Today we’d like to introduce you to Deia Green.
Hi Deia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I originally grew up in a very small town in North Carolina. There wasn’t a lot to do so I turned to entertaining myself to pass the time. My love of creating stemmed from my immediate talent of drawing and hobby of jewelry design. I loved the way in both, how small elements could come together to tell a story, and capture emotion and identity in different ways. That fascination with bringing ideas to life through my own expression led me to eventually pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, and my Master’s degree in Human Computer Interaction. From those degrees was how I learned how to translate that same emotional storytelling into digital experiences.
After grad school, I landed as a User Experience designer at the Walt Disney Company, where I focused on emotional design and storytelling across multiple media technology platforms, designing search and discovery experiences across five platforms that reached millions of users. This passion for designing human-centered experiences unveiled a new interest in building more engaging and immersive experiences beyond traditional screens through XR. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on innovative augmented reality projects with brands like Snapchat and Black Girls Code that have allowed me to combine my love of design and storytelling with emerging technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Now in my journey as a creative technologist, I’ve become increasingly passionate about Black creative language and expression and I’m driven by the opportunity to honor and amplify that creative language through my design studio, How’d You Get so Fly? (HYGSF?). Equally important to me is exposing my community to new ways of creating and ensuring that underrepresented voices have access to these emerging technologies and design spaces.
This commitment has led me to actively engage in community building and knowledge sharing. I’ve co-led workshops at Grace Hopper Celebration for 400 women in STEM, collaborated with Black Girls Code to share my journey in tech and design, and moderated tech workshops for Black and brown students. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that sharing knowledge and creating space for others isn’t just rewarding, it’s essential to nurturing underrepresented talent and expanding what’s possible for the next generation of creatives.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t a smooth ride, and I still find myself in challenging moments to this day. An obstacle I faced early in my journey was simply trying to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go after school, like most recent graduates. This was when a lot of my hustle and grit kicked in. After undergrad, I did the Disney College Program which required 8-12 hour days of work, but between those very tiring days, I networked. I set up 1-on-1s and emailed anyone I met who could give me insight into my next move. I doubled down on researching graduate programs I wanted to pursue, technology conferences I wanted to attend, and new creative mediums I’d never explored before, all with the intent to stand out in the job market. That process led me to my graduate program, earned me a scholarship to Grace Hopper, 4 tech internships in a single year, and got me accepted into one of Snapchat’s first cohorts of Lens Creators.
One thing to note though: with the work I love, I don’t view challenges such as those as something I dread, like waking up early to go to the gym. I equate these challenges to the process of finishing a new oil painting or finding the freshest ingredients for your favorite dish. It’s a challenge I choose to get through, a problem I want to solve, because I love what I do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a product designer and creative technologist who works at the intersection of design and emerging technology, crafting immersive digital experiences that push the boundaries of modern storytelling. I specialize in transforming traditional design principles into interactive narratives, particularly through augmented reality and spatial design. My AR experiences have gained over 12 million views across Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, and I’ve been fortunate to partner with incredible organizations like Snapchat, NASA, Black Girls Code, and Love Renaissance to bring these visions to life.
What I’m known for is my ability to blend technical expertise with cultural fluency. I don’t just design experiences that engage users, I create experiences that reflect and celebrate the richness of their perspectives. My work focuses on amplifying cultural narratives and creating more inclusive digital spaces, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for connection and representation rather than exclusion.
What I’m most proud of is my design studio called “How’d You Get So Fly?” (HYGSF?) which further demonstrates how technology can amplify cultural narratives, create inclusive digital spaces, and spark wonder. What sets me apart is my approach: I combine deep technical skill with a genuine understanding of culture and community. I’m not just designing for users, I’m designing with an understanding of who they are, where they come from, and what matters to them. That cultural fluency, paired with my ability to work across emerging technologies like AR, AI, and immersive platforms, allows me to create experiences that don’t just function well, they resonate deeply.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I genuinely thought I was going to be a gemologist and jewelry designer. Growing up, I loved taking things apart, repurposing and reconstructing them to make wearable artwork to pair with my outfits for school. I had a huge rock collection that still lives at my parents’ house to this day and I loved going to flea markets to source interesting odds-and-ends to turn into necklaces and rings. I always dream of going back to my early childhood passions. Maybe I’ll drop a surprise jewelry collection one day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/hygsf_?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deiacionne?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
