Dr. Suzan Ahmed (she/her), is the founder of Design with Dr. Za, an inclusive platform that supports wellbeing at the levels of mind, body, spirit, and place. As a clinical and design psychologist, integrative coach, retreat/travel advisor, and yoga teacher, Suzan is passionate about co-creating safe spaces that allow folks to embody their most authentic selves. She is also a contributing writer for the book Designing-Women’s Lives: Transforming Place and Self by Toby Israel, Ph.D., as well as the host of Design Deep Dive, a podcast that delves into our emotional, spiritual, and psychological relationship to place, from our homes to our hometowns, from the built environment to the world in which we live.

As a child of immigrants, Suzan holds deep compassion for underserved and vulnerable communities. To her, conscious design means considering the safety and security of all people, not just those for whom traditional design has historically centered. Through consulting, coaching, writing, and teaching, she hopes to contribute to our individual and collective awakening for the greater good.

Suzan holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Stanford University and earned her doctorate and master’s in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. She received a Design Psychology certificate through mentorship by Dr. Toby Israel, one of the founders of the emerging Design Psychology field. Suzan is currently based in Madeira, Portugal and is available for design psychology consultation for individuals and businesses.