Today we’d like to introduce you to Luana Ramcharran.
Luana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My interest in product design started at an early age. I’m a first generation American, raised in Miami, FL. Growing up and learning the world around me, I observed my parents (who immigrated to the US from Guyana) adapting as well. They encountered many new products and technologies where the learning curve was large, especially when it came to western medical experiences. Even instructions on medications explained steps referencing things Americans view as common knowledge, instead of using context that was more understandable to all people. I thought there had to be a better way for people like my parents to use products that can improve their lives without being intimidated by an instruction manual.
My parents remained my muses and inspired my studies. While studying design at an art magnet high school, I worked in microbiology labs through internship programs by the NIH (National Institutes of Health). In my experience, I interacted with complex lab equipment and was fascinated by how these devices were designed for very specific functions. I thought about how these were designed to work so precisely, addressing needs in many labs with many different types of research – could ALL products be designed in a way to fit the needs of many? I sought out to discover how I could be the person that designs these type of products.
When applying to colleges, I looked for opportunity to be that expert. I researched career paths and learned about Product Design Engineering (PDE). Other countries at the time, showed a larger focus on design but there were few formal programs in the United States. I attended Syracuse University, where I majored in Integrated Product Development – a combination of Industrial Design, Biomedical Engineering, and Anthropology – to help me gain an understanding of not only how to design and manufacture a product, but also what makes us feel emotionally connected to it and allow it to improve behavior and our lives.
Since finishing college, I have spent the last 12+ years creating product designs for medical devices, household goods, beauty products, consumer electronics, as well as graphic user interfaces in web and mobile applications. My distinct, Anthropology-focused approach on user-centered design takes people and culture into consideration first in order to implement successful designs. The results are everyday products that users can connect with on an emotional level.
Successful experience at various companies and the support of mentors, encouraged me to create a Product Design Engineering firm when I realized there was no presence like this in Houston, yet. I started LRD (Luana Ram Design, LLC) in August 2015 and have since grown to help dozens of companies to bring their product idea to life and taken interns under my wing to share and grow the field of Product Design Engineering. I enjoy working with entrepreneurs, startups and companies who have challenging concepts, which I can then help them turn into reality.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have definitely encountered a lot of struggles along the way, those that come with being a female entrepreneur and then some but they have helped me to grow and find myself. Starting out, majoring in Product Design Engineering and being ahead of the curve did not pan out so great when I graduated and realized there were no jobs in that industry yet here. I first did jobs that were only pieces of the process, only design or only engineering but nothing that encompassed the breadth of what I wanted to accomplish.
Another hurdle has been educating people in what Product Design Engineering is since it is a newer field, so that they can get value from what I offer their companies. They recognize a gap in the process between what happens when an idea formulates in their head and when manufacturing or development occurs but they don’t always know that Product Design Engineering fills that gap by providing a roadmap between the two.
I’ve been fortunate to have many strong teachers and mentors along the way and a support group of other female colleagues, my family and friends that have kept me focused on my main mission whether the work was abundant or when funds were low. Remembering that my purpose is to create products to improve lives, like theirs, has kept my head above water.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Luana Ram Design – what should we know?
LRD believes that when you improve your product, you increase your impact with your audience and therefore, your company growth. We are with you during the entire creation process of your product: from connecting with your audience, defining key features according to your users’ need, developing and prototyping your hardware and/or software product and validating it with your users. We also continue to iterate and improve it with you until it’s ready for market.
A user-centric approach is what I constantly emphasized throughout my process. I go further than looking into demographics, statistics, and ethnographies – I think about how will a product seamlessly become a part of someone’s life. My aim is make products so intuitive, we can throw out the instruction manual.
Because of this approach, I ensure I’m always designing in a responsible manner for social impact. A lot of companies and technologies do not think about the long term impact of their product and then have to work backwards to undo the damage when it’s already in the public’s hands. Some companies may start off with good intentions behind their product and brand but if they are not user-centric throughout the creation process, they get lost and risk losing their audience long term fumbling over mistakes that could have been corrected earlier on. Integrating PDE, helps mitigate these issues in the long run, ultimately saving companies time and money.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I carry my personal core values in ethics, integrity and clarity throughout everything I do. This translates to socially responsible products that focus on the user experience, valuing the emotional connection that a person makes with a product and how their life can be improved through the interaction with it. I do this by always making my muse(s) someone personal – wanting what’s best for their life.
My advice to anyone creating a new product, would be to listen to their intuition as this is what helps us connect with others on a pure human level and sets you up for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.luanaram.com
- Phone: 832-743-5573
- Email: luanaramdesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luana.ram/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luanaramdesign/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/luanaramdesign
Image Credit:
Raymond Tuquero | Motion Visual Artistry
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