Thomas Maiorana

Tom Maiorana is an Associate Professor in the Department of Design at UC Davis. He specializes in product design and development, design thinking, and prototyping. Tom's research explores the ways in which low-resolution prototypes can be used to influence complex systems. His work helps community partners engage with highly dynamic, complicated issues, most recently through a series of customized boardgames that help communities "rehearse" wildfire evacuations. This project was initially sponsored by the CITRIS and the National Science Foundation and it has been distributed in English and Spanish across Oregon and California. Tom has an MFA in design from Stanford University and a BA in American Culture from Vassar College.