ONR Step Into the Cyber Workforce!

A Gaming-Inspired Educational Platform

Meucci & Company partnered with Seaberry Design to create an innovative digital platform for the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Building on their successful track record of collaboration, this third project aimed to revolutionize how students engage with cybersecurity education. The vision was ambitious: transform ONR's educational content into a gaming-inspired digital experience that would appeal to high school students while maintaining the professional standards expected of a government initiative.

Challenge

ONR faced a critical workforce gap, with over 800,000 cybersecurity job openings in the US. Seaberry Design's task was to create an engaging platform that would resonate with tech-savvy youth while providing comprehensive resources for educators. Without existing brand guidelines, the project required developing a complete visual identity that could bridge the gap between gaming aesthetics and educational credibility.

Process

Content Strategy

Meucci demonstrated exceptional project preparation by providing a comprehensive content document that outlined clear messaging for each audience segment. The content strategy addressed two distinct user groups: students exploring cybersecurity careers and educators seeking teaching resources. For students, the content highlighted certification paths, hands-on learning experiences, and career opportunities. For educators, it emphasized professional development and a $250 stipend program.

Brand Development

Seaberry Design created a complete sub-brand inspired by contemporary gaming platforms. The visual language struck a careful balance between professional credibility and engaging aesthetics that would resonate with digital natives. The design system effectively supported key program elements including Microsoft certification paths, Navy partnerships, and career development opportunities.

Technical Implementation

Working with web development partner Seaberry Design delivered a dynamic platform capable of serving different user groups with targeted content experiences. Built in Webflow, the final product showcases interactive elements that mirror the program's game-based learning approach while maintaining the professional polish required for government and educational institutions.

Results

The launched platform successfully unites multiple stakeholder needs: students seeking cybersecurity career paths, educators requiring teaching resources, and ONR's mission to address the cybersecurity workforce gap. Early feedback has shown strong engagement from both target audiences, with particular praise for the gaming-inspired interface that makes technical content approachable and engaging.

Impact

This third successful collaboration between Meucci and Seaberry Design – with Laaté leading all three projects – demonstrates how gaming aesthetics can effectively present professional content while maintaining credibility. The content-first approach proved essential in crafting distinct user journeys for students and educators while maintaining a cohesive brand experience. The project sets a new standard for educational platforms in the government sector, showing how innovative design thinking can help address critical workforce challenges.

Seaberry Talks Podcast

We’re a few creatives from Seaberry Design delving into a world where creative exploration knows no bounds. From graphics and experience design to storytelling, video, animation, advertising and so much more, we’ll cover a wide array of topics — some that are novel, some that are well explored, but always with a creative bent. So whether you need some fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, little bursts of inspiration, or just some encouragement to continue on your creative journey, we’re your crew. Come hang with us!

Hosted by Adya Beasley and Laate Olukotun, Produced by Andrew Robinson

Innerstill

Turning Breakthrough Science into Life-Changing Wellness Products

About Innerstill

Innerstill is a minority-owned, women-led company creating innovative wellness devices. Their technology builds on 40+ years of research into how gentle electrical stimulation can help people feel and function better. The company aims to develop affordable, non-drug solutions for improving wellbeing and helping with conditions like stress, anxiety, and chronic health issues.

The Challenge

Innerstill's founders had developed an amazing scientific breakthrough in nerve stimulation technology. However, they needed help turning their lab research into a product that real people could easily use at home. They brought in Laate as co-founder and Chief Product Officer to:

• Turn complex science into user-friendly products

• Build and lead the product development team

• Help secure funding for growth

• Ensure the product would work for both medical professionals and everyday users

How We Tackled It

Laate took a step-by-step approach to bring Innerstill's science to life:

Creating a Clear Vision

• Worked closely with scientists to understand their breakthrough research

• Turned complex science into clear product guidelines

• Got everyone aligned on how the product should develop

  Building the Right Team

• Brought together experts in engineering, design, and research

• Led collaborative efforts across different specialties

• Kept everyone focused on making products that really help people

  Developing the Product

• Oversaw creation of early versions that balanced scientific needs with ease of use

• Regularly tested and improved designs based on feedback

• Launched early versions of mindvybe™ for testing with selected healthcare partners

  Growing the Business

• Helped secure funding to keep development moving forward

• Positioned Innerstill for future growth

• Built partnerships with healthcare providers

Results So Far

While still in development, we've hit some exciting milestones:

• Healthcare partners are testing early versions and providing valuable feedback

• Successfully secured funding to continue product development

• Positioned Innerstill as a leader in wellness technology that combines solid science with thoughtful design

Through this work, we're turning groundbreaking research into products that could help many people live healthier, happier lives.

UW–Madison's You Belong Here Campaign

A multi-channel campaign to celebrate student life

Lollygig collaborated with Seaberry Design to create a multimedia interactive brochure to celebrate a diverse student body at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Lollygig led the project – including the design of the logo, the UI library, site UX, and site architecture.

NextFab | Wilmington

While working as the Director of Marketing at NextFab, a makerspace network in the Philadelphia region, I dreamed of a unified theorem – a consistent user experience between the physical spaces that NextFab worked so hard to create and the virtual spaces that the company might create now and in the future. As luck would have it, I found my best chance to unify the branded experience when the team began to explore the potential layout for our third location – this one in Wilmington, Delaware. As the project grew in size from a modest 3,000 sq. ft. space to a much more ambitious 10,000 sq. ft. building, I took the opportunity to influence the design of an incredible space (and create the best product-market fit imaginable for our brand).

coworking space within NextFab Wilmington

DFHV: Evolution of the Ride

Partnered with Seaberry Design to support the District of Columbia’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles in reimagining transportation services for Washington, D.C.

• Leveraged design thinking and a strategic user-centered approach to deliver engaging and impactful campaign touchpoints.

• Spearheaded the launch of a hackathon to drive community engagement and innovation.

• Designed and implemented safety car concepts to elevate public trust and transportation standards.

• Contributed to the creation of videos and animations, enhancing campaign outreach and messaging.

Le Bon Magot | New Food Brand

Background

In early 2015, a food startup asked me to become the Creative Director of its nascent and undefined new brand, Le Bon Magot. Naomi Mobed, the startup’s founder, had a keen sense of taste and a specific aim to build a brand that would deliver a premium experience.

I was charged with not only building the brand, but I was also asked to develop Le Bon Magot’s product line, signage, collateral, and website.

Process

In only a few months, we went from initial concept to production-ready brand and packaging details. While most brands in the chutney category emphasize family heritage, tradition, and bright patterns, we chose to take Le Bon Magot in another direction. Naomi and I both believed that the products should take center stage and that the feeling of the brand should be both modern and sophisticated.

Quick iterations led us to an extraordinarily simple solution: highlight the food and textures, framed by simple color and material choices. The jar tops are gold along with the freshness seal. The logo is embossed. Helvetica works magically for a clean look. All text appears as either white on a clear background or white on a gray background.

Results

Le Bon Magot’s debut at international food fairs was fantastic. People have enjoyed the unusual flavor combinations, and sales have increased steadily. And the brand has received high-marks amongst food vendors for its sophisticated look and feel.

Only a year-and-a-half after launch, Le Bon Magot is on a strong growth trajectory. And as new recipes are created, I’m continuing in my role as Creative Director for Le Bon Magot.

hopscotch by Lollygig

Hopscotch is a simple holder for cell phones and keys, designed to be out of the way yet always there when you need it.

We are thrilled to introduce the Hopscotch wall mount. It’s a little mount designed to keep your phone and keys safe, secure and close-by. If you have ever wanted to keep your phone conveniently located, as you bounce from place to place, we believe that you are going to love this little product.

napoleonglove iPad case

NapoleonGlove gives you a more versatile, more flexible and more secure experience for you and your iPad. The unique NapoleonGlove pocket allows you to hold your tablet securely while using only one hand. Simply grab the bottom corner of the glove and pull to rotate your device. Or share your ideas with others by simply holding out your hand to face your audience.

NapoleonGlove I was meticulously designed to connect you with your iPad. The case is made of lightweight ballistic and ripstop nylons that feel soft to the touch. And the high-strength elastic bands contain a non-slip silicon backing that firmly grips your iPad – leaving no room for slippage. The product weighs next to nothing making it easy for you to hold and carry your tablet.

Learn more at Lollygig.com 

boommaster by Lollygig

BoomMaster was born out of pure creative necessity. The first time I picked up the iPad, I immediately wanted to play with it.

Sure, I wanted to test the interface and the other apps on the iPad. But it wasn’t the iPad’s screen that first excited me but rather the object itself that caught my eye and my imagination.

Within the first thirty seconds of holding the iPad, I started carrying it around on my shoulders saying “wouldn’t it be awesome if there was a boombox app for the iPad?” And the wonderful thing was that my business partner said "Yeah!"

In only a few weeks, we designed an app that we submitted to Apple's App Store for review. And hours later, we were approved.

Two weeks after we first talked about creating an app BoomMaster was real and quickly topped the What’s New section of Apple’s App Store (sold through Gorilla Group).

turnstone by Steelcase

While working with Steelcase in late 2008, I was asked to join a new venture called t2. This "blue ocean strategy" would boldly go where Steelcase's existing brands could not go – offering bold new easy-to-install products, shipped via FedEx, directly to the customers' door.

Our core team consisted of a savvy Project Sponsor, a brilliant brand manager, an ambitious marketing manager, Steelcase's online store project lead, an award-winning industrial designer, a stalwart mechanical engineer, and me – the experience designer.

The project kicked off with an information download from some bright folks with a smart idea. And while it seemed compelling from a 100,000-foot level, our new team needed time to explore the concept, reframe the problem, add new layers of insight, and develop refined offerings.

As experience design lead, I led our research efforts – visiting multiple small businesses and watching both professional and amateurs install Steelcase furniture. We also leveraged existing research and added our own insights gathered from my earlier venture, Workspring. Our analysis led to new criteria and new breakthroughs for our team. Meanwhile our product team refined our team’s design for a new product line that encapsulated our vision.

Intermittent reviews by the C-suite provided gut-checks, reinforcements, and ultimately a green light to kick our project into high gear. That’s when we learned that t2 would, in fact, take over Steelcase’s existing turnstone brand.

As we got closer to a more detailed vision, the real fun began. My interactive team created a digital representation of a customer journey as imagined through the ideas of a fictitious character. We layered content with user stories from primary research, built an augmented reality app that showed off our new product line, added t-shirt designs, redesigned turnstone’s logo, created mock-up packaging, and built a large presentation space to knock the socks of leadership. And that presentation could not have been more enjoyable. Jim Hackett, Steelcase’s CEO, and his team were blown away by what we had accomplished together.

I had a blast helping Steelcase re-boot its Turnstone brand – an amazing little engine that continues to impress.

654 Croswell by Steelcase

654 Croswell was a 1,800 sq ft space located on the ground floor of a restored cottage. It was a wonderful place for working alone, with others, and for viewing artwork. Each of our meeting rooms featured whiteboards for capturing thoughts. Large screen displays (projectors and HD televisions) were available if you needed to share content with others.

Inc. Magazine featured 654 Croswell as one of "16 Cool Working Spaces."  In their description they said: "This one is more cottage than office, complete with a fireplace, and that’s what people who work there like about it. It also features a rotating gallery of work by local artists, and frequently sponsors artist receptions or visiting artist events that are open to the public. 654 Croswell is located in the heart of Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids, a charming community that’s home to a variety of small businesses including restaurants, bars, shops, and a popular ice cream parlor."

Workspring by Steelcase

In January 2007, I joined Steelcase Inc and, under the direction of Mark Greiner, SVP of WorkSpace Futures, I became the Project Lead for a team that began to envision a new type of workspace.

Initially our Research team uncovered some fascinating trends, including the emergence of coworking facilities in the United States. We visited many and learned an extraordinary amount about this fascinating trend. As we moved to our Synthesis phase, our team grew to include to bright MBAs from the University of Michigan who helped us build not only a business plan but also an extraordinarily robust financial model that showed how interesting a new type of work platform could become.

I'll never forget the moment when Steelcase leadership green-lighted our platform – internally called Birdland. I walked into the C-Suite with a robust presentation and a sound business plan – happy to make the presentation, and relieved when it was over. It was an incredible experience hearing Jim Hackett say to me shortly thereafter, "Great job. You know we're going to approve it."

Shortly thereafter we launched Workspring – Steelcase's first high-end offsite facility. Our first location opened in November 2008 in Chicago, IL. It’s a beautiful space that’s well worth visiting. If you get a chance, please stop on by! It will be an experience like no other.

Concept: MSI Smart Visit

Our team developed a system of smart products, services and communications that enable participants to have a more engaging and fulfilling museum experience catering to their personal interests. This spring, I chose to explore one of the concepts - a portable, interactive avatar-based system that provides an engaging thematic experience for participants.

Project: MSI SmartVisit

Course: Research and Demonstration, Institute of Design

Team: Nathaniel Block, Kimberly Dziedzic, Taylor Lies, Laate Olukotun

Advisors: Jeremy Alexis, Dale Fahnstrom, Greg Prygrocki, Patrick Whitney

Date: Fall 2005

Concept: 3P0 for Motorola

In my final semester of graduate school, I took a Product Design Workshop sponsored by Motorola. The project focused on exploring the behaviors, needs and wants of "tweens" – a relatively new term for pre-teen children.

Thanks to the kind parents in the greater Institute of Design community, I had the opportunity to interview, talk with, and observe tweens and their interests at the time. To say the least: it was mind-blowing. One child in particular, Eric, was not only a massive consumer of media and entertainment, but he was also the creator (and seller) of his own entertainment. He made Flash animation videos with his friends then sold the characters that he and his friends developed as stickers in their school.

It was pretty clear that kids like Eric were interested in much more than simply consuming content. They wanted to make their own content. They just needed more tools and platforms to just that.

I designed this interactive device to allow kids to not only consume but also produce their own stories. Not only that but I envisioned a platform with a shared device where kids could pool together their ideas and build stories together on a larger pooled screen.

The concept (along with several others in the classroom) was introduced to Motorola's design team at the end of the semester.

Mayo Clinic | Reimagined Physicians' Experience

The Plummer Project was developed "to optimize support for physicians to deliver high quality care by identifying opportunities and implementing a stream of integrated innovations in the areas of efficiency, teamwork, technology and communication." 

Two teams – one from Mayo Clinic and one from Steelcase WorkSpace Futures – moved rapidly through a series of design sprints throughout the summer of 2005. Mayo’s team was led by Ryan Armbruster, and armed with three interns – two MBA/MHA candidates and me. The Project resulted in the development of 23 space, technology, process, and staff concepts demonstrated in a 10,000 sq. ft. prototype of the next generation of the Department of Medicine. The innovations are presently being piloted, tested, refined, and implemented throughout Mayo Clinic.

Project: Plummer Project

Client: Mayo Clinic, SPARC Innovation Program, Rochester, MN

Team: Ryan Armbruster (Project Manager), Laate Olukotun, Dan Steffen, Justin Watkins

Date: Summer 2005

Concept: EyeSpy Camera for Mattel

Mattel provided our class with a single theme: to determine the future of play for kids between the ages of 3 and 8-years-old. By better understanding existing toys and the activities of today’s kids, I was able to develop a simple interactive toy to help kids do what they love most – explore.

Project: Play for the Next Generation

Course: Product Architecture Workshop, Institute of Design

Client: Mattel

Team: Individual

Advisor: Chris Conley

Date: Spring 2005

Concept: Garmin Domestique Bicycle GPS

During graduate school at the Institute of Design I had the pleasure of working with an absolutely gifted group of students and professors. We inspired each other to new heights and efforts that resulted in an extraordinarily broad range of innovative ideas.

Working across industries and topics – from the future of news services to the future of transportation – and through a range of mediums – from products to entire systems – we developed ideas that still seem relevant.

Assigned the task of creating a new product line, our team chose to develop a concept for Garmin, the market leader in Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. By first understanding the industry, our client, and user needs, we were able to design a product with real business potential - a GPS unit for bicyclists.

Course: New Product Definition, Institute of Design

Team: Jaime Chen, Henning Fischer, Ah Young Hahn, Laate Olukotun, Jose Sia

Advisor: Chris Conley

Date: Fall 2004