Her research topics include design for development, visual storytelling, ethnographic design research, heritage, and cultural identity, and has significant international experience working with disadvantaged communities and indigenous groups in collaboration with international organizations in México and Costa Rica. Her scholarly work has been disseminated in national and international design conferences and venues, such as the International Association of Societies of Design Research Conference and the Design Research Society Biannual Conference. Lately, she has been exploring new pedagogic methods to introduce undergraduate design students to community-based design practice.