Mariana Prieto uses empathy, creativity, and practicality as a base to explore innovative solutions that can positively impact the quality of life for a community. As a teacher, strategist, and product designer, Mariana has leveraged design as a tool to inform and iterate upon existing systems around the world.

Mariana comes to IDEO.org from Blue Barrel Concepts, a start up she co-founded, where she led research and ideation on concepts aimed at improving the quality of life for people without access to running water. 

She has also taught courses on design thinking for social impact at the University of Southern California, partnering with the Dolores Huerta Foundation to identify opportunities that can improve the quality of life for U.S. farmworkers.

Mariana graduated from Art Center College of Design with a Bachelor of Science in Product Design and a Designmatters Concentration.

Mariana was born in Bogotá, Colombia and has lived in 5 cities and 10 apartments in the last 9 years with her French Bulldog, Cholula.