Meron Fasica

For someone who grew up thinking she didn’t belong in the creative world, Meron Fasica has certainly shown that creativity can take many forms. In her role as an interaction designer, she draws on both research and analysis as well as storytelling and design, creating digital health experiences where people are always at the centre. But Meron’s journey has been far from straightforward. Once a veterinary technician, she taught herself the tools of the trade and took the leap into the industry once she owned her creative chops. We chat to Meron about how she brings her unique background to her work and why being intentional about her practice has made all the difference to her growth.

What I do

How would you describe what you do?
I’m an interaction designer at IDEO, where I craft thoughtful, human-centered experiences through design, prototyping and storytelling. Broadly, I shape the way people interact with complex systems, software, services, as well as each other. But my primary focus is health and wellbeing. I design digital health experiences that are compassionate, empowering and educational – meeting people where they are and supporting them in ways that they need.

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
One thing I’ve learned about inspiration is that it often shows up when I’m not actively looking for it. Some of my best ideas hit me on a walk or just as I’m drifting off to sleep (this explains my running list of ideas on my notes app).

I keep a folder on my phone for all these random bits of inspiration I come across. It’s mostly filled with restaurant menus, album covers, song art, posters and flyers. Everyday design – especially the kind I’m casually viewing out in the wild – often sparks something in me and makes me want to go home and create.

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
Knowing how to use digital design tools is essential. I primarily use Figma to build and test prototypes. But beyond the tools, the most important thing to develop is a sharp eye for what makes a design intuitive, usable and accessible. That kind of judgment comes with time, practice and honing in on the basic principles as guidelines for your work. It’s what helps me make thoughtful design decisions and – just as importantly – advocate for those decisions with clarity and confidence.

What’s been your favorite project to work on from the past year, and why?
My favorite project was designing for the Soluna app. It’s a mental health platform for young people in California, funded by the California Department of Health Care Services and supported by Kooth Digital Health.

Mental health has always been a deep personal interest of mine, so working on this felt especially meaningful. I focused on designing the “forums” feature, which provides young people with a safe, supportive space to connect and share their stories with one another.

What made it even more special was that it came early in my career, when I was still a new designer. It was incredibly affirming to work on something that so clearly aligned with my values and passions right from the start.

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
It really depends on the project I’m on and what phase it’s in, but my day always starts with a team stand-up to align on priorities and set a game plan for the day.

If I’m in the research phase, my schedule is likely filled with user interviews – many of which I lead – as well as early testing to gather insights and uncover opportunities. During the design phase, my day shifts to leading brainstorming sessions, gathering inspiration and building out different design directions. It’s this mix of structure and spontaneity that keeps the work creative and collaborative.

Meron's WFH desk set up

If there was a starter pack for your job, what would be in it?

Dogs Meron cared for through vet clinics, animal shelters, and pet-sitting, alongside her childhood pet cat, who sparked her interest in veterinary medicine.

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out in your career?
My journey into design wasn’t linear by any means. I actually started in veterinary medicine as I love science and research – and while something always pulled me toward creating, I didn’t think the creative world was for someone like me.

That changed when I took a leap and enrolled in the Google UX Design course on Coursera, courtesy of a push from my boyfriend who knew about my interest in tech. I was working as a vet tech and pet-sitter at the time, so I would do my studying at night alongside teaching myself Figma and Adobe XD. I slowly began to realize that my analytical skills could be an asset to this field.

The real shift happened when I joined a hackathon and my team placed second. That experience lit a spark. It was the first time I saw myself as a designer. From there, I just kept building, learning and saying yes even when it was scary.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs, clients and/or commissions?
My first opportunity came through that same hackathon. I ended up interning with the startup we designed for – an e-learning platform called Enrich.ly that aimed to boost the self-esteem of young people through a digitally gamified curriculum and on-site facilitation. The internship was unpaid, but it gave me real-world experience and confidence.

My first full-time job came through Color by Design, a fellowship by RepresentEd in partnership with IDEO. I moved from Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA, completed the program and was hired for a full-time role as an interaction designer with IDEO afterwards.

Both of those moments were scary and full of unknowns, but I kept choosing to show up and say yes, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready. I believe it was the willingness to try and to lean into discomfort that got me in the door.

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
One of my biggest challenges has been getting comfortable with making mistakes and learning in public. Early on, I hesitated a lot because I was worried about not having all the answers or getting things “wrong” in front of others, especially since I was someone with a non-traditional background in such a renowned design firm.

But design is a collaborative, iterative process – and I’ve learned that growth really happens when you’re willing to be seen in the middle of figuring things out. It’s not always easy, but it’s so valuable. When you’re intentional and thoughtful about how you learn, you start to build a feedback loop where each experience fuels the next. You can actually see your progress in real time. That kind of visible growth is powerful. I believe it’s what’s helped me become more confident, more curious and more resilient in my work and in my life.

Research cards for a biopharma client project focused on seniors with vision loss.

What skills from your creative work have you found helpful — and vice versa?
My creative work has taught me how to think through making – whether I’m ideating, brainstorming or prototyping. That mindset has spilled into my everyday life in the best way. It’s helped me bring more imagination, ease and play into how I plan, solve problems and envision what’s possible for myself.

On the flip side, my more analytical, methodical side has been a real asset in creative spaces. It helps me know when to diverge and explore broadly, and when to converge and focus. That systems-thinking approach grounds my design process and helps me make sure that what I create is equally as imaginative as it is intentional and strategic.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work?
Having a space where your work lives is so important. You never know when an opportunity will come your way – and if someone asks to see your work but you don’t have anything ready to share, that moment can slip by. That's actually happened to me a couple of times.

That said, I’ll be the first to admit I could be better at the self-promotion part. It’s something I’m still figuring out but I plan to be more intentional about. So if you have tips, I’m here for it!

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?

Advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
Always ask for feedback... and learn to love it. It’s one of the fastest ways to grow. Any time you try something new, especially if it’s outside your comfort zone, ask your team, manager or client for feedback. At first, it might feel uncomfortable or even personal. But over time, you start to see it for what it really is: a way to uncover blind spots and grow with intention.

I don’t act on every piece of feedback, but even just listening helps me understand how I’m coming across to others, which is essential for me to be more effective, collaborative, and impactful in my work.

Article about reimagining the future of online dating based on rapid research and prototyping: https://edges.ideo.com/posts/beyond-the-swipe-reimagining-the-future-of-online-dating

Where do you go to feel connected as a creative?
I love being part of mission-driven design communities like Where Are The Black Designers? and Diversify by Design. Their events and channels offer meaningful spaces to connect, reflect and grow alongside other creatives who share similar values and lived experiences.

Another space I’ve been really loving lately is Design for Feelings by Olivia Vagelos. It’s thoughtful, grounding and provides such a refreshing approach to creative community and experience design.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
Start by doing the work you want to be doing, even before someone officially gives you the title. Put yourself out there. Take courses, join hackathons, connect with other designers and look for programs where you can apply what you’re learning in real-world settings.

It’s one thing to study design, but it’s another to actually apply it. The learning really happens when you're building, making mistakes and figuring things out as you go. In my experience, that's where the growth and the confidence comes from.