Systems Designer & Sustainability Innovator

Designing Systems for People, Policy & Planet

I'm Jesse Maikarfi — a Software Engineer, Systems Designer, and Sustainability Innovator building human-centered solutions across technology, food systems, and public-interest design in emerging economies.

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Jesse Maikarfi
“From rural communities to global research spaces, my journey is rooted in one mission: to design technology and systems that expand access, protect ecosystems, and strengthen human opportunity at scale.”
About Me

Designing at the intersection of technology & humanity

I grew up in a rural community where access to opportunity depended more on the environment than talent. That early reality shaped how I see the world — not as a collection of isolated problems, but as interconnected systems that require thoughtful design to change.

I began my career as a Software Engineer, learning how to build scalable technologies. But through field research, conservation work, and global policy training across Africa and Asia, I realized that code alone cannot solve structural challenges.

What changes systems is the intentional design of how people, institutions, technology, and policy interact.

💻

Technology & ML

Building intelligent systems for real-world impact

🎯

Human-Centered Design

Putting people at the center of every solution

🌱

Sustainability

Creating systems that protect our planet

⚖️

Policy & Innovation

Bridging technology and public interest

My work focuses on translating complex real-world problems into usable, ethical, and scalable solutions — from wildlife conservation and agricultural systems to digital governance and youth education.

Design Philosophy

Principles that guide my work

01

People Before Platforms

Every solution must emerge from lived experience, not assumptions. Design begins with empathy.

02

Integrated Systems Design

True impact happens when technical, social, and institutional structures align harmoniously.

03

Ethics Is Functional

Equity, inclusion, and sustainability are not add-ons — they are core design requirements.

04

Measured by Real-World Change

If a solution does not improve lived outcomes, it is not finished. Impact is the metric.

What I Do

Core areas of expertise

🔄Systems & Service Design
🔍UX & Human-Centered Research
🤖Machine Learning for Social Impact
♻️Sustainability & Circular Economy
🌾Food Systems & AgriTech
🏛️Civic Tech & Digital Governance
📋Policy Translation & Strategy
Featured Projects

Work that creates impact

Each project begins with people, grounds itself in evidence, and aims for institutional-scale impact.

Yankari Game Reserve
ConservationBiodiversityPolicy

Yankari Game Reserve

Field Researcher & Data Analyst

Challenge

Wildlife populations in protected areas face pressure from habitat degradation and weak policy enforcement, with a disconnect between field data and actionable policy.

Solution

Synthesized ecological data into structured biodiversity assessment reports and policy-relevant insights, translating scientific observations into decision-ready narratives for policymakers.

Improved wildlife and habitat documentationData-grounded policy recommendationsStrengthened ecology-governance linkage
Crop Recommendation ML System
AIAgricultureFood Security

Crop Recommendation ML System

ML Engineer & System Designer

Challenge

Smallholder farmers lack data access on soil nutrients and climate conditions, leading to poor yields and food insecurity.

Solution

Developed a machine learning system that processes soil and climate data to predict optimal crop types with user-friendly recommendations for low-resource farming contexts.

Accurate crop prediction modelsClimate-smart agriculture supportMobile integration foundation
STEAM 4 KIDs Program
EducationDigital EquityYouth

STEAM 4 KIDs Program

Program Designer & Lead Facilitator

Challenge

Children in underserved Nigerian communities lack early STEAM exposure, limiting educational and career opportunities.

Solution

Co-designed and implemented playful, low-cost STEAM workshops introducing coding, robotics, and creative problem-solving through hands-on experiments and storytelling.

Dozens of children trainedImproved STEM confidenceIncreased school engagement
ECO PLAST Initiative
Circular EconomyEnvironmentCommunity

ECO PLAST Initiative

Project Lead & Sustainability Designer

Challenge

Plastic waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental hazards in urban Nigeria, threatening ecosystems and public health.

Solution

Led a system that mobilized volunteers for plastic collection, processed waste into eco-friendly construction bricks, and partnered with community groups for distribution.

310+ kg plastic recycled300+ eco-bricks producedCommunity environmental ownership
Skills & Tools

What I bring to the table

Design & Research

  • Human-Centered Design
  • Systems Mapping
  • UX Research
  • Service Design
  • Field Research
  • Design Strategy

Technology

  • Python
  • Machine Learning
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Data Analysis
  • Web Development

Sustainability & Policy

  • Food Security Systems
  • Circular Economy
  • Environmental Policy
  • Impact Evaluation

Tools

  • Figma
  • Miro
  • Adobe Suite
  • Canva
  • Google Colab
  • GitHub
Looking Ahead

Let's create together

Envisioning sustainable futures

I'm always looking to collaborate with organizations, communities, and researchers who share a commitment to meaningful change. Whether you're working on food systems, environmental sustainability, or social innovation, I'd love to hear about your projects.

I'm particularly interested in:

  • Research collaborations in food security and environmental systems
  • Design projects addressing social and ecological challenges
  • Innovative applications of AI for social good
  • Community-driven sustainability initiatives

“The best solutions emerge when we combine rigorous research with community wisdom and technological innovation.”

Get in Touch

Let's work together

Interested in collaborating or learning more about my work? I'd love to hear from you.

Email

jesse.maikarfi@example.com

Location

Michigan, USA

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