Dr. Alexis Hope loves to design experiences that help people find joy, creativity, and self-compassion. She is a 2023 United States Artists Fellow for the category of Architecture & Design, a National Science Foundation Research Fellow, and a LEGO Creative Learning Fellow.

Along with Nodira Khoussainova and Justin Trobec, Alexis is a co-founder of Focused Space, where she serves as the Chief Product Officer. Focused Space is a social platform that helps people reach their personal, professional, and creative goals through the magic of “body doubling.”

Previously, Alexis spent a decade at MIT, where she received her PhD at the MIT Media Lab in 2021. While there, she worked across a variety of domains — ranging from cameras for deep-sea exploration, creative learning software for children, art-making tools for astronauts, "hackathons" to improve breast pumps (...what?!), low-cost ultrasound machines for providing prenatal care in areas with limited resources, and more.

Alexis also runs a project called “Trash Club,” a community event that invites people to prototype playful objects using recycled materials. This builds on her work as the co-founder and Design Director for the “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck” Hackathon, which brought together hundreds of parents, caregivers, and their children to re-design technologies for breastfeeding and postpartum health.

As a musician, she sings and writes songs for two bands: Calico Beach Party, and Double Bitch.

When she is not doing the above, she works part-time as a barista at her local neighborhood cafe and record store. (In Seattle, the best way to meet your neighbors is to make them coffee!)

P.S. I welcome opportunities to share what I’ve learned and am always happy to chat. Feel free to get in touch with me if you think I can be helpful to your goals ☻

Education

MIT Media Lab - M.S. / PhD / Postdoc (2013 - 2022)

Massachusetts College of Art & Design - Industrial & Furniture Design (2016 - 2018)

Northwestern University - Technology and Social Behavior program (2012 - 2013)

University of Washington - Human-Centered Design & Human-Computer Interaction, B.S. / M.S (2005 - 2012)

Exhibitions

MAAM Museum / Mütter Museum / Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center. Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births. 2021 / 2022 / 2023.

Walker Art Center. Designs for Different Futures. 2020.

Philadelphia Museum of Art. Designs for Different Futures. 2019.

Ars Electronica. Per aspera ad astra – 50 years after the Moon. 2019.