I am a design researcher and urban planner. I grew up in Karachi, navigating life through an exclusionary and complex transportation system that was not a product of people (especially women) centered design. My experiences turned me into an absolute cities, maps and transit nerd.
I started out in computer science and then spent a few years in banking and freight-tech as a design researcher. My work made me realize that most systems, whether a bank or a bus network, serve some people well and quietly shut others out. Then I went on to pursue my dual master’s degrees in Regional Planning and Sustainability Science at UMass Amherst. There I studied how women navigate Karachi’s markets and Green Line BRT stops, and helped New Haven County identify disadvantaged communities for its climate action plan.
At every stop I’ve asked the same question: “For whom, and at whose cost?” Most recently, I’ve explored it as a transportation planning consultant in Atlanta, GA.
Today I combine rigorous research with people-centred design to help teams be more empathetic and understand how people actually experience public services. I’m happiest co-creating on knotty problems!
Selected publications or texts
- City of Sandy Springs. (2026). Sandy Springs Transportation Master Plan 2026 Update. https://www.sandyspringsga.gov/sandy-springs-transportation-master-plan
- City of Canton, GA. (2025). Hickory Flat Highway Gateway Concept Plan. https://www.cantonga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1760/639016466503152518
- Irfan, H. (2024). (Un)Restricting by Design: Women Navigating Public Spaces in the North Nazimabad Neighborhood of Karachi. (DOI: 10.7275/55649) [Masters dissertation, University of Massachusetts Amherst]. UMass Scholarworks.
- Irfan, H. (2024, August 27). Addressing Energy Burden in the Northeast. Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. https://neep.org/blog/addressing-energy-burden-northeast
- South Central Regional Council of Governments. (2024, March). ImpaCT 2045: A Climate Action and Equity Plan for New Haven County. https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/ANU4QN71xqCTdf3UdDukzLNB
Selected speaking engagements
- Irfan, H. (2024, February). Imagination, Justice, and Hope: Scenario Planning for New Haven County, Connecticut [Presentation]. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Consortium for Scenario Planning Conference. Portland, OR, USA.
- Irfan H. (2019). Agent-Based Model to Study the Impact of Rural Electrification in Village Hashim Mir Bahar, Sindh [Presentation]. Undergraduate Network for Research in Humanities Conference. Wooster, OH, USA.
Awards and recognitions
- 2023: Leaders in Sustainability Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- 2018: Impact Challenge Winner – Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations
- 2015-2019: Yohsin Scholar (100% merit-based tuition fee waiver)