Cameron Contreras is a Design Research Lead at CannonDesign and a first-year Doctor of Design student at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Her research focuses on human experiences in ‘phygital’ spaces; immersive intersections of the built environment and the virtual world.

Prior to joining the DDes program, Cameron worked as a Strategy Consultant with Blue Cottage of CannonDesign, helping architects better understand people by translating data into design direction. She also founded the firm’s Research Practice and served as Interim Research Director.

Her work revolves around maximizing the human condition by scientifically exploring relationships with our surroundings. She has published eight articles and presentations in the past four years on several environmental psychology, ergonomics, and architectural industry topics, also serving as peer-reviewer for these journals and organizations.

Cameron holds a Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Psychology, with a minor in Information Science, from Cornell University, where she conducted empirical research on dyadic collaboration effectiveness in mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and Environmental Policy, with a minor in Human Services Management, from Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU). She has advised students in research methods, served as a Teaching Assistant at Cornell, and as a Research Assistant at IWU.