Kahmin Ong sits down with host Adam Fromme in this episode of the Thinking through Design podcast. 

“You never know what you are truly interested in if you don’t try it out, then it’s easy to sift out what you don’t like doing.” Kahmin Ong

In this Student Spotlight episode, Kahmin Ong reflects on a journey from studying industrial design at National University of Singapore to pursuing an MFA in Design Research and Development at Ohio State. Inspired by mentors including Brian Stone and Liz Sanders, Kahmin discusses how an early interest in design research and assistive technology evolved into her thesis, Co-Designing Across the Gaps: Visualizing System Complexities and Stakeholder Perspectives in U.S. Wheelchair Service Delivery.

Our conversation explores the value of reaching beyond disciplinary boundaries, building relationships across the university and learning directly from clinicians, wheelchair users, caregivers and adaptive athletes. Through participatory design and systems visualization, Kahmin’s research reveals hidden challenges within healthcare processes while imagining more accessible futures. Along the way, she shares lessons about curiosity, mentorship and the importance of saying yes to unexpected opportunities. The episode offers listeners an insightful look at how design research can illuminate complexity, amplify lived experiences, and create meaningful connections across disciplines.

This episode is part of the Student Spotlight mini-series. During the summer, we sit down with students at Ohio State DESIGN, giving them a chance to share their experiences and talk about the ideas that inspire them.

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts.