We’re excited to welcome Shira Hand to our team as a Lead Service Designer. We did a short Q&A to introduce Shira to you. Read on below!
Tell us your story.
I’ve lived in Miami, the NYC area, North Carolina and Wisconsin before deciding in 2021 that Philly is where I want to be. Coming from a background in library science, museum collections work and Russian, my journey to service design started by working in higher education administrative operations as a direct service staff member helping folks who needed services. At the same time, outside the workplace I got involved in advocacy and organizing work around trans health and inclusion. The combination of building expertise in those complex systems and my own analytical, design-oriented frame led me to move into internal consulting on process improvement. In that role I was exposed to design thinking and human-centered design, and once I learned about service design and community co-design, I knew that’s how I need to approach my work practice. I’m so glad to have landed in the PHL Service Design Studio!
What values underpin your work and why?
At the most basic level, I’m motivated by a need to honor the inherent dignity and worth of all people, especially those who are marginalized by the institutions of our daily lives.
For me, this shows up as:
- Centering humanity
- Being driven by curiosity and relationships
- Enthusiasm and warmth
- Interdependence and solidarity
- Accessibility and plain language – meeting people exactly where they are
- A foundational belief that it’s possible for things to be better, and we can achieve that through design.
Why are you interested in being a part of the PHL Service Design Studio?
The approach, vision and values of SDS resonate deeply with my own, and the Studio’s positioning as a part of the City of Philadelphia means it has the scope to make a tangible, meaningful difference in the lives of millions of people – that’s not a feeling I had when working for the administrative division of a university. I’m amazed by all the things the team has accomplished already, I’m excited for what’s still to come, and I want to be a part of it. And I can’t wait to learn from all the expertise this team has grown!
What’s your most favorite thing to do in your down time and why?
I love exploring cities, whether that means adventuring with my spouse on our bikes to different neighborhoods here in Philly or traveling halfway across the world. I especially love visiting new-to-me bakeries – my spouse and I actually met in a bakery, when I was a customer and they were behind the counter, and we named our two cats after types of bread. We were also connected through the roller derby community in our city, and while I don’t skate anymore I’m still a big fan of the sport. In addition to exploring cities and going to roller derby bouts, I’m extremely happy to stay home, cook us a great brunch and settle into the couch to watch YouTube or play video games and do crafts. I love watching birds, baking treats for friends, solving word puzzles, collecting washi tape, adding to our bookshelves, and dreaming towards collective, communal futures.
