Our mission
Change is constant. Our mission is to make sure it happens with people, never to them. We gain better insights by treating research as a humanitarian act and build better systems by keeping humanity in technology. That’s how we deliver better outcomes — because they’re people first.
Most firms study people or build technology.We do both.
We connect a deep understanding of people with the systems we build.
Gain Better Insights
Research as a humanitarian act.
Too often, research treats people as subjects to study, offering little in return beyond an incentive. We make research a relational exchange: the people we learn from come away feeling heard, seen, and valued.
Qualitative and UX research, program evaluation, design thinking training, and AI consulting.
How we gain better insights
Build Better Systems
Keeping humanity in technology.
Too often, technology is built around what the tools can do. We build around what people need, so your people keep the relationships, the voice, and the judgment.
Strategic planning, instructional design, application development, AI implementation, and AI training.
How we build better systems
Who we are
A human-centered design and people-first AI integration company.
Our expertise spans deep human-centered research and the design of practical systems, including AI. Firms that pair research depth with real AI build skill mostly serve mid-sized and large organizations. We bring both to small businesses and nonprofits of 1 to 50 people.
- Deep expertise.Every one of us holds a master’s degree in design, human-computer interaction, or computer science.
- 500+ projects since 2012.More than 100,000 people engaged in our work.
- Minority- and woman-owned.Based in Indianapolis.
Our team
The people doing the work.
A small team of researchers, designers, and builders, working alongside the people we serve.
- We learn from each other. Several of us first worked with CXD as students or mentees, and every project still teaches us something new.
- We lead by strength. Each project is led by the teammate whose strengths fit the work best.
- Relationships come first. We’re a high-trust team, and we bring that same trust and warmth to every client.
Aileen Carreto
Design Researcher
Aileen Carreto is a Design Researcher at Collabo XD. She connects with community members and research participants in our human-centered research, and is experienced in design facilitation and in leading participatory design thinking sessions. Aileen holds an M.Des in Design Research.
LinkedIn: Aileen Carreto (opens in a new tab)
Anushka Chadha
Design Researcher & AI Specialist
Anushka Chadha is a Design Researcher and AI Specialist at Collabo XD. She leads our work on integrations, AI workflows, and automations. Anushka holds an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction.
LinkedIn: Anushka Chadha (opens in a new tab)
Agrima Kumar
Design Researcher & AI Specialist
Agrima Kumar is a Design Researcher and AI Specialist at Collabo XD. She supports our user research and AI integration projects, and draws on her user experience background in curriculum and instructional design. Agrima holds an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction.
LinkedIn: Agrima Kumar (opens in a new tab)
Sri Vaishnava Samudrala
Instructional Designer & Design Researcher
Sri Vaishnava Samudrala is an Instructional Designer and Design Researcher at Collabo XD. He leads our instructional design work, from course builds to walkthrough video, and helps build the AI advisors our clients use. Vaishnava holds an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction.
LinkedIn: Sri Vaishnava Samudrala (opens in a new tab)
Terri Wada
CEO & Co-Founder
Terri Wada is CEO and Co-Founder of Collabo XD. She holds an MFA in Design Thinking and Design Leadership from the Herron School of Art and Design and teaches graduate students at Indiana University Indianapolis. Her work connects qualitative research, design education, and practical AI integration.
LinkedIn: Terri Wada (opens in a new tab)
Our approach
We listen before deciding what needs to be built.
How we got here
We didn’t pivot to AI. We grew into it.
- 2012
Begin with people
We start out in human-centered design and service design.
- 2015
Change how research happens
Digital tools become part of our research practice.
- 2018
Put AI to work internally
AI begins supporting our own research and operational work.
- 2023
Build with clients
Our internal experience grows into AI training and implementation for clients.
- Today
Keep the two connected
What we learn about people shapes the practical systems we build, with people at the center.
Organizations we’ve worked with
Let’s find a useful next step
What would you like to understand better?
Bring the question, the sticking point, or the idea you’re not sure how to move forward. We’ll start there.