Kacey Ballard

Kacey Ballard is an Adjunct II Professor in the Critical Studies Program at California College of the Arts (CCA). With over ten years of experience, she has led Design and Research initiatives at prominent technology companies like Google and Instagram. Her interdisciplinary background combines a PhD in Psychology from Stanford University with neuroscience expertise, which informs her teaching and professional practice. She currently runs a UX Coaching consultancy, specializing in guiding startups and design teams in user research methodologies.

Her research interests bridge neuroscience and human behavior, particularly in how these inform design and technology. Projects such as 'Taming the Urban Jungle in Jakarta,' 'Directly Chatbots,' 'Google Maps Blue Dot,' and 'Lumosity Personas' highlight her focus on applied research in digital and urban spaces.

Ballard’s academic and professional work emphasizes the intersection of design, technology, and human-centric approaches, reflected in both her teaching at CCA and her consultancy services.