Dr. Ramin Shadmehr: Designing Systems for a More Thoughtful Future

A Scholar Practitioner with Real World Intent

At Capilano University in British Columbia, Dr. Ramin Shadmehr has initiated forward-thinking educational projects that align with his deeper belief: that academic spaces must prepare students with skills that are both timely and transformative.

Championing Tools That Shape the Future

One of his most notable achievements is helping to establish the first Unreal Authorized Training Center in Western Canada. This is more than a curriculum update. It is a strategic step that brings real-world creative tools into higher education.

Unreal Engine is commonly associated with video game development, but its influence reaches far beyond that. It is now used in:

• Film production and post-production workflows
• Architectural and urban visualization
• Simulation-based training for medicine, aviation, and more
• Experiential learning environments

By introducing these technologies into the classroom, Dr. Shadmehr ensures that students are not just learning theories, but engaging directly with the tools that define contemporary design and innovation.

Tools as Enablers of Opportunity

What makes his approach distinct is not the toolset itself, but the intention behind its use. For Dr. Shadmehr, technology holds value only when it:

• Increases access to learning
• Expands creative and professional agency
• Helps learners imagine and build futures with purpose

Creating Systems That Work for People

Beyond the university setting, Dr. Shadmehr co-founded Roughly dot ca. This collective offers consulting and system design for institutions, governments, and large organizations.

Thoughtful Design, Not Just Disruption

The work of Roughly is built on a foundation of care and attention. Rather than arriving with pre-packaged solutions, Dr. Shadmehr and his team:

• Spend time listening to the people inside the system
• Observe operations with curiosity rather than judgment
• Co-design tools that reflect the needs and capacities of those who use them

Their projects are varied, from streamlining digital interfaces to modernizing internal workflows. But in every case, the goal is the same: to create experiences that are technically robust and socially intelligent.

Inclusion as a Daily Practice

Inclusion is not a slogan for Dr. Shadmehr. It is a central part of how he operates. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, he participates in shaping policy conversations that aim to build more open and equitable systems.

Immersive Technology for Neurodiverse Learners

One of the areas where he brings this focus to life is in the application of immersive technology for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Traditional environments — whether academic or vocational — can often be difficult for neurodiverse people. Overstimulating visuals, unpredictable interactions, and rigid pacing can all act as barriers. Dr. Shadmehr is exploring how virtual and augmented environments can offer more controlled and customizable alternatives, which may:

• Allow individuals to practice social or job-related tasks at their own pace
• Reduce the sensory strain of in-person environments
• Build confidence before engaging in real-world settings

This is not simply about technical innovation. It is about designing systems that adapt to human needs, rather than asking people to conform to rigid norms.

Where Logic Meets Aesthetics

There is often a tendency to categorize people as either technical or creative, rational or expressive. Dr. Shadmehr challenges that divide by bringing together logic and empathy in every project he touches.

Blended Teams and Integrated Thinking

At Roughly, the teams are intentionally diverse. A typical project may include:

• Engineers and systems analysts
• Experience designers and visual artists
• Process facilitators and ethnographic researchers

This combination ensures that the tools and processes they develop do not just work, but also feel intuitive and respectful.

Leadership Through Attention

What most clearly defines Dr. Shadmehr’s leadership is his ability to listen. He listens to:

• Students preparing for uncertain career paths
• Workers navigating outdated institutional systems
• Individuals whose learning needs are overlooked by conventional models

His work reflects an ongoing commitment to use technology in ways that honor complexity, restore dignity, and center the human experience.

A Quiet Force for a More Inclusive Future

Dr. Shadmehr does not seek the spotlight. His contributions are found in the frameworks and environments that help others succeed. Whether in classrooms, consulting rooms, or policy tables, his presence is steady and intentional.

This is the kind of innovation that does not depend on hype. It depends on care.

And in a world that often rushes toward novelty without reflection, the thoughtful leadership of professionals like Dr. Shadmehr reminds us that progress must always include compassion.