At The Leap Labs, our journey began with a spark of inspiration from Don Norman's visionary concept: "Design for a Better World." This powerful idea resonated deeply igniting a passion to harness design's transformative potential and create meaningful change on a global scale.

  • Karen, the driving force behind The Leap Labs, brings over 14 years of experience practicing and teaching human-centered design. Her journey has been fueled by a fervent passion for leveraging technology to create solutions with meaningful impact.

    Throughout her career, Karen has held onto a dream: to use design as a force for good in a world often marred by crises, destruction, and the mistreatment of humanity and our environment. This dream forms the cornerstone of The Leap Labs' mission.

  • At The Leap Labs, our mission is to harness the transformative power of design and futures thinking to create resilient, sustainable solutions for a better world. We bring together diverse minds and innovative methodologies to tackle complex global challenges, fostering positive change at individual, organizational, and societal levels.

  • We envision a world where design-driven innovation and foresight empower humanity to thrive in the face of uncertainty. Our aim is to be at the forefront of shaping a future where:

    • Individuals are equipped with the skills and mindset to navigate complex challenges

    • Organizations are agile, forward-thinking, and purpose-driven

    • Communities are resilient, sustainable, and inclusive

    • Global systems work in harmony with nature and human wellbeing

    Through our work, we strive to bridge the gap between imagination and reality, turning hopeful visions into tangible improvements for people and the planet.

Our founder

Karen Diana DeSilva

Karen is the Principal Designer and Founder of The Leap Labs, a strategic design consultancy. With 14 years of experience implementing design thinking and human-centered strategies across Singapore, the Nordics, and London, Karen brings a unique expertise in Strategic, Service, and UX design. She specializes in leading organizations through the development of new products and services, from initial insight to implementation, and now helping organizations navigate uncertainty, and realise new opportunities using futures-thinking.

Her vast experience spans industries including financial services, energy, education, and more. Karen’s passion for design education and mentorship has also led her to teach and inspire future designers and innovators during her time as a lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic. She has also led corporate innovation programs, and bootcamps for educational institutes, coaching students become industry-ready.