Abiraami Rakshana

She/Her/Hers
MIIPS, 2025

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About

I'm driven by the potential of design and technology to bridge the complexities we face, especially in healthcare. Accessible healthcare design is a cause I deeply care about. I believe tech and innovation can empower underserved communities by ensuring everyone has access to crucial tools and resources. I'm also passionate about fostering discussions on intersectionality in tech, and how this awareness can lead to more responsible design decisions. With a foundation in service design and 2 years of UX design experience, I bring a unique perspective to the iii program. My strengths lie in holistic systems thinking and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. I excel at strategic problem-solving, applying a data-driven approach to creative solutions. My experience working across diverse industries like e-commerce, health tech, and fintech has equipped me to adapt and understand user needs in various contexts. Additionally, my interest in intersectionality within tech aligns with the program's focus on responsible design. I believe I can contribute valuable insights and collaborate effectively within the iii program's dynamic environment.

Why MIIPS?

The MIIPS program at Carnegie Mellon attracted me with its unique blend of design, engineering, and business principles, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. The program's emphasis on practical, hands-on experience aligns perfectly with my career goals in healthcare and accessibility. Additionally, CMU's renowned faculty, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant community of diverse thinkers create an ideal environment for me to refine my skills and drive impactful change in the industry. Pursuing MIIPS will equip me with the strategic and technical expertise needed to innovate and lead in the rapidly evolving field of product and service design.

Education

Bachelor of Design in Business, Services, and Systems Design from Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Experience

For the past two years, I've worked as a UX Design Consultant at Lollypop Design Studio, a Terralogic company. In this role, I drove innovation in digital products by balancing business requirements with user needs. I've gained experience across diverse domains, including health-tech, B2C e-commerce, Salesforce integration, hospitality management, and FinTech. Additionally, I collaborated with business development teams to contribute to sales efforts.

What type of role are you looking to obtain after you graduate?

My ideal role post-graduation combines design thinking with strategic decision-making. I envision myself as a UX Designer, Design Strategist, or Junior Product Manager, working across the product lifecycle and leveraging emerging technologies like generative AI and machine learning to drive innovation in different industries.