if a system is being designed efficiently and productive each node would work fluently, smoothly, and beneficial.

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As an award-winning filmmaker, I believe having a functional dream and being equipped with storytelling, empathizing, and simulating empathy is a great approach to keep the windows of innovation more reachable and now it's the time to do so, more than ever.

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Before moving to New York, I had the honor to play a small role to fill a gap between Artists, Hackers, and Designers in Atlanta art and tech community, and create a collaborative environment by leading a community of more than 6K members, called Art in Tech - Atlanta. I organized educative talks, facilitated workshops, and curated showcases to connect Atlanta’s great academic resources with the industry.

Creative Director (Art | UX) - Fanaticus XR

• Overseeing the production of a growing number of asymmetric immersive games and platforms.

• Leading all the UX efforts to design software, app, and immersive solutions.

• Leading a partnership and a team of developers and designers to create immersive educative platforms for children with chronic health conditions.

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UX Researcher II- Key Lime Interactive

• Developed and conducted Qualitative and Quantitative research for both global/large-scale and internal projects.

• Designed discussion guides, surveys and moderated in-person and remote user-test sessions.

• Synthesized data and create reports.

• Developed a product for emerging tech and designed for an Extended Reality (XR: VR, AR) project. 

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AR/VR Interaction Designer - GE Transportation, Wabtec

•  Led the AR/VR Lab, supervised partnership projects, and created proof of concepts. 

• Co-created a 3-level Design Thinking program and co-facilitated workshops across business units to equip our employees with a framework and tools to develop an innovative mindset. 

• Co-created a corporate-wide strategic vision roadmap. 

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Marketing Manager and VR exhibition designer - PRIMER2020 Conference

Organizer, Art in Tech Atlanta

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Animator, VR Developer - Adult Swim, As a part of SCAD Collaborative Learning Center 

R&D, Design Team Interactive Book for Children -  Do bal Studio

Experience

Potato Party: Hash it out (Asymmetric Multiplayer VR Game)

"Most Fun" SilvE Award

SEIGECON | Nov 2021

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Future of Freight Vision (Strategic Roadmap)

Notable Speculative Design Award 
Core77 Design Awards I Jun 2019

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Future Network Operations (AR,VR Prototypes) 

Primer19 Conference Exhibition I Jun 2019

Microsoft AltSpace, The Scenes and Screens Festival | Aug 2019

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Blue Bird (Narrative VR Experience) 
Cinequest Festival Best Student VR Award I Mar 2019 

Geneva International Film Festival I Nov 2019

NewMedia Film Festival I Jun 2019 
Virginia Film Festival I Nov 2018 
New York Film Festival - Convergence I Oct 2018

LINOLEUM Animation Festival I Sep 2018 
SIGGRAPH - VR Theater I Aug 2018 
SCAD's Forward Festival I Apr 2018 

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Hole (Animated Short) 

Officially Selected and Screened in 14 Festivals across Europe and United States

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Winner of Best Maquette - SCAD Generate 24hour challenge (Animation) I Sep 2015

SCAD Academic Honors Award l Aug 2015

SCAD Achievement Honors Award I Aug 20

Student Incentive Award I  Aug 2015

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Awards and honors