ABOUT
Toban is a designer, educator, and researcher with a background in interior architecture and strategic design.
Currently, she is a Strategic Design Lead at Rhode Island School of Design’s Center for Complexity (CfC), a project-based studio applying creative practices to complex and systemic challenges. She leads the Opioids, Care, and Addiction work, a multi-year effort in collaboration with various stakeholders including public health researchers, people who use drugs, government officials, and community organizations to design healing and compassionate systems of care.
In 2019, she co-founded mainstay, RI – a think tank and advocacy group working to redesign the environments of care for people impacted by the overdose crisis.
Toban works with numerous public sector and government organizations. She has worked with the Rhode Island Office of Innovation to develop and facilitate an educational program for state employees to work across departments on shared challenges. She helped lead Rhode Island’s Future Libraries initiative funded by the Knight Foundation to reimagine and redesign libraries for the 21st Century. In 2020, she supported efforts with the United Nations Development Program and the UN VietNam office in developing strategies for the country's shift towards a Circular Economy.
As an educator, Toban has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. She has lectured and is a guest critic at academic institutions including the Royal College of Art in London and the Istituto Europeo di Design in Barcelona.
Previously, Toban worked as an architectural designer specializing in adaptive reuse projects for residential, commercial and civic spaces. She holds a Master of Design in Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta.
Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Now based in Barcelona, Spain.
Currently, she is a Strategic Design Lead at Rhode Island School of Design’s Center for Complexity (CfC), a project-based studio applying creative practices to complex and systemic challenges. She leads the Opioids, Care, and Addiction work, a multi-year effort in collaboration with various stakeholders including public health researchers, people who use drugs, government officials, and community organizations to design healing and compassionate systems of care.
In 2019, she co-founded mainstay, RI – a think tank and advocacy group working to redesign the environments of care for people impacted by the overdose crisis.
Toban works with numerous public sector and government organizations. She has worked with the Rhode Island Office of Innovation to develop and facilitate an educational program for state employees to work across departments on shared challenges. She helped lead Rhode Island’s Future Libraries initiative funded by the Knight Foundation to reimagine and redesign libraries for the 21st Century. In 2020, she supported efforts with the United Nations Development Program and the UN VietNam office in developing strategies for the country's shift towards a Circular Economy.
As an educator, Toban has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Michigan. She has lectured and is a guest critic at academic institutions including the Royal College of Art in London and the Istituto Europeo di Design in Barcelona.
Previously, Toban worked as an architectural designer specializing in adaptive reuse projects for residential, commercial and civic spaces. She holds a Master of Design in Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from the University of Alberta.
Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Now based in Barcelona, Spain.
CV
Education & Certifications
2018
Master of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Interior Architecture Adaptive Reuse
2014
Bachelor of Science, University of Alberta, Human Ecology
2013
Certificate, Istituto Europeo di Design Barcelona, Fashion Trends and Coolhunting
2020
CITI Program (Lifespan Corporation) Human Research, Social and Behavioral Research Certificate
Master of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Interior Architecture Adaptive Reuse
2014
Bachelor of Science, University of Alberta, Human Ecology
2013
Certificate, Istituto Europeo di Design Barcelona, Fashion Trends and Coolhunting
2020
CITI Program (Lifespan Corporation) Human Research, Social and Behavioral Research Certificate
Professional Practice
2018-2022
Strategic Designer & Researcher, Center for Complexity Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2020-2021
Freelance Designer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam, Snowcone and Haystack, Hanoi Vietnam
2019-Present
Co-founder, mainstay RI, Providence RI USA
2017-2018
Strategic Designer, Rhode Island Office of Innovation, Providence RI USA
2017
Architectural Design Intern, Praud Office, Seoul South Korea
2017-2018
Graduate Research Fellow, Institute for Design and Public Policy RISD, Providence RI USA
2014-2016
Interior Designer, Revolving Rooms Interior Design, Edmonton AB Canada
Strategic Designer & Researcher, Center for Complexity Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2020-2021
Freelance Designer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam, Snowcone and Haystack, Hanoi Vietnam
2019-Present
Co-founder, mainstay RI, Providence RI USA
2017-2018
Strategic Designer, Rhode Island Office of Innovation, Providence RI USA
2017
Architectural Design Intern, Praud Office, Seoul South Korea
2017-2018
Graduate Research Fellow, Institute for Design and Public Policy RISD, Providence RI USA
2014-2016
Interior Designer, Revolving Rooms Interior Design, Edmonton AB Canada
Academic Practice
2023
Studio Instructor, Master of Strategic Design in Complexity, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain.
2023
Studio Instructor, Design and Innovation, Space Design Thesis, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain.
2022
LEO Intermittent Lecturer, Urban Technology, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI USA
2018-2022
Studio Instructor, Center for Complexity, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-2022
Co-faculty of the Strategic Design Program, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-Present
Thesis Advisor, Critic, and Lecturer, Department of Interior Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-2021
Studio Critic, Department of Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018
Co-facilitator, Innovation League, Rhode Island Office of Innovation, Providence RI USA
2016-2017
Teaching Assistant, Department of Interior Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
Studio Instructor, Master of Strategic Design in Complexity, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain.
2023
Studio Instructor, Design and Innovation, Space Design Thesis, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona, Spain.
2022
LEO Intermittent Lecturer, Urban Technology, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI USA
2018-2022
Studio Instructor, Center for Complexity, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-2022
Co-faculty of the Strategic Design Program, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-Present
Thesis Advisor, Critic, and Lecturer, Department of Interior Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018-2021
Studio Critic, Department of Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
2018
Co-facilitator, Innovation League, Rhode Island Office of Innovation, Providence RI USA
2016-2017
Teaching Assistant, Department of Interior Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI USA
Courses Taught
Spring 2023
Decentralizing Museums, Thesis in Space Design, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona Spain
Spring 2022
Incomplete City, Urban Technology, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Spring 2022
Design Beyond Crisis: Harm Reduction Centers, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
Fall 2019
Future of Mobility, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Spring 2019
Financial Infrastructure and Inclusion, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Mysore India
Winter 2019
Future of Food, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Mysore India
Fall 2018
Future of Healthcare, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Summer 2018
Human and Societal Wellbeing, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Summer 2017
Hybrid Housing, Teaching Assistant, Interior Architecture Department, RISD, Seoul South Korea
Decentralizing Museums, Thesis in Space Design, Elisava School of Design and Engineering, Barcelona Spain
Spring 2022
Incomplete City, Urban Technology, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Spring 2022
Design Beyond Crisis: Harm Reduction Centers, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
Fall 2019
Future of Mobility, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Spring 2019
Financial Infrastructure and Inclusion, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Mysore India
Winter 2019
Future of Food, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Mysore India
Fall 2018
Future of Healthcare, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Summer 2018
Human and Societal Wellbeing, Rhode Island School of Design Strategic Design Program, Providence RI
Summer 2017
Hybrid Housing, Teaching Assistant, Interior Architecture Department, RISD, Seoul South Korea
Lectures & Workshops
2023
Design Ethics, Lecture, Design with Society, Royal College of Art, London England (online)
2022
Practitioner Talk, Lecture, Future Thinking and Innovation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain
2022
Research Methodologies, Lecture, Trends Investigation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain
2022
The Role of Design Research in the World of Medical Science, Conference Presentation, Design Research Society, Bilbao Spain
2022
Practitioner Talk, Lecture, Service Design Programme, Royal College of Art, London England (online)
2021
Developing Community of Practice, Lecture, UNDP Vietnam, Hanoi Vietnam (online)
2021
UNDP Vietnam Deep Demo: Circular Economy, Workshop, UNDP Vietnam, Hanoi Vietnam (online)
2021
Opioid Hackathon, Panelist, Center of Biomedical Research on Excellence (COBRE), Providence RI
2020-Ongoing
Design Research Methodologies, Interior Architecture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2020
Developing a Center for Arts and Health in Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2020-Ongoing
Design Thesis, Interior Architecture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2020
mainstay RI: Developing a Cross-disciplinary Understanding of Care Practices and Spaces, Lecture, Symposium on Substance Use Research
2018
Cyber Security, Co-facilitator, Rhode Island School of Design Institute for Design and Public Policy
2018
Drug Trafficking, Co-facilitator, Rhode Island School of Design Institute for Design and Public Policy
2017
Libraries for the 21st Century, Rhode Island Public Libraries, Westerly RI
2017
Gassed Out, Pecha Kucha, Providence RI
Design Ethics, Lecture, Design with Society, Royal College of Art, London England (online)
2022
Practitioner Talk, Lecture, Future Thinking and Innovation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain
2022
Research Methodologies, Lecture, Trends Investigation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain
2022
The Role of Design Research in the World of Medical Science, Conference Presentation, Design Research Society, Bilbao Spain
2022
Practitioner Talk, Lecture, Service Design Programme, Royal College of Art, London England (online)
2021
Developing Community of Practice, Lecture, UNDP Vietnam, Hanoi Vietnam (online)
2021
UNDP Vietnam Deep Demo: Circular Economy, Workshop, UNDP Vietnam, Hanoi Vietnam (online)
2021
Opioid Hackathon, Panelist, Center of Biomedical Research on Excellence (COBRE), Providence RI
2020-Ongoing
Design Research Methodologies, Interior Architecture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2020
Developing a Center for Arts and Health in Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2020-Ongoing
Design Thesis, Interior Architecture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
2020
mainstay RI: Developing a Cross-disciplinary Understanding of Care Practices and Spaces, Lecture, Symposium on Substance Use Research
2018
Cyber Security, Co-facilitator, Rhode Island School of Design Institute for Design and Public Policy
2018
Drug Trafficking, Co-facilitator, Rhode Island School of Design Institute for Design and Public Policy
2017
Libraries for the 21st Century, Rhode Island Public Libraries, Westerly RI
2017
Gassed Out, Pecha Kucha, Providence RI
Invited Design Critic
2022
Future Thinking and Innovation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain (John V. Willshire)
2022
Trends Investigation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain (Christina Bifano)
2021
Thesis Review, RISD Interior Architecture (Elizabeth Debs)
2021
Design Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Patricia Roka)
2021
Narrative Environments Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Dorian Juncewicz)
2021
Innovation Studio, RISD Industrial Design (Charlie Cannon)
2020
Design Thesis Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Markus Berger & Wolfgang Rudolf)
2020
Design Studio, RISD Industrial Design (Khipra Nichols)
2019
Design Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Jeffrey Katz)
2019
Summer Design studio, RISD Interior Architecture
Future Thinking and Innovation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain (John V. Willshire)
2022
Trends Investigation, Institute Europeo di Design, Barcelona Spain (Christina Bifano)
2021
Thesis Review, RISD Interior Architecture (Elizabeth Debs)
2021
Design Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Patricia Roka)
2021
Narrative Environments Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Dorian Juncewicz)
2021
Innovation Studio, RISD Industrial Design (Charlie Cannon)
2020
Design Thesis Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Markus Berger & Wolfgang Rudolf)
2020
Design Studio, RISD Industrial Design (Khipra Nichols)
2019
Design Studio, RISD Interior Architecture (Jeffrey Katz)
2019
Summer Design studio, RISD Interior Architecture
Press & Publications
2022
A Marriage in Practice: The role of design research in the world of medical science, Publication, Design Research Society Conference, Bilbao, June, 2022
2022
Why RISD students are designing spaces for people to safely do drugs, Press, Fast Company, June 1, 2022
2022
Innovative RISD projects tackle opioid crisis and stigma through design, Press, Providence Journal, May 28, 2022
2022
How artists could play a role in harm reduction centers, Press, Boston Globe, May 16, 2022
2022
Replace stigma with compassion: RISD students reimagine better approaches to drug addiction, Press, Providence Journal, May 15, 2022
2021
Equitable Futures Studio: Opioids, Care, & Addiction – Final Report, co-author, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2021
Generation C, editor, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2020
Center for Arts and Health in Rhode Island, author and editor, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2020
“Planning for a Post-Pandemic World”, Press, RISD News
2019
“New Modes of Inquiry”, Press, RISD News
2018
“StudioRhode: Toolkit for Next-Generation Libraries”, Book, Office of Library and Information Services and Rhode Island Office of Innovation
2018
“RISD Alums at Global Grad Show”, Press, Our RISD
2018
GASSED OUT, author, Rhode Island School of Design Digital Commons
2017
Volume 8 Water As Catalyst, editor. IntIAR, the journal of Interventions and Adaptive Reuse
A Marriage in Practice: The role of design research in the world of medical science, Publication, Design Research Society Conference, Bilbao, June, 2022
2022
Why RISD students are designing spaces for people to safely do drugs, Press, Fast Company, June 1, 2022
2022
Innovative RISD projects tackle opioid crisis and stigma through design, Press, Providence Journal, May 28, 2022
2022
How artists could play a role in harm reduction centers, Press, Boston Globe, May 16, 2022
2022
Replace stigma with compassion: RISD students reimagine better approaches to drug addiction, Press, Providence Journal, May 15, 2022
2021
Equitable Futures Studio: Opioids, Care, & Addiction – Final Report, co-author, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2021
Generation C, editor, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2020
Center for Arts and Health in Rhode Island, author and editor, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity
2020
“Planning for a Post-Pandemic World”, Press, RISD News
2019
“New Modes of Inquiry”, Press, RISD News
2018
“StudioRhode: Toolkit for Next-Generation Libraries”, Book, Office of Library and Information Services and Rhode Island Office of Innovation
2018
“RISD Alums at Global Grad Show”, Press, Our RISD
2018
GASSED OUT, author, Rhode Island School of Design Digital Commons
2017
Volume 8 Water As Catalyst, editor. IntIAR, the journal of Interventions and Adaptive Reuse
Exhibitions
2021
Carry Forward, Symposium Curator, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2020
Generation C, Symposium Curator, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2019
Rhode Island School of Design Interior Architecture Biennale, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Providence, RI, 2019
2018
Dubai Global Grad Show, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Dubai UAE
2018
Rhode Island School of Design Grad Show, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Providence RI
Carry Forward, Symposium Curator, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2020
Generation C, Symposium Curator, Rhode Island School of Design Center for Complexity, Providence RI
2019
Rhode Island School of Design Interior Architecture Biennale, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Providence, RI, 2019
2018
Dubai Global Grad Show, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Dubai UAE
2018
Rhode Island School of Design Grad Show, Exhibited Project Gassed Out, Providence RI
Board Service & Volunteer
2021-ongoing
Harm Reduction Center Committee, Providence RI USA
2021
Rhode Island Community for Addiction and Recovery Services (RICARES), Providence RI USA
2021-ongoing
Women in Innovation (WIN)
2015-2016
M.A.D.E (Media, Architecture, and Design in Edmonton), Edmonton AB Canada
2014-2016
Edmonton Next Gen, Edmonton AB Canada
Harm Reduction Center Committee, Providence RI USA
2021
Rhode Island Community for Addiction and Recovery Services (RICARES), Providence RI USA
2021-ongoing
Women in Innovation (WIN)
2015-2016
M.A.D.E (Media, Architecture, and Design in Edmonton), Edmonton AB Canada
2014-2016
Edmonton Next Gen, Edmonton AB Canada