The SonicRim Story

Roots of Curiosity

I am a nomad at heart, always drawn to travel and the meaningful conversations that unfold with strangers. My journey began as an industrial designer, shaping consumer products before returning to graduate school, where I immersed myself in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and communication theory.

Over the past thirty-one years, my path in design research has taken me into homes, workplaces, and communities around the world. Most of the clients with whom I’ve had engagements lasting over a decade deeply value the shifts in thinking, understanding, and greater consciousness that emerge when we participate in fieldwork and synthesis together—especially as these experiences reveal gaps in what they thought they knew about their customers and the realities that challenge their own assumptions and beliefs.

These moments often lead to unexpected insights, not just for clients but for participants as well. I recall a fieldwork session in Edinburgh, where a father turned to me and said, “Thanks for inviting us into this research. I learned something about my son today—I never knew how he thinks about me.” On another occasion, a CFO who joined us in the field remarked, “I’m glad I accompanied you. The research sessions didn’t answer the questions I had, but I realized I came into the fieldwork with the wrong questions.”

Very often, these transformative experiences are most valued by senior leaders, who then want their teams to experience similar shifts in thinking as well. My greatest sense of fulfillment comes when clients, research participants, and we as researchers all experience moments of epiphany—deep insights about things we had never considered about one another or about the changing realities around us. Those moments are precious because they remind me that, at our core, we are all human—each of us seeking deeper meaning in life and in the relationships we cherish. I have learned to treat every client and every participant in our studies as a companion on this journey of discovery.

Listening Beyond the Tech Bubble

Helping organizations create meaningful experiences by amplifying voices often unheard in the corporate world is deeply rewarding. The suffering of ordinary people during the COVID-19 pandemic moved me profoundly, as did my concern about the industry’s growing obsession with artificial intelligence. I decided to pause my business and spend two years observing and listening to life outside the tech bubble. Through conversations with students, teachers, NGOs, and everyday people—in homes, libraries, cafes, and bars—I sought to understand their questions, hopes for the future, and what they believe the world truly needs today.

Reclaiming Imagination Together

During my recent sabbatical, conversations from many walks of life clarified what matters most: imagination. It’s our core human capacity—shaping who we are, who we can become, and how we find meaning. Yet today, as we rely more on external voices—from technology, media, and ideology—our freedom to imagine, question, and dream is at risk.

To move forward, we must nurture our collective imagination, empowering people and communities to heal, regenerate, and thrive. I invite those who care to join me—using imagination, resources, and technology to help communities grow stronger and build lasting social capital.

Your sherpa in a journey of exploring possibilities