I'm Abuna Shiro, a multi-disciplinary problem solver based in Kalobeyei, Kenya. I bridge UI/UX & Graphic Design, Climate Restoration Ambassador , Strategic Communication, and Electrical Engineering to build solutions that work for real people in real contexts.
A selection of engineering systems, digital products, visual identities and partnership campaigns, each shaped by the people and context it was built for.
Leading community-driven restoration across Turkana County, specifically in Kalobeyei refugee camp, combining design, advocacy, and on-the-ground action to rebuild ecosystems and amplify local voices.
Sonder experience redesigned around clearer navigation, accessibility and a simpler user journey fewer taps, more clarity.
Designed and deployed an off-grid solar power system for a residential Setups, integrating battery management, load balancing and community maintenance training.
Coordinated multi-stakeholder partnerships and designed visual communication materials for child education awareness, built to be read, shared, and remembered.
A visual identity co-created with a refugee-led initiative in Kalobeyei, owned by the community, built to last.
Facilitating hands-on training sessions for young creatives and technicians in Kalobeyei, bridging the gap between theory and practical application.
Typography studies, poster concepts, interface explorations and circuit sketches — the practice that informs everything else.
My work sits where engineering, design, communication and climate action meet.
I'm Abuna Shiro, an Electrical Engineer, UI/UX & Graphic Designer and Trainer, Climate Restoration Ambassador in Turkana, and Communication & Partnerships Officer based in Kalobeyei, Kenya. I design digital experiences, visual identities, and physical systems for organizations and communities working toward meaningful change, including the urgent work of restoring our land and climate.
Working across disciplines has shaped how I think. Five principles guide everything I make.
The user's reality comes before any pixel, any wire, any partnership deck.
Listen, observe, map. Whether a circuit or a community, every problem lives in a system.
Remove everything that doesn't serve the goal in the interface, the wiring, the message.
Real devices, real networks, real contexts.
The best solution is one the community can maintain, evolve and own.
From early ideas to finished systems, I help turn complex needs into clear, usable solutions across digital, physical and human layers.
Research, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, brand identities and visual campaigns plus hands-on training for emerging creatives. Built around how people actually behave.
As Ambassador in Turkana County, I design and lead restoration initiatives combining ecological action with accessible climate communication and community ownership.
Rigorous systems thinking applied to real-world infrastructure: off-grid power, solar installations, and safe residential wiring.
Bridging communities, NGOs, governments and technical teams. Designing strategic communication campaigns that align diverse partners toward shared goals.
A simple, honest process whether I'm designing an interface, wiring a solar array, or convening partners.
Understand the people, context and challenge before anything else.
Turn observations into a clear problem worth solving.
Explore ideas — digital, physical, strategic — fast and honest.
Check whether the solution works for real users, then fix what doesn't.
Hand over knowledge, not just deliverables. Build capacity to sustain.
A record of work shipped, systems built, people trained and partnerships formed and still counting.
Available for remote collaboration, on-site engineering, and community projects. Based in Kalobeyei, Kenya — working across time zones.
As a Climate Restoration Ambassador in Turkana, I work at the intersection of design, community advocacy and climate action, helping restore degraded land, amplify local voices in the climate conversation, and equip communities with the tools and knowledge to lead their own restoration efforts.
Turkana County faces severe climate impacts: drought, desertification, and loss of pastureland. My role involves facilitating community workshops, designing accessible climate communication materials, coordinating tree-planting and land rehabilitation, and connecting local knowledge with regional and global climate networks. ➡️ Read full story
What makes this work unique is the integration of design thinking with on-the-ground restoration. Every campaign, workshop, and poster is built the same way I build digital products: starting with people, understanding their reality, and simplifying the path to action.
Driving tangible climate action through tree-planting campaigns, land rehabilitation, and sustainable environmental practices tailored to the arid landscape of Turkana County.
We combine indigenous knowledge with modern restoration techniques. Every action is community-led, ensuring that the solutions are sustainable, culturally relevant, and economically empowering for local residents.
Advocacy is at the heart of our work. We facilitate workshops, create accessible climate communication materials in local languages, and train community champions to lead the conversation on environmental justice.
True advocacy means equipping people with the tools to speak for themselves. We focus on mentorship, leadership training, and creating platforms where marginalized voices can influence regional and global climate policies.
Turkana County is a region of immense beauty and resilience, yet it faces severe climate impacts including prolonged droughts, desertification, and resource scarcity. Kalobeyei Settlement is a hub of innovation and coexistence.
Working in Turkana requires deep respect for the local context. Our projects are designed not just to survive, but to thrive in this environment, honoring the heritage of the Turkana people while building a sustainable future.
A Sonder app had a 62% drop-off during onboarding. Users complained of confusing navigation and too many steps to complete simple transactions
Reduced the core transaction flow from 7 taps to 3. Redesigned navigation around user goals rather than product features. Introduced progressive disclosure for advanced options.
Onboarding completion increased by 38%. Support tickets related to navigation dropped by 52%.
Create awareness materials for child education in a community with mixed literacy levels while aligning 8 different NGOs around a shared message.
Facilitated a partnership workshop to align on core messages. Designed posters using strong visual metaphors, minimal text, and local languages. Created companion WhatsApp-friendly graphics.
Materials distributed in 8 community centers. School enrollment inquiries increased by 24%. The partnership framework continues to be used for other campaigns.