Crystal Xayana (she/her) is a Lao-American designer passionate about community solidarity and education. Through her identity as a Southeast Asian woman in Minnesota, she learns through engaging with fellow communities of color, which are often underrepresented in creative fields and research. She believes accessibility, inclusivity, and solidarity are vital factors in both problem solving and the design process.
Crystal also holds experience as the previous President of the Lao Student Association of Minnesota, a cultural student organization dedicated to preservation, practice, and education of Lao traditions and current events at the University of Minnesota. She works towards bringing awareness to the presence and history of Lao people in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and the greater United States. To make these efforts possible, she worked alongside a board of seven other members to include community members outside the University.
Crystal makes way for change in the design field by challenging perspectives, offering personal experiences, and connecting with the communities she aims to uplift. Her values of accessibility, inclusivity, and solidarity are at the forefront of her practice.