As part of the very first cohort of the IxD program, Heidi Gaudet has built a career defined by curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to push beyond convention. This year, her work was recognized on a global stage with a Red Dot Design Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the design world.Now a product designer at LiveEO, Heidi works at the intersection of AI, geospatial data, and sustainability. Her award-winning project, TradeAware, addresses a pressing global challenge tied to new EU regulations: companies must prove their supply chains are not linked to deforestation. Heidi and her team designed a platform that translates complex satellite data into clear, actionable insights, helping businesses verify compliance while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.Winning the Red Dot Award was both exciting and affirming. “I’m super proud of the team, the product managers, developers, data scientists, everyone who made it happen,” she said. “And no, I definitely wouldn’t have imagined this when I was in the IxD program.”That sense of exploration traces back to her time at SMC, where the program encouraged both creative freedom and practical skill-building. One standout project involved building a playable version of Pong using slime, pressure sensors, and an Arduino. It was an early exploration of unconventional interfaces that reflected her interest in emerging technologies and redefining how people interact with systems.Since graduating, her path has spanned community-focused work with UN Women in Los Angeles, international retail tooling in Berlin, public sector mobility projects, and now deep tech. Across each shift, she has carried forward a mindset rooted in adaptability and curiosity, qualities that continue to shape her work today.Currently, Heidi is also experimenting beyond her day-to-day role, developing a Figma plugin called SyntheticUsers, designed to generate early feedback using AI-driven personas. The idea emerged directly from challenges she encountered on TradeAware, where early user input was difficult to obtain due to the novelty of the system.Looking back, Heidi’s journey underscores the value of embracing uncertainty. If she could go back, she’d tell her IxD-era self:“Heidi, don’t stress about not getting the NASA JPL internship, you’re going to end up working in space anyway, on things that don’t even exist yet.”

"Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."  "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."  "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."  

"Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."  "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."  "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design." "Audra represented Jona at CES this year, bringing bold ideas and smart design to a global audience. She continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in product and interaction design."