Alexis Hope

Dr. Alexis Hope loves to design experiences that help people find joy, creativity, and self-compassion. She is a 2023 United States Artists Fellow for the category of Architecture & Design, a National Science Foundation Research Fellow, and a LEGO Creative Learning Fellow.

Along with Nodira Khoussainova and Justin Trobec, Hope is a co-founder of Focused Space, where she serves as the Chief Product Officer. Focused Space is a social platform that helps people reach their personal, professional, and creative goals through the magic of “body doubling.”

Previously, Hope spent a decade at MIT, where she received her PhD at the MIT Media Lab in 2021. While there, she worked across a variety of domains — ranging from cameras for deep-sea exploration, creative learning software for children, art-making tools for astronauts, "hackathons" to improve breast pumps (...what?!), low-cost ultrasound machines for providing prenatal care in areas with limited resources, and more.

Hope also runs a project called “Trash Club,” a community event that invites people to prototype playful objects using recycled materials. This builds on her work as the co-founder and Design Director for the “Make the Breast Pump Not Suck” Hackathon, which brought together hundreds of parents, caregivers, and their children to re-design technologies for breastfeeding and postpartum health.

As a musician, she sings and writes songs for two bands: Calico Beach Party, and Double Bitch.

When she is not doing the above, she works part-time as a barista at her local neighborhood cafe and record store.