At Crosscut Studio, we're your partners in creating highly successful, human-centered learning experiences*.

(*digital, analog, or anything in between)

We draw from decades of expertise in design thinking, digital learning production, curriculum development, classroom practice, and business strategy.

We know that our world, and especially education, is changing fast, and that your organization needs to evolve along with it. You can trust our team to be your partner and guide as you dream up your next big move in education.

We stand out in the field as specialists that design future-facing educational experiences that resonate with today's learners and lead the industry forward.

We exist because we’ve seen too many well-meaning, well-funded institutions fail at designing new education offerings. We've seen eagerly anticipated launches and programs falter that could have succeeded. Leaders are left discouraged and confused; what did they miss?

We make sure you don’t miss anything by grounding our work in:

  • Deep knowledge of the current landscape and pulse of education

  • A design process that prioritizes learners research and iterative prototyping

  • A product that places the learner, not the screen, at the center of the design

  • A willingness to think strategically, expansively and creatively

At Crosscut Studio, we continually ask ourselves: What is possible now that hasn’t been possible before?

We bring deep expertise, a passion for education and a nimble creativity to every project. No matter the scope of your aspirations, we tailor a plan just for you. Here are some elements of our approach:

Understanding Your Vision

We begin by diving deep into your team's vision, aspirations, and challenges.

Researching with Empathy

With a keen sense of curiosity and empathy, we delve into understanding your learners, their specific needs, and the underlying challenges they face.

Defining Learner Challenges

From the learner's perspective, we define the core challenges that need to be addressed.

Collaborative Ideation

Working closely with you, we brainstorm and innovate solutions that directly tackle these challenges.

Prototyping and Feedback

We inexpensively prototype several promising solutions, involving actual learners for feedback and insights.

Piloting and Refinement

The most effective solution is piloted, gathering comprehensive learner data. We refine and enhance the offering based on this valuable feedback.

Confident Launch

Finally, we solidify a robust design for launch—a solution we're all confident will meet your goals and exceed learner expectations.

Meet the Team

  • Leah Siepel

    FOUNDER

    Leah Siepel is a thought leader in the field of education, bringing perspectives from ed tech start-ups, higher education administration, and classroom teaching in NYC public schools to her work with clients, speaking engagements, and writing.

    She has one foot in the present and the other in the future, always keeping in mind that every choice an institution makes today effectively shapes what comes next.

    Leah is the former Director of Instructional Design at The Juilliard School and was a Senior Instructional Designer at Amplify Learning. She has taught at New York University, New School University, Adelphi University, and the Internationals Network for Public Schools. Leah has an MA in Education, a BA in History and Psychology, a background in modern dance, and a love of writing and the visual arts. She lives north of New York City with her husband, son, and two very fluffy cats.

  • Sara Hashim

    DIRECTOR DESIGN & FACILITATION

    Sara is an award-winning Creative, Designer and Facilitator who specializes in guiding brands, businesses, and individuals to create beautiful, tangible spaces for ideas to thrive.

    With nearly two decades of experience and a Masters in Design from the Pratt Institute in New York, Sara has balanced both scale and depth in her work in a wide variety of projects and jobs. She has worked closely with institutions such as The Harvard School of Education, The College Board, NYU, The New York Botanical Garden, and brands such as Nike, Google, Johnson and Johnson.

    Keeping one foot always in the classroom, Sara teaches an Innovations in Marketing course at New York University, exploring new paradigms in innovation, brand engagement and creative strategy.

  • Liz Theirs

    TECHNICAL LEAD & CONTENT PRODUCER

    Liz has worked on a wide range of digital projects for companies like Amplify, the New York Botanical Garden, Viacom, MoMA, UCB, and Pixar. She has applied her production mindset and problem-solving skills to product launches, network rebrands, LMS adoptions, and CMS development. She specializes in production, media management, and instructional design.

  • Jennifer Ball

    SENIOR LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

    Jennifer is a curriculum development expert and digital producer with over 20 years of experience in shaping impactful education programs and creating interactive learning experiences.

    She has led the development of mental health education programs for veterans and AI-powered training simulations for ReflexAI, focusing on crisis response and healthcare. Her expertise extends to scaling mental health volunteer programs and developing nationally-accredited curricula, particularly during her tenure at The Trevor Project and Crisis Text Line.

    Additionally, Jennifer has shaped K-12 educational products, notably leading the creation of a Common Core English Language Arts curriculum at Amplify Education, benefiting millions of students across the U.S.

Client List