Daniella de Rijke Rodríguez

Research & Design Assistant , Citizen Voice (TU Delft)

The Hague, Netherlands

I am a bilingual (Spanish–English) experience designer and researcher with six years of experience across NGOs, corporations, grassroots organizations, and start-ups in Costa Rica, the US, the Netherlands, and South Africa. I blend justice-centered design and systems thinking to support regenerative futures through co-created narratives, decoloniality, collective futures, and reflective learning.

Contact Daniella de Rijke Rodríguez
Area of Expertise:
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
  • Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

I have worked across UX design, research, and communication roles in agencies, NGOs, and think tanks, with experience spanning the United States, The Netherlands, Costa Rica, and South Africa. My experience combines research, workshop facilitation, and project management, often in contexts involving both corporate, and social and environmental backgrounds. Currently, I'm working in the publication of my Graduation Thesis alongside Citizen Voice.

From 2022 to 2025, I worked remotely as a UX Lead at Slingshot Effect, a small web-design agency based in the United States. I designed and developed digital services and websites for clients across e-commerce, healthcare, event management, and logistics. I led end-to-end UX and service design processes, from early user research and proof-of-concept exploration to high-fidelity prototyping and iterative cycles, working closely with clients to translate user insights and business needs into digital solutions.

In 2024, I contributed as a User Research and Design Volunteer to Habits for a Better World, a global initiative bringing together over 300 researchers, designers, and filmmakers. Working within the Human Suffering research track, I conducted qualitative research and synthesis to explore how collective habits contribute to global degradation and how they may be shifted to support ethical awareness and behavioral change.

In 2023, I completed a UX Internship at Lumico in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where I conducted user research, developed high-fidelity prototypes, and facilitated collaborative design sessions within a cross-functional and multicultural team. Working in a new cultural context strengthened my understanding of how social dynamics, history, and power structures influence design practice.

Before transitioning fully into UX, I worked from 2020 to 2022 at Publicis Global Delivery in Costa Rica as a Senior Account Manager and Head of Diversity & Inclusion for Latin America. I managed complex, multi-channel service delivery for major corporate clients in TV and radio, overseeing timelines, budgets, and client relationships. I hired, trained, and mentored 12 junior employees and developed onboarding materials. As Head of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, I designed and implemented organizational initiatives that increased participation by 300% and organized regional educational activities.

In 2020, I also worked as a Communications Specialist with The Democracy Lab in Costa Rica, supporting the think tank focused on increasing citizen participation. I contributed to internal and external communication strategies, social media content, website redesign, and branding initiatives to improve clarity, accessibility, and engagement.

From 2015 to 2019, I volunteered with TECHO in Costa Rica, participating in long-term projects within informal settlements. My work included leading fundraising initiatives, contributing to large-scale construction projects, and supporting weekly educational activities with children in the regions. This experience continues to shape my work in justice-oriented design.

Education:

I studied User Experience Design at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands (2022-2025), where I developed a foundation in research-driven design, systems thinking, and facilitation. My projects focused on using design as a tool to engage with social and environmental change rather than treating design as a purely commercial or aesthetic practice. I initiated and led extracurricular activities exploring design’s political, ethical, and societal dimensions, and created interactive installations addressing themes such as technology’s impact on heritage, human–nature relationships, and municipal data accessibility. I also worked on reimagining visitor education experiences for RADIUS (Center of Contemporary Art and Ecology) in Delft.

As part of my degree, I completed a Graduation Project on Spatial Justice in collaboration with Citizen Voice at TU Delft and UP2030 Horizon Europe. In this project, I conducted UX research and design for a digital tool aimed at supporting Dutch municipalities in reflecting on and integrating spatial justice into climate-neutral planning processes. The project applied behavioral and reflective frameworks to understand how municipal professionals navigate ethical considerations and institutional constraints. This work amplified my skills in qualitative research, systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and translating abstract concepts such as justice and ethics into concrete design interventions.

Prior to studying UX design, I completed a B.A. in Advertising and Multimedia Production at ULACIT in Costa Rica. This background gave me a strong grounding in storytelling, visual communication, and strategic thinking. During my studies, I was awarded a full scholarship to participate in a cultural exchange program in Beijing, China, representing Costa Rican culture, and received Effie’s College Gold for a campaign proposal. This education continues to influence how I frame narratives, communicate complex ideas, and design with impact in mind.

In addition to my formal degrees, I have pursued further learning to deepen my understanding of climate and justice-driven design. I completed the Climate Change: Learning for Action Fellowship with Terra.do, a 12-week program focused on climate science, global impacts, and pathways for systemic change. I also completed the Impact-Experience Design certification with Order of the Wild, and am looking forward to joining the School of System Change in the spring.

Available for:

  • Job opportunities
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

5-10 years

Highest Qualification:

Bachelors

Languages:

English, Spanish

Nationality:

Costa Rica , Netherlands