I’m Annabe
l
👋
Researcher, Designer and Children’s author
I help people find and solve problems through research, design and play.
My practice involves researching to find insights and painful problems, creative ideation to identify solutions, and prototyping; to stretch, test and assess solutions in the real world.
I glue this practice together with storytelling. I do love a good story. Especially if it involves ✨ magic ✨ and elves.
In my former life I represented Australia on the free-ski world cup circuit. Since then I’ve spent time in academic labs, investigating the relationship between cognition and creativity; experimented in Google's Creative Labs; and founded a kids media and design studio where I write fantasy stories about STEM and leadership! Right now you can find me at CANVA.
Good Design Award
Talu Tales: Diary of an Astronaut
Dezeen Design Award Longlist
Talu Tales
Gold Good Design Award
Talu Tales: Space, Spaghetti and Aliens
Frankie Good Stuff Design Awards
Talu Tales: Space, Spaghetti and Aliens
Peabody Awards
Google Editions at play
The Guardian
'One big virtual love-in': how children's book authors are creating online sanctuaries
Radio 2SER
Talu Tales: Closing the gender gap with childrens’ books
Smart Company
Sparkly black holes: Two ex-Googlers have launched a STEM-focused storytelling game for girls
Womens Agenda
Are ‘princess’ characters limiting girls engagement with STEM
Babyology
Empowering kids through storytellingUOW Outlook
Adventures of the brain and mind
K- Zone
Cool card game creator
The Guardian
The e-book that you are forced to edit as you read
Fast Co Design
This disintegrating e-book cleverly shows how blockchain works
Olympics.com.au
Annabel Blake: The turtle or the hare?
Australian Story (ABC)
Taking Flight
Canva
2020- present Design Researcher (Education)
Big Kid Lab (founder)
Freelance design research & writing kids’ lit (2 new titles due out in 2023 with Five Mile)
Studio Talu (co-founder)
2018-2021
UNSW Future Minds Lab
2017-2020 Researcher and Project Manager
BBE
2017-2019 Behavioural Strategist
Google Creative Labs
2016-2017 Fiver (UX designer/Producer)
Vivant (now IBM iX) & Envirobank
2015 & 2017 Freelance UX Researcher
Australian Shadow Olympic Ski Team
2012-2014 Athlete