margelacool

I am a curious sea slug raised by Brussel’s creative grey aura, and 2010 YouTube nonsense. My obsession for information asymmetry online sprouted during a sweaty summer internship in 2018, after freshman year. I was interning at a competition law cabinet dealing with Google online advertising practices. To be honest, I felt betrayed by the web, which I originally saw as a fun octopus. So I started to dig a bit more into the sociotechnical workings behind (what used to be) a fun octopus (and like everybody I started worshipping Shoshana Zuboff).

Since then, I’ve worked in GDPR compliance, advocacy for online rights, user research, and Human-Computer Interaction research. I’ve been trained in Cognitive Science, Philosophy, and Political Science. My professional toolbox consists of:

• a drive for accountability, creativity, and agency online

• a scientific approach to user research

• a deep understanding of user interface design, psychological and sociopolitical implications

I enjoy using this toolbox for purpose-driven online initiatives that put product first. My vision is to support creative and soft communities affected by online unaccountability. Currently I am working at user-rights.org on the complainant user experience.

As a sea slug, I thrive in oceans where diverse, transdisciplinary teams comprising user interface designers, lawyers, engineers, and chimeralogists come together. If you happen to recognize yourself here let’s meet! @margelacool.bsky.social