Bio
I use radical and unconventional techniques in participatory design, spatial design, and form research to understand societal complexities, designing progressive interventions and methods using a variety of physical and digital mediums for exhibition or real-world deployment. 

I have worked with small nonprofits, local governments, and massive corporations. My work spans digital and physical, with my physical skills being 3D printing, CNC laser cutting, and general woodworking, and my digital skills in Qualtrics, Figma, UserTesting, and the CreativeCloud.
       
Email, Instagram ↗

Education
MA Sustainability & Development
Lyle School of Engineering, 2026
Southern Methodist University

MA Design & Innovation
Meadows School of the Arts, 2023
Southern Methodist University

BS Economics
AddRan School of Liberal Arts, 2020
Texas Christian University

Living Futures Accreditation (LFA)
International Living Futures Institute, 2026

Employment
RAPP / Omnicom
2025 - Present

7-Eleven / R&D Contract
2024 - 2025

Saatchi & Saatchi / Publicis
2022 - 2024

CoAct North Texas
2019 - 2022
Skills
Physical Skills
3D Printing
Laser Cutting
Woodworking
Dye Mixing
ASTM Material Testing
ASTM Soil Testing
Hazardous Agents (working with)
Staining Agents (working with)


Digital Skills
Figma
Qualtrics
User Testing
Illustrator
Photoshop
Touchdesigner
Rhino
Projection Mapping


Soft Skills
Omni-channel Selling
Strategic War Gaming
Long-Term Visioning
Design Workshopping
Executive Presenting
Exhibitions
Lift, Drag, and Material Agency 
(On Display at the Hunt Institute for Humanity)
2026rnare Porta Libero
2023

                  

Tanner Williams
Critical  Designer



Using radical and unconventional techniques in participatory design, spatial design, and form research to understand societal complexities.



The Deep Ellum Foundation Cultural Trail, 2021


Cultural Trail
The Dallas Arts District, Deep Ellum Foundation and Fair Park First are partnering with the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture and Visit Dallas to develop and create the initial Dallas Cultural Trail. I was tasked to envision what that might look like.

Zones

I first sourced economic data from the city about the velocity of dollars in the three districts. Observing the results led to a hybrid solution where the districts would be understood as cultural zones, and the trail would serve as a non-linearized path to explore the zones and encourage worthwhile economic activity while navigating.

Dead Zones

Movement between the zones became the most critical factor to design for. After conducting three sessions of group interviews with residents, frequent visitors, and established business owners, the primary concern was getting people to move from one zone to another, navigating through the dead zones located under interstate bridges separating these districts.
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Digital Trail

In order to encourage movement from one zone to another as a key performance indicator, I developed an app that paired with environmental deployments. 

At five significantly visible points within Deep Ellum, users were prompted to navigate to a randomized business in the adjacent districts after reading a historical summary about its relevance in the area. All users were then asked to complete a survey about their physical movement, perceptions, and interest in a virtual Dallas Cultural Trail experience. 

Following this project, the City of Dallas announced a phased deployment for the Dallas Cultural Trail, currently in Phase 1:

  • Phase 1: Digital Launch – Pilot a digital platform featuring maps, stories, and multimedia experiences.

  • Phase 2: Public Art Installations – Introduce site-specific artworks and interactive displays along the route.

  • Phase 3: Wayfinding & Infrastructure – Add signage, pedestrian enhancements, and connections between cultural districts.
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