podcast 2025
Future Perfect Book Club
futureperfectbook.club
Co-hosted with Joel Goodman, exploring the intersection of design, technology, and the future of institutions.
Read article →I build software for automated decisions
My work connects design, software engineering, and policy to improve public services in an AI-driven world. Assistant Professor of Practice in Urban Technology, University of Michigan. Created statecapacity.ai. Former Head of Design at 18F.gov & PDX Digital Corps founder.
Currently
Building a consumer price index to measure AI spend via Occupant.ee. Still thinking about Andor. ICYMI: My 2025 year in review is here.
Projects
concept
AI Economic Activity Index
A global index tracking AI compute activity in real-time, measuring token volumes, spend, and energy consumption across major providers—modeled on how the IMF tracks currency reserves.
Conceptual framework & research Read more → delivery
Oregon High School Tennis Rankings System
A data-driven ranking and playoff simulation system for Oregon high school tennis, designed to solve real problems in how teams are evaluated and seeded for state competition.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more →
delivery
AT Protocol Projects
Interconnected suite of decentralized data infrastructure and public goods experiments.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more →
program
Portland Digital Corps
Volunteer effort bringing together 50+ practitioners to rebuild six nonprofit websites.
Program strategy & design Read more → event
Design For The Public 24
Two-day unconference bringing together 80+ civic technologists and designers.
Community engagement & events Read more →
delivery
Occupant — AI Compute Benchmarks
Public data infrastructure for AI model pricing, compute deflation tracking, and market intelligence.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more → delivery
HeyPBJ — Structured Matching Platform
Dating and social discovery as a routing problem—using cohorts, compatibility metrics, and guided prompts instead of endless feeds.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more → delivery
Glowrm — Trust & Relationship Layer
Portable trust primitives for decentralized social environments—how identity, reputation, and consent travel across networks.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more → delivery
Leafroll — Professional Identity Layer
Dynamic, modular professional profiles that travel across networks—rethinking how people present work, skills, and trajectory.
Cross-functional service delivery Read more →Recent Appearances
article January 2026
Some advice on managing your design career upwards
Piccalil.li
Navigating design leadership, building influence across organizations, and positioning yourself for strategic impact.
Read article →
talk November 2025
Beyond Civic Tech: Public Mechanics Starts at Home
Cascadia Open Source Fall Conference
Why civic tech fails when it ignores maintenance, repair, and the invisible work that keeps public services running.
podcast September 2025
Repairing Service Design for the Age of AI
Service Design Show Podcast
Exploring how service design must evolve to address the challenges and opportunities of AI-driven systems.
Read article → video October 2025
Design Systems and Public Services
YouTube
Discussion on service design, public sector innovation, and building decision systems that work at scale.
Currently Reading
- Waging A Good War by Thomas E. Ricks
- Maintenance of Everything: Part One by Stewart Brand
- Religion And The Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
- The Field Guide to Design Futures by Giovanni Caruso, Silvio Cioni
Listening To
- Sunshine and Balance Beams by Pile
- Ripped and Torn by Lifeguard Radio
- DDR by Sharp Pins