Ann McDonald studied at the Institute of Design in Chicago, earned a BFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, and subsequently received a MFA in graphic design from Yale University. Her research and project-based inquiries investigate the potential for increased engagement, meaningful correlation, and learning offered by dynamic information systems.
Exhibit and interactive design work for The Boston Symphony Orchestra, The New England Aquarium, The National Health Sciences Consortium and the American Society of Plant Biology have offered wide audiences access to complex topics. Ongoing projects in academic planning and environmental science areas explore the potential of interactive and participatory information systems to assist individuals and communities in better linking their everyday decision-making to broader social impacts and consequences.