Brenda Castro

Graphic & Interaction Designer
NRC Helsinki

Background

My background is in Graphic Design, with a BA in Mexico City UAM-X, and Interaction Design, with an MA from Media Lab Helsinki. I have worked in mediated learning projects designing courses and environments for web and mobile, also designing user interfaces for mobile services related to social networks, location and mixed reality.

Research Projects

My diploma work for Media Lab is entitled Collaborative Artwork System, it can be downloaded as .pdf from the project site: CAS and the prototype that resulted from that work is here (project stopped till I have time again to work on it. It was Programmed by Alfredo Rodríguez Montemayor).

I'm now working at NRC Helsinki. My last completed project was in the Solutions Integration Team: It was called Nokia Friend View: an experimental service for location awareness. It has been public through Nokia Beta Labs during 2008-2009.

My current work is related to Mixed Reality User Interfaces.

I usually collaborate in other projects from NRC and help them with design issues.

My PhD studies are in (slow) process and are related to mobile learning... I'll publish more when there is something cool to show.

Other Information

I have a Degree in Graphic Communication Design from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Mexico City) and  a MA in New Media Design at Media Lab Helsinki. My small personal portfolio from Taik can be visited here.

Before moving to Finland for my Master studies, I worked for two years as Graphic and Interaction Designer for online learning projects at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (CATED-UNAM).

I really enjoy working on projects related to technologies for learning. I am deeply interested in the way communication technologies can improve face to face interactions and people's life in general. I love to be involved in projects where I can work with an open minded team and where we can be creative and spontaneous. I am also interested in research though not much time for it yet.

 

Publications

Brenda Castro. The Virtual Art Garden: A Case Study of User-centered Graphical User Interface Design, in Digital Tools: A New Way to Interact with the World Taik, Helsinki. 2008

Brenda Castro: The Virtual Art Garden: A Case Study of User-centered Design for Improving Interaction in Distant Learning Communities of Art Students, in Mashup Cultures Springer, 2010

Lily Díaz, Brenda Castro. Mapa de México 1550: Aprovechamiento de las nuevas tecnologías para proteger y difundir el patrimonio cultural, in Antropología: Boletín Oficial del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia Num 81. INAH México. March 2008
brenda.castro[at]nokia.com

Patents

1 patent

(5 pending patents)