Bridging Design and Social Research: Our Founding Story

When Jarrett and I first met, we came from seemingly different worlds. I had spent 15 years in digital art direction and UX design, crafting user experiences for brands and products. Jarrett had dedicated his career to social research, working on sensitive issues like human trafficking and child protection across Southeast Asia and New York. But we quickly realized we were solving the same problem from different angles. #### The Gap We Saw Too often, organizations doing incredible work struggle to communicate their impact effectively. They might have powerful research and compelling stories, but lack the design expertise to present them in ways that truly connect. Or they have beautiful visuals that don't accurately represent the communities they serve. #### Why This Combination Works My background in human-centered design taught me that every visual choice should serve a purpose. Jarrett's research expertise ensures that purpose is grounded in genuine understanding, not assumptions. When we work with clients, Jarrett brings methodological rigorensuring we're actually capturing authentic voices and real needs. I translate those insights into accessible, compelling design that honors the complexity of the work. #### What This Means for Our Clients For the nonprofits and educational institutions we serve, this means communications that are both beautiful and truthful. Design that's informed by evidence. Stories that resonate because they're rooted in real human experience. We founded Makimiso because we believe mission-driven organizations deserve this level of care. The work you do matters too much for anything less.