Mushon Zer-Aviv – Design, Education and Activism Portfolio

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Mushon Zer-Aviv – Design, Education and Activism Portfolio provides design, education, and media-activist services at the intersection of design, technology, society and political imagination.

Target Customer

{"Educational institutions (universities, colleges)","Museums and cultural institutions","Conferences, festivals, and public-facing events","Design studios and technology companies seeking critical design, data visualization, and futures thinking","NGOs and activist initiatives"}

Key Differentiator

Projects and work recognized and exhibited by major institutions (MoMA, SFMOMA, Ars Electronica, Re:publica, Eyebeam, Rhizome, Victoria and Albert Museum) and published in high-profile outlets (New York Times, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, Haaretz, UX Collective). Combines design practice with activism, mapping, data visualization, and futures thinking, complemented by a strong teaching/writing/profile in civic/political imagination.

Implementation Timeline

Active across the 2010s to present; latest content and posts dated in 2024–2025 (e.g., Aug 2025 postings on Mushon.com).

Pain Points

1Need for critical design approaches to data, privacy, and algorithmic bias (AdNauseam, Normalizi.ng).
2Difficulty communicating complex futures, data visualization, and political implications to broad or non-specialist audiences (Public Speaking; various talks and writings).
3Desire for educational resources and workshops on design, mapping, and futures thinking (Public Speaking Workshops & Education).

Key Features

1Public Speaking Workshops & Education
2Creative projects and research in data visualization, mapping, and futures design (e.g., MapFutur.es, Speculative Tourism, Wikipedia Illustrated, AdNauseam, The Normalizing Machine, Normalizi.ng)
3Writings and talks in major outlets and venues (NYT, Foreign Policy, Haaretz, UX Collective; talks at conferences, universities, museums, galleries)
4Academic and leadership roles (senior faculty, design leadership at multiple organizations)

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Senior Faculty Member, Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
2Board Member, A Land For All—Two States One Homeland
3Design Leader, Waze
4Design Leader, Localize
5Design Leader, Public Knowledge Workshop

Client Results

1Projects and works exhibited by MoMA, SFMOMA, Ars Electronica, Re:publica, Eyebeam, Rhizome, and the Victoria and Albert Museum
2Writings in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, Haaretz, and UX Collective
3Active public speaking engagements at conferences, festivals, universities, museums, and galleries

Competitive Advantages

1Strong blend of design practice, activism, and political imagination
2Credibility demonstrated by exhibitions at major institutions and publications in top outlets
3Experience in teaching, workshops, and public speaking at high-profile venues
4Proven ability to translate complex ideas into accessible discourse and educational formats

Key Benefits

1Critical, future-oriented design and data visualization

2Educational capacity through workshops and teaching

3Public-facing discourse on privacy, bias, and political imagination

4Access to high-profile exhibitions and media exposure

Case Studies & Success Stories

AdNauseam — Obfuscation as a Privacy Counter-Measure

Case #1

A browser extension designed to obfuscate browsing data and protect users from surveillance and tracking by advertising networks; discusses background and practices of data obfuscation and privacy.

MapFutur.es — a map of Future Screenshots

Case #2

An online map gathering fragments of imagined futures ('future screenshots') shaped as tweets, chats, maps, protest signs, or headlines; not predictions, but provocations about possible futures.

Wikipedia Illustrated

Case #3

Project to develop methods for contributing Creative Commons-licensed illustrations to Wikipedia; includes 26 illustrated articles, a follow-along blog, and workshops; explores visual culture in open collaboration.

Speculative Tourism

Case #4

AudioSpatial Storytelling; walking projects exploring futures beyond data-driven predictions, encouraging imaginative engagement with future cities.

The Normalizing Machine

Case #5

Online experiment and related talks exploring how machine learning and facial recognition contribute to social normalization and bias; includes discussions of training discriminatory systems and related discourse.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A portfolio of design practice, education, and media-activism projects by Mushon Zer-Aviv, including data visualization, mapping, futures thinking, and public speaking/workshops; with works exhibited by major institutions and published in leading outlets.

Target Market

Institutions and organizations seeking critical design, data visualization, and futures-thinking engagement; educational bodies wanting workshops; museums, festivals, NGOs, and technology/creative studios.

Unique Value Proposition

A rare combination of hands-on design practice, public-facing education/workshops, and activist research, backed by recognition from major cultural institutions and sustained writing/speaking presence in mainstream media.

Technical Requirements

Not specified in the provided content.

Pricing Model

Not disclosed in the provided content.

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