Emma Scott Lavin, Developer in Eugene, OR

About

With so many fascinations, I struggled to write this profile summary. I tried to break into architecture and certainly did some great things there, but when down on my luck for longer than I should care to admit, code unexpectedly rescued me and I fell in love.

I love playing with big, amazing ideas that matter and sharing them with amazing people. I love learning and devoting myself to hard problems:

• In science… math, astronomy, ecology pure and applied, social theory, neuroscience, modeling of complex systems.

• And in art too… costuming, dance, special thinking, performing and generally creating beautiful things.

The adventure in coding began with teaching myself enough web design and development to promote other projects, and then with minor updates to WordPress sites for hire. Soon it was on to building, rebuilding, upscaling and maintaining just about everything there is to maintain on 1,000+ member WordPress installations for a couple of non-profit organizations.

By late 2015 I was doing deep WordPress customization and getting to put principles of object-oriented programming into living practice with PHP. That’s when I discovered that by surrendering to the magic of coding, I could bring new dimensions of insight to those hard problems and many fascinations, inspire people with beautiful solutions, make the complex visible and maybe move the world. I’d realized that I’d always wanted to do just that. Now I've come to believe that I can. As my Javascript mentor is fond of saying, “There are stories that can only be told with code.”

My recent independent research has gotten me in touch with some of the methodologies for building artificial intelligence, and I’m exploring the potentials of JavaScript application development in tandem with graphical libraries such as THREE.js.

If you think you may have a big problem worth solving, and solving beautifully, I would love to hear from you.

Education

Permaculture Design Certificate Permaculture & Ecological Design

Living Mandala

2010 - 2010

Collaboratively developed design proposal for 92-acre BAE Springs Farm in Northern California
Masters Architecture

Southern California Institute of Architecture

2004 - 2007

Development, presentation and argumentation of design proposals; development, articulation, testing and refining of structural, formal, functional, programmatic and future scenarios (including use of SWOT and STEEP methodologies); representational and investigative drawing and model making (physical as well as digitally modeled, rendered and animated); invention, creation and use of methodologies for unconventional exploration of context, site, program and form; use of interdisciplinary methodologies including filmmaking, storyboard and narrative to develop design proposals; leadership and team-management; targeted urban research; critical and theoretical writing; data management and tracking; business planning and organization. Design Thesis proposed a future scenario in which power infrastructure becomes a vehicle for self-organizing public self-expression, made viable with the intersection of solar and nanotechnologies.
BFA Fine Art

University of California, Los Angeles

1992 - 1997

Program completed with a 3.1 GPA Major-related studies: Realistic & abstract painting and drawing, video, sculpture, performance art, presentation and argumentation, art history with special interest in the art of ancient Greece and India. Additional minor studies: anthropological, political, sociological, and psychological theory and the history of these disciplines. Critical and creative writing, history of German cinema.

Experience

Owner, Designer, Builder and Permaculturist

Vertecology LLC

Aug 2011 - Present (13 years 3 months)

At the intersection of design, build and permaculture, creating spaces and products that regenerate people, community, culture and planet.

I am taking an evolutionary, emergent approach to Vertecology; what that means is that its identity is still very elastic and in formation. In developing products such as the Hanging Garden, rainwater collection systems and geodesics showcased at festivals and events Vertecology embraces the values of DIY culture, open source information exchange, permaculture and economic liberation for all and sees no distinction between designer and builder.

I design, I build and I swing the hammer.
Design and Build Crew

O2 Treehouse

Dec 2009 - Jan 2012 (2 years 1 month)

Working closely with founder and lead designer Dustin Feider as co-designer, build crew member and occasional consultant on other aspects of the business, which builds some of the most innovative treehouses in the world.
Co-Founder and Salon Organizer

The Futures Group

Sep 2006 - Dec 2009 (3 years 3 months)

Founded and co-led salons and affinity network to support committed people and organizations with education, connections, coaching, resources and products to fulfill the globally beneficial outcomes they're committed to.

Projects taken on included a multi-dimensional time management app, public "scoreboards" of global health, consulting to entrepreneurs and non-profit directors, consulting to organizations in the environmental and educational sectors, and private accountability-creation consultations and events.
Designer

Brown and Caldwell

Feb 2006 - Dec 2006 (10 months)

On the consultant team that developed the 20-year Los Angeles Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as the 2007 Outstanding Government Civil Engineering Project. Collaborated on development of a document that integrates 1,380 proposals, feedback from 1,400 stakeholders and vision for rehabilitation of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. Facilitated team strategic planning and alignment on “Creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the natural environment and human development” as its core mission. Contribution also included research; writing; integration of stakeholder input; layouts, diagrams and renderings; look and feel; image management; planning scenario visualizations; progress reporting to the California Department of Water Resources; supporting the Leadership Council in distinguishing and forwarding action items; and developing a 3-1/2 minute outreach film script for BC's 60,000-reader online Water News.
Architectural Intern and Consultant

Mackler, Echt & Associates

May 2005 - Feb 2006 (9 months)

IDeveloped space plan for a 15-employee law firm in collaboration with principal architect and the law office’s employees; created 3D AutoCAD models of a video-gaming corporate headquarters that enabled the client and principal to visualize and refine interior design; developed 3D models, construction documents and photo-collages for presentation to a residential client. Skills developed include 3D AutoCAD modeling, client negotiation, team management, construction document development, managing complex drawing sets, presentation boards, familiarity with fabricated materials.
International Staff Accountant at WHQ

Landmark Education

Jan 2000 - May 2003 (3 years 4 months)

Without training in accounting, automated the financial statement processing system & trained accountants and administrators worldwide to use it, freeing the International department to focus on analysis. Teamed with Travel Department, accountants & administrators worldwide to reduce travel expense management time 75%. Accountable for worldwide transaction tracking and analysis and management of leases for 100+ U.S. and international offices. Trained replacement to ensure she would take the accountabilities to new effectiveness. Skills developed include training and development of staff in a high-performance environment; financial management; data and statistical tracking and analysis; financial scenario planning; working with legal documents; strategic planning and implementation; negotiation; team-building and management often in the face of cultural and language differences; outcome and results-oriented time-management; generative, empowering and enabling communication and action.
Political Campaign Crew Leader

Progressive Campaigns, Incorporated

Jun 1996 - Oct 1999 (3 years 4 months)

Petitioner (later worked independently in 2003 & 2004 and as crew director in 2012) Political campaigning, various statewide ballot initiatives and public surveys in California and Oregon. Sustainably top-performing petitioner in the organization, personally gathered 5% of signatures to put an initiative on the ballot in Oregon in 1997.

Industries

Skills

Elsewhere on the Web

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On Coroflot

@emmascottlavin, member since 2015

Followers 10

Emma Scott Lavin

Assistant Professor - Educator, Industrial Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design

Assistant Professor, Graphic Design