I see my role as a guide, not just a designer,
to help users navigate experiences that feel supportive and positive.

Who am I?

I am an award-winning, multidisciplinary interaction designer with over 20 years' experience designing software for museums, events, exhibitions, e-learning and brands. What really motivates me, is working with a dynamic team of talented people to do inspirational work. I continuously strive for excellence in design. I am naturally curious and am always eager to learn new skills and ways of doing things. Designing new experiences and stories inspires me, and I enjoy seeing the positive impact these can have on users.

I’m an optimist, always seeing the good in every situation and not letting things get me down for very long. I attribute this to happiness being my superpower. 

Yoga is a fundamental part of my life, and it has had an invaluable positive impact on my well-being and quality of life. In 2014, I completed the 3-year Introductory teacher training program and became a certified Iyengar yoga teacher. I’ve since finished the next level of training and plan to continue growing and learning. Teaching and sharing my love for this science brings me deep fulfilment and happiness.

I love nature and am a great fan of the great outdoors, and I enjoy hiking and going for walks where I am surrounded by green. When I have to be inside, I am an avid reader. I tend to read non-fiction because I find that nothing beats how weird and wonderful real-life stories are. I’m also a bit of a geek and am a big superhero and sci-fi fan. 

What am I doing now?

After co-founding and running our company, Pixel Project, with my partner for 16 years in South Africa, we made a significant life-changing decision. We were in New Zealand on holiday a year ago and were impressed by the natural beauty of the country, the friendly people and the lifestyle. We returned back to Cape Town and just over a year later, and we made the move to Auckland. I’m currently settling into my new life, finding the best places for coffee and walks.

How I got here

In 2001, while on holiday in Edinburgh, I had a vision of a massive space with enormous screens on the walls and columns with moving images and information and people interacting with them, almost like a digital gallery. Back then, I didn't fully understand what it meant, but now I know that it was my first glimpse into a future with large-scale interactive exhibits. I worked on my first interactive museum experience in 2004 and from then on have been involved in at least one major museum or exhibition every year.

At Pixel Project, we serviced a wide variety of clients getting experience in many sectors such as tourism, transport, e-learning, corporate spaces, retail outlets, brand activations and events. Each project was a fantastic learning opportunity where I had to immerse myself in that field and knowledge to understand the industry, service or product, and what was needed for the project. I have worked on big screens and small screens, and find that each project has some new learning possibility. This is what I love about my career.

What is important to me

Our world is ever-changing because of advances in technology, and this affects how we relate to the world, each other and ourselves. I feel that with these advances, it is essential to retain our humanity in designing for technology, and we should always consider the impact on users. 

I enjoy working with like-minded people to create compelling work that is stimulating, exciting and good for the world. I feel very passionately about finding ways of adapting stories to design memorable experiences for users. With so many incredible opportunities for interactive experiences available now, I’m excited to see what the future holds.

Get in touch

rahledusheiko@gmail.com