Amy Wang
Managing Partner
Amy is a design thinker, educator, and storyteller always on the lookout to bring design where it isn’t. At Openbox she is focused on building a people-centered design practice and culture. She is also faculty in the graduate program at the School of Visual Arts, where she earned her MFA in Design. Amy holds a BA in Biology from Harvard University, and is fluent in Spanish and Mandarin. When she is not untangling systems, she ponders where her next dessert will come from, and always welcomes suggestions.
What did you do before Openbox?
Once a upon a time I researched intestinal parasites and thought I was headed to medical school. In hindsight, I was spending more time formatting papers than writing them, so I re-charted my course toward design. Along the way I gravely disappointed my parents and taught middle school in Puerto Rico, among other adventures. Since then I've worked at places from The New York Times to IDEO, and with each job has come some learning to refine my pursuit to create positive impact while bringing myself into what I do.
What do you like about the work you do?
Toggling between intuition and logic. Mind-melding with other people. Dangling at the precipice of the unknown.
What does inclusivity mean to you?
A state where no one or no group feels left out. On the flip side, also a state where no one feels singled out—which is what happens every time when I get asked the follow-up question, “No, really, where are you from?”
When do you feel most like yourself?
Being buried nose-deep in a book.
I spend a lot of time thinking about...
Two Little Red Hens.
