Catapult Design

Too many public health interventions fall short—not because the science is wrong, but because real lives get left out of the equation.

Top-down solutions and siloed research can’t fully reflect the complexity of people’s lived experiences, especially when it comes to women’s health.

We asked: What if research were faster, deeper, and more connected to communities?

Introducing Design Labs—a scalable, mixed-methods approach that turns lived experience into real-time insight.

We’ve piloted this model through our Gender Equality Design Labs, supported by the Gates Foundation, working directly with panels of women in priority geographies.

Together with our partners Co-Creation Hub, Derz Consulting, DODO Design, Open Knowledge Framework, Paukwa House, and YUX Design, we’re making research more transparent, insights more actionable, and feedback loops more inclusive, keeping communities at the heart of every solution.

Click to learn more! https://catapultdesign.org/design-labs-a-scalable-mixed-methods-approach-to-global-challenges/

We’ve heard such thoughtful feedback from our last newsletter, and it means a lot to know it’s resonating. Angela’s "Notes from the CEO" are often unfiltered and personal—and the last one was no exception.

At Catapult Design, we believe design is at its best when it’s shaped by the voices, experiences, and brilliance of communities themselves. Our newsletter is one of the most personal ways we share how we partner with communities to co-create bold, inclusive solutions.

What can you expect?

– Honest reflections from our CEO Angela Hariche on leadership and culture
– Project insights—from contraceptive research in Kenya to climate resilience and indigenizing design
– Team stories that highlight learning, creativity, and care in action

Sign up today at catapultdesign.org. Let’s keep reimagining what’s possible, together.

Designing together is more than just ideas—it’s about trust, tension, and transformation.

The best work happens when we hold space for each other’s perspectives and lean into the complexity.

How do you approach collaboration in design? Drop your thoughts below. 👇

We’re happy to celebrate one of the powerhouses behind our storytelling and strategy—Marketing Director Alissa Paik!

Alissa joined Catapult in 2024, bringing over a decade of marketing expertise and a heart deeply committed to advocacy. She has led her own marketing agency for 10 years and has taught communication strategy at the University of Evansville.

Alissa’s leadership is helping us shape narratives that reflect the nuance, depth, and dignity of this important work and the communities we serve.

As our quarterly Core Values Award recipient, we are grateful for the vision and heart she brings to the Catapult family! 💛

At Catapult Design, our partnerships mean creating solutions that are deeply rooted in the communities we serve.

Our collaboration with Ooloi Labs has been powerful. Together, we've tackled multiple projects that rely on their expertise in customizing their product the Open Knowledge Framework to collect, manage and analyze qualitative data. Their product empowers researchers to extract meaningful insights from intricate datasets—critical for addressing nuanced, community-specific challenges.

Our collaboration feels seamless—we're truly one team. They consistently show up ready to engage in everything from discussing deep philosophical questions and troubleshooting tech to brainstorming on deliverables. We're currently exploring AI to help us bring more features and data sets to deepen our reach. Discover more at openknowledgeframework.in.

It's partnerships like this that help Catapult Design build lasting impact grounded in local knowledge and global cooperation.