FAITH OFTADEH

I am the Design and Communications Lead for the Office of Space Technology at the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My office works to further develop and fund new and unique technologies in order to further science objectives. My work entails branding, marketing, and communicating new technologies to not only NASA but to the internal engineering and science community. Having the incredible and prodigious opportunity to do what I love in a place that contributes to pushing humanity forward is an invaluable experience. 

For me, design isn’t purely aesthetic, but rather a means to speak to your audience. It’s a way to plant a little bit of fiction or truth in their hearts; a yearning to turn the page or learn more about an idea. Ultimately, it’s about telling a story. My creative approach—no matter the medium—is to tell a story where others can connect, relate to and see a side of themselves or consider a new perspective. I do several iterations, sketches, and an immense amount of research until I can get to a place that yields an arc or a narrative.

I attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles thinking I was going to obtain a degree in music as a classical pianist, however, I was lured by the words of David Hume and Aristotle. I received a BA in Philosophy and was convinced law school was my destiny. Despite my acceptance, my heart wasn’t in it and I wanted to further explore what I was truly passionate about.

I later completed my MFA in Media Design Practices from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and have worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 2014.

My real name is Fereshteh, which in Farsi means "angel." I was born in San Francisco and I am a first-generation American. My husband and I have two beautiful children we live in Los Angeles, California.