ABOUT
My name is Anita Wilhelm.I enjoy making things. A few years ago, stemming from work I did at UC Berkeley, I founded a company called Caterpillar Mobile. Caterpillar Mobile’s primary focus was on a social mobile game. I ran with my experience in the mobile arena for sometime and since then have work with many start-ups, defining products and conducting user research. The last company I worked with before heading across the pond, Diddit.com, stems from many of these same principles. I’m currently working as a Service Design Lead at Fjord GmBH on a project with Nokia R & D.
I used to write about the disruption of mobile technology, in a blog called mobilegirl. However, much like the choice between function and attraction, platforms often get chosen as an either/or. I don’t believe that creating things that can help folks enjoy their lives should be held solely to one device. Technology forms surround us and we should consider the things we create to be immersive within the same mediums. Encompassing, not switching.
My background academically stems from the field of Human Computer Interaction. I hold a masters degree from the iSchool at University of California Berkeley, where I worked under Marc Davis and Garage Cinema Research. I also held close advisorship from Peter Lyman, who’s thoughts and inspirations advised Caterpillar Mobile. Since being a researcher, I have been an experience designer, usability specialist, speaker, writer, and product manager. I like wearing many hats and working with small teams. In the end, I want to create new products that helps the world enjoy their lives more! Agility, I’ve learned, is key.
I enjoy games, especially those played socially and the simple ones like I used to play when I was younger. I’m excited by how play mechanics help to spark imagination, ignite creativity, make connections, and inspire us to engage in our environments more fully. I like to play, learn, explore, build things, and talk with people. It’s from doing these things all the time that I am encouraged by the possibility of doing them even more.