David Kaisel

David is a designer and strategist driven by a fascination with how the design of products and services can influence behavior to improve health and welfare, particularly in marginalized communities. His diverse experience spans traditional design, including crafting Italian office chairs, client management for a Silicon Valley design consultancy, and product strategy for a “lab-on-a-chip” device, to more experimental applications of design in global health and humanitarian contexts.

David has coordinated missions for Doctors Without Borders, forecasted disruptive health innovations at the Institute for the Future, and adapted user research tools to explore the demand, adoption, and abandonment of solutions for household water treatment and urban community sanitation. His work, combined with a passion for indigenous food and music, has led him to extended residencies in Italy, England, Brazil, Colombia, Angola, and Central America.

David holds a Master of Public Health from UC-Berkeley, an MBA from the University of Washington, and a BS in Industrial Design from San Jose State University. When not at his desk, he can be found rowing on Lake Merritt or traveling in his 4WD VW camper.