Natalie Verdiguel studied psychology at the University of Florida and then completed the M.S. in Human Environment Relations in Cornell Human Ecology. Now a consultant with Blue Cottage of CannonDesign, she uses empathy to anticipate and understand the needs, wants and behaviors of the people who interact with a space or product. 

Q. What does your work look like day to day?

A. I partner with clients to solve complex challenges across healthcare, higher education, and workplace environments. My work spans data analytics, strategy, and transition and activation services. 

I often work in cross-functional teams with my architecture, engineering, and interior design colleagues, bringing a strategic, social science-informed approach to design. Day to day, I analyze qualitative and quantitative data, facilitate stakeholder engagement, develop strategic recommendations, design operational workflows, ideate solutions, and create presentations to communicate findings and support decision-making with clients.

Much of my work involves connecting the perspectives of end users with those of executive leadership to uncover actionable insights that shape spaces, processes and policies. Drawing on my background in environmental psychology and human-centered design, I create environments that support people’s social, emotional, and physical needs while advancing organizational goals. 

Q. What attracted you to Cornell’s program?

A. I chose the Master of Science in Human Environment Relations because of the unique way it combines design and social science. Placing human behavior at the center of the design process is relatively uncommon in design programs, despite the profound influence our environments have on how we think, behave, and feel. 

I have a background in psychology, and design programs offered little opportunity for someone with that training to enter the field. Cornell’s program stood out because it embraced and valued that perspective.
 

Posted on
09/01/2026
Author
Marisa LaFalce
Tags
Technology + Human Thriving, Alumni

My experience at Cornell shaped my ability to approach design through an interdisciplinary and empathetic lens, with a strong focus on understanding and meeting human needs.

Natalie Verdiguel, M.S. ’24

Q. What was your master’s thesis about?

A. I examined the intersection of consumer psychology, design, and marketing in luxury omnichannel retail. With guidance from my advisor, So-Yeon Yoon, professor in the Department of Human Centered Design, I designed simulated store environments and research surveys. I explored how digital in-store experiences influence consumer perceptions, brand attitudes, and purchase intentions. The result was a set of data-driven recommendations for integrating technology into physical retail spaces.

Q. How does your Cornell education shape your work today?

A. My experience at Cornell shaped my ability to approach design through an interdisciplinary and empathetic lens, with a strong focus on understanding and meeting human needs.

As master’s students, we worked on numerous projects focused on designing for accessibility, both physical and psychological. These projects challenged me to step outside of my own experiences and consider how the objects and spaces I interact with every day might be experienced very differently by someone with different abilities.

Today, much of my work involves conducting research and translating what we learn about people into actionable design and strategy recommendations. Empathy is essential to that process. 

For example, when conducting pre-design research, I try to look beyond what people say they want and understand their underlying needs, frustrations, behaviors, and the environmental factors influencing their experiences. This might mean observing how someone navigates a space rather than relying solely on self-reported feedback. This approach is particularly important in healthcare, where the experiences of patients, caregivers, clinicians and staff can vary greatly. Understanding these distinct user perspectives can directly inform design decisions, research and strategy. My psychology background has made me particularly attentive to those nuances.

Q. I use design to…

A. Make the world a better place through equity, accessibility, and an understanding of what helps people flourish.